The city's new salt barn is less than a month away from completion.
"The barn is up. They poured the floor two days ago," said Jeffrey Lehman, director of public works. "Now, we're kind of in the waiting mode, because we're waiting for the concrete on the floor to cure before we load any kind of salt weight on it."
In June, City Council approved the bid of G.L. Olson, totaling $236,300 for the construction of a new salt barn. The funding for the structure is part of a $4 million bond for critical capital improvements, which the city committed to in March of 2011.
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The new salt barn is located to the east of the municipal fueling station across from the BPU.
Originally, E.E. Austin had the winning bid for the project, for $191,000. However, due to being unable to complete the project for the bid amount, the company pulled out. Because they pulled out, they forfeited the bid bond of 5 percent of the bid, totalling around $9,500. This amount helped fund the salt barn.
Currently, the salt is stored in an open pile, which is covered with a tarp during the summer month. Because of this method of storage, some salt is washed away. Additionally, it raises environmental concerns. The salt barn is required for salt storage by the Department of Environmental Conservation.
The salt barn is located to the east of the municipal fueling station across from the BPU. The description for the structure given in June said the structure will be open on one end, with three seven-foot concrete walls and a canvas cover.
"We're working on the parking lot out in front of it now," Lehman said. "We're shooting for Oct. 1 as the time we can start bringing salt in."