A salty surplus! That's what Northeast Ohio is dealing with after a very mild winter.
Communities across the state haven't needed as much salt to keep the roads dry.
The service director in Orange Village, Bob Zugan, told NewsChannel 5 it's the biggest surplus they've seen.
Zugan said those extra tons of salt could save them tons of money next year.
"We don't go out and throw salt on the road to get rid of it. I would much rather have it stored and reduce our budget and be budget-conscious for residents of the village," Zugan said.
Just down the road, in Moreland Hills, Service Director Ted DeWater said they're dealing with the same surplus, but they've got nowhere to put it.
"We'll get about 400 tons in our barn, which will leave us an additional 600 to store," he said.
Worst case, DeWater said, they'll pile it up and tarp it outside.
He said money saved in labor, fuel, and equipment costs this year will better prepare departments for next year's winter.
"We'll be prepared right out of the gate for whatever weather comes," DeWater said.
