SOUTHWICK – A groundbreaking event will be taking place at the Department of Public Works on Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. Just outside the DPW garage, the DPW will be holding an event to officially announce the project of a new salt shed for the DPW. The new salt shed will be located right behind the garage at the DPW.
The work on the new salt shed is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks. N.E.L. Corporation, out of Middleton, Mass. is the contracting company for the project.
The salt shed will be 80 x 100 ft. The vast improvement in the size and structure of the new salt shed will allow the DPW to be more efficient with their every-day duties.
“This will allow us to stock up on salt for a full year,” said DPW Director Randy Brown.
DPW Director Randy Brown and the rest of the DPW will be receiving a brand new salt shed that will be located behind their garage. (WNG File Photo)
Once winter comes around, the DPW relies heavily on salt. Having salt for a year is a major upgrade from what the DPW is used to having. The current salt shed can only hold enough salt for two or three storms.
As the current salt shed is located behind the fire station, it was inconvenient for DPW employees. The loader for the salt and other equipment is at the DPW, but workers would have to go back and forth to the fire station in order to load up with salt.
With the salt shed now behind the garage at the DPW, the change of location makes a big difference for the DPW.
“It’ll make it a more efficient process,” said Brown.
The new salt shed was able to be made official once it was known that the Town of Southwick had received a $450,000 grant through the Massachusetts Office of Environmental and Energy Affairs.
The event on Sept. 7 will mainly be for the DPW to thank all who have helped them with this process of the new salt shed.
“It will be nice to give some recognition to the folks that were able to secure that for us,” said Brown.
According to Brown, Sen. Donald Humason and Rep. Nick Boldyga will both be present for the event.
