By KAYLIE REYNOLDS
DULUTH, Minn.- During the City Council meeting on Oct. 25, a concerned citizen and researcher named Linda Sellner spoke about the usage of road salt, because she believed that too much is being used and it is affecting the wildlife in the lake. The council voted unanimously in favor of the purchase and delivery of road salt for the 2010-2011 season (Oct.-April) at the amount of $772,808.85.
Sellner believes that the environment will be safer if road salt usage is reduced by 12 percent. The run off from the salt and snow melts into the trout streams and the aquatic life suffers from it. Sellner is also worried about the greenery because the salt ruins their normal lifestyle and they are dying.
"You shouldn't use salt below 15 degrees," Sellner said. A possible alternative to using a lot of salt would be to use brine water before a snowstorm, plow, and then use minimal salt. "Sewer pipes will rot from the salt going down them," said council member, Jay Fosle.
The council addressed the problem and told Sellner that they are working on reducing the salt that is used. President Jeff Anderson said they want to get the optimal amount down, and they are looking at new technologies. They have not found the best solution for replacing the salt yet but they are working on it.
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