HOWLAND — With the season’s harsh snow and temperatures wreaking havoc on roads everywhere, officials have a better idea of where they stand with salt in the waning months of winter.

Howland Public Works Director David McCann explained to trustees and residents at Wednesday’s meeting that a common question everyone asks is how much salt the department has gone through for the season and how much remains.

“We started the season with 2,600, almost 2,700 (tons) allotted,” McCann said. “We’re down to our last 850 tons, but that’s pretty standard this time of year. As long as we don’t have an extension of winter into March, we’ll be fine.

McCann said they’re one of the few communities still with their allotment, noting that other areas have used more than they assumed they’d need.

“They’re asking the county for additional quantity over what they expect, but the county’s holding onto it because they don’t know,” he said.

McCann said they’ve implemented a “few procedures” over the past several weeks to ease the strain on what’s left of their supply by shifting away from using pure salt.

“We’re not using pure salt if we don’t need to and (have moved to) a blend mix, which is a one-to-one mix, which helps us get through some events, as long as it isn’t too cold,” he said. “Blend will work in circumstances when it’s not extremely cold out. If it gets really, really cold, the salt doesn’t work real well after minus 20-degree weather, like when it’s 15 and stuff. But it still works.”

Using a blended mix also helps because it has grip, McCann said. He’s “stretched it” a little bit, he added, using nearly 450 tons of blend materials thus far.

McCann said they’re dependent on the township’s traffic to help move their salt supply around, noting they look at areas that won’t be affected by it or are dangerous by nature.

“We have a standard amount that goes out on the roadways. When the guys are salting for the most part, you know we spot salt and we depend on traffic to move that salt from one point to another,” he said. “We don’t just dump salt on the road as we go down the road. We do it in locations where you know where it’s needed most and the curbs.”

In other business Wednesday, trustees:

•Approved renewing the township’s 2025 General Liability Insurance with OTARMA for $114,997, which is a $28,901 increase from 2024.

•Approved a contract with Alexander Pest Control for the 2025 mosquito spraying program totaling $17,319.

•Approved opposing any Trumbull County Water District rate or sales tax increases as they directly affect Howland residents.

•Approved adding a $150 permit fee for a short-term rental to the township’s zoning fee schedule.

•Approved the township’s police and fire departments to apply for the 2025 OTARMA Police & Fire / EMS Grant totaling $2,000.

•Accepted All American Fire Equipment’s bid of $107,821 for hose, nozzles and appliances for the 2023 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The resolution notes the grant’s federal portion will be $101,051, while the fire department will owe $6,769.