A lack of salt to treat icy roads forced the closure of Botelle School on February 18, leaving many residents disgruntled, but town officials hope there will be no repeat of that experience this year.
“It wasn’t a matter of money,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska. “The salt had been ordered for two weeks, and they just didn’t deliver.”
Normally, salt is delivered within 10 days of when Public Works foreman Troy Lamere puts in an order to Morton Salt of New Haven. But despite a second order and repeated calls, the town’s supply was not replenished until February 18.
Problems with salt deliveries started in 2021 when the Connecticut Port Authority prepared to use the State Pier in New London for wind turbine development. New London and New Haven were the only ports in the state that received shipments of salt. DRVN, a New London salt supplier, was forced out of business by the move and all salt deliveries were routed through New Haven. DRVN’s closure put pressure on deliveries as contractors waited in long lines.
Riiska said that three consecutive weeks of storms aggravated delivery problems and that even the state was short on materials. Norfolk, known as the Icebox of Connecticut, was more affected than most because it is colder than other towns.
When the Presidents Day storm struck, the town had very little salt left. So, the Norfolk town crew mixed the salt on hand with sand and road grit swept up from roads that were milled in the summer.
Norfolk can store only 500 tons of salt and, since it uses between 100 and 160 tons per storm, each delivery prepares the town for only four or five storms.
“Now, they [the salt companies] have been told by a power higher than me, that they have to deliver,” Riiska reported. “People were upset because the school was closed, but Troy was on the phone with the Region 7 and Botelle superintendents at 3:00 in the morning, and he had to tell them the roads weren’t safe. That’s his job. Safety is the main concern.”