McHenry County Division of Transportation wins road salting award

WOODSTOCK – The McHenry County Division of Transportation has won the Salt Institute's Safe and Sustainable Snowfighting Award.

Awarded for “excellence in environmental consciousness and effective management” in the use and storage of road salt, the distinction marked MCDOT as one of 85 agencies in the U.S. and Canada to receive the award for 2017, according to a news release from the county.

The institute’s nod also represents the 14th year in a row the county has received the award.

"The McHenry County Division of Transportation is looked upon nationwide as being at the forefront of keeping our winter roads salted and safe, while minimizing runoff into the environment and the aquifers from which all county residents get their water," director of transportation and county engineer Joe Korpalski said in a statement. "I'm proud that we've won this award not once, not twice, but for
14 consecutive years."

Recipients of the Safe and Sustainable Snowfighting Award must meet or exceed 70 different criteria for salt storage, equipment, safety, environmental protection and service.

“These facilities have cleared a high bar,” Salt Institute President Lori Roman said in a statement. “For example, in minimizing salt runoff alone, 10 specific recommendations must be met.

Three of the 10 public works departments in Illinois that received the award are in McHenry County; the release did not name the departments. The Salt Institute also honored storage facilities in Lake in the Hills and Spring Grove.