Gelderman Landscape Services has reached out to our salt suppliers in an effort to maintain our salt supply through the salt shortage that is being felt.
We have received communications which we are sharing with you here from Legends Salt Supply Inc, Your Salt Connection and [Draglam Salt](https://horttrades.com/salt-shortage-due-to-truly-canadian-winter) describing these shortages. (Click through to see) Our suppliers are working with us to work out the best arrangement possible for our clients, however, as reserves are depleted, supply becomes limited for contractors as municipalities and cities become the top priority for public safety.
This salt shortage is being felt in a wide area:
[Ohio](http://www.cleveland19.com/story/37430917/stark-county-severe-salt-shortage-crippling-efforts-to-keep-ice-off-roads),
[Illinois](http://abc7chicago.com/weather/chicago-weather-2-5-inches-of-snow-expected-monday/3036250/),
[Michigan](https://www.wxyz.com/news/region/oakland-county/metro-detroit-contractors-facing-salt-shortage-as-more-snow-is-in-the-forecast)
We are working hard to maintain a supply of salt to service our customers, but given the current state, we do need to make some adjustments to our service.
**We will be prioritizing the use of salt and de-icer on high priority areas such as front unit walks and walks that lead up to front entrances of the building. We are going to decrease the amount of salt we apply to roadways and parking areas as well. This is a change to our previous practice of salting during the snow events**
There is a potential of price increases that come with a shortage of supply as demand increases. Currently, we have been able to maintain our prices as the rates you have been quoted, but that may not last if the salt shortage continues. In 2014, the salt shortage did create an increase in price, as we are reminded [here](http://abc7chicago.com/weather/chicago-weather-2-5-inches-of-snow-expected-monday/3036250/), it more than doubled. Click through to see a letter from Federated Insurance describing our responsibilities in an event like this.
Gelderman Landscape Services experienced a shortage like this last in 2014 and since has been working to use [different methods of de-icing](https://gelderman.com/blog/492/de-icing-anti-icing-the-future-of-snow). Because of climate change and our reliance on salt to combat the icy conditions, we can see that these alternative options will become more prevalent in the future.
Thank you for your patience & understanding, please contact your branch representative with any additional questions!
***Update – more info here from [Snow & Ice Management Association](https://www.sima.org/news2/2018/02/19/salt-supply-shortage-in-midwest-and-northern-markets)***
