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Cooperation Between Governments

By WILLIAM R. GRAY, Director of Public Works, City of Urbana, Illinois

The City of Urbana, Urbana Township and Champaign County officials recently put their thoughts together to try and avoid the dilemma that many communities faced this past winter with the shortage of salt. When salt supplies were at their lowest levels, communities such as ours were blending salt with other products to make the salt last longer. This blending, however, comprises the effectiveness of salt as a de-icing/melting agent. As discussions about the salt shortage dilemma unfolded it was discovered that all three agencies were in the process of replacing salt storage sheds for larger ones. The idea of building a jointly-used shed was spurned and was actually implemented.

The three agencies held a series of meetings to work out the details of where to place the structure, how large, what design, how would it be operated, maintained, etc. After good cooperation, resolution of these issues, and support from local elected officials, Champaign County took the lead in the construction of a new 100-foot diameter dome, 4500-ton salt storage facility on their property. The $175,000 structure plus site work expenses were split on a pro rata basis, based on annual average salt use by the agencies. In addition, future operation and maintenance costs would be split along the same lines.

Upon completion of the structure it will hold a full year supply of salt for the County, Township and City, thereby avoiding mid-winter shortages. There will also be the ability to provide salt if necessary for other local agencies such as the Park District, School District and Metropolitan Transit District. If the respective agencies were to separately build salt storage sheds, the issues of limited available space and funds would have prolonged their construction and at a greater expense. Through the cooperative effort of the three governments, a workable solution was obtained and a win/win scenario was established, not only for the employees and elected officials but also for the citizens that will be served.

Page 20 / Illinois Municipal Review / August 1994


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