Weirton receives no bids for road de-icing salt

Will purchase from available supplies this winter

WEIRTON -- While there are still a few weeks before the beginning of autumn, Weirton officials are preparing for the winter months, although there will be some challenges.

As part of their meeting Tuesday, Weirton Council is set to consider a resolution authorizing the purchase of road de-icing salt for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The resolution was the lone agenda item for Friday’s meeting of the city Finance Committee, where the three members -- Councilman Tim Connell, Councilman Rick Stead and Councilman Anthony Rocchio -- gave their recommendation on the purchase while offering no discussion or asking any questions.

According to a draft copy of the resolution, "no bids were received in response" to the city’s solicitation for road salt.

The resolution set to go before council Tuesday would authorize City Manager Mike Adams "to purchase road salt from available suppliers, as needed, throughout the FY 2026/2027 winter season, provided the total amount of each purchase does not exceed $175.00 per ton delivered."

The proposed cost is a jump in price from the previous five years, with the city able to secure bids each of those years.

In July 2025, City Council approved a contract for $88.38 per ton delivered. That was an increase from the city’s 2024 price of $77.69 per ton delivered.

Prices in other years have included $90.86 per ton in 2023, $89.86 per ton in 2022 and $75.50 per ton in 2021.

Weirton isn’t the only local community to face difficulties in procuring a supply of road salt this year.

Across the river, in Ohio, 18 counties, including Jefferson, Belmont and Columbiana, received no offers in their first round of bids through the state procurement program. Through that program, the Ohio Department of Transportation advertises on behalf of participating counties and municipalities, with suppliers submitting bids on a county-by-county basis.

A second-round attempt received a bid in the area of $155 per ton. In response, Jefferson County, Steubenville, Wintersville and other communities formed a cooperative effort to obtain their own prices, receiving a proposal of approximately $123 per ton for 10,000 tons of salt through Hoops Edwards Capital LLC.

Weirton Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers of the Weirton Municipal Building.