About $2M approved for snow removal, road salt purchases in Carroll County

The Board of Carroll County Commissioners met Thursday for its weekly meeting and approved various contracts and spending for snow removal, tree trimming and other county business.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve contracts related to winter weather, including up to $540,000 for snow removal with nine contractors who operate 26 vehicles designated for removal. Vehicles range from one-ton pickup trucks to 15-ton tri axles, according to officials with the Bureau of Roads Operations.

Commissioners also approved a $1.52 million contract with Deicing Depot to purchase bulk road salt. The Bureau of Roads Operations is responsible for about 1,000 miles of roads in the county, and said the annual salt usage fluctuates based on snowfall and ice conditions.

The county supplies salt for those roads as well as product for Manchester, Union Bridge, Taneytown, Sykesville, New Windsor and the Board of Education. The Farm Museum, Northern Landfill and Hashawa Environmental Center all use county supplies as well, and all reimburse the county for the salt.

Bureau officials told commissioners that the county purchases bulk salt when it’s at its cheapest and when delivery demand is lowest to keep costs down. Earlier this month, the county approved the purchase of a conveyor that will allow for more salt storage, which officials anticipate would lower overall salt costs as well.

Tree trimming contract

Commissioners also approved ongoing tree trimming services from C2 Crane and Tree Service at a cost of $756,000 for fiscal 2026.

The funding includes trimming, removal, stump grinding and brush disposal, as well as special equipment such as cranes and bucket trucks, for the entire fiscal year, which started July 1.

The Bureau of Roads is responsible not only for the trees along the road, but also for commuter safety from trees that may fall onto the roads. The bureau also deals with requests from the school system to trim trees that buses may hit along routes.