RANDY BROWN
SOUTHWICK – Near the end of Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart announced that a $450,000 grant from the state for a new salt shed for Southwick has been signed.
Stinehart said that the money will be put in a grant account that would work similarly to Chapter 90 funds reimbursement. He said that Department of Public Works Director Randy Brown did the legwork, and the legislatives delegates were very helpful.
Chair Joseph Deedy said he had spoken to the legislators a few months ago. Brown said that Senator Don Humason and Representative Nicholas Boldyga were very active in providing the assistance needed to release the funds.
The new site plan has also been approved. The current shed, an old wooden building, sits behind the police and fire stations. The new shed will be built behind the DPW garage on College Highway.
“That would be wonderful to have everything under one roof,” Deedy said.
“And to have enough salt for one year,” Brown said.
Brown said two winters ago, salt was $53 per ton. This year, it was over $90 per ton.
After the meeting, Brown said that he had records going back to the mid-80s talking about the need to replace the salt shed. “We’re going to get a shed that best suits our needs in terms of materials and size,” he said.
He said that he would love to have it ready for next winter, but, “We’ve got to see how the process plays out with funds being available, and also the procurement process. I want to make sure we do it right and don’t rush the process.”
