01/30/2026
Copied but true....
Unfortunately, instead of arguing about whether salt “works” or not, we need to start asking a much more important question:
What are private snow contractors supposed to do when we are not allowed to buy salt?
Right now in Michigan, is in one of the worst salt shortages we have seen in over a decade. The state has stepped in to restrict commercial salt sales. Municipalities are being prioritized for what limited supply exists. Cities and townships are being forced to take deliveries first. Private contractors are being rationed, cut off, or told there is simply no product available.
At the same time, nothing has changed when it comes to slip and fall laws.
Private contractors are still being held fully liable if someone falls.
Property owners are still expecting perfect conditions.
Insurance companies are still denying claims.
Lawyers are still filing lawsuits.
That makes absolutely no sense.
You cannot tell private companies they are not allowed to buy salt, then turn around and legally punish them for not having enough salt on site. That is not realistic. That is not fair. And that is not sustainable.
We need to shift the conversation.
Instead of debating salt usage, we need to be asking:
What protections are in place for private contractors during a declared salt emergency?
Why are slip and fall laws not being temporarily modified to reflect material shortages and active storm conditions?
What relief is being offered to private companies who are being forced to operate without access to the very tools they are legally expected to use?
What happens when contractors start walking away from sites because the legal risk is too high and the material supply is too low?
Bulk salt pricing is up 377% percent since the start of the season.
Municipalities are being prioritized.
Private contractors are being pushed to the back of the line.
Crews are exhausted and running nonstop.
Storms are not slowing down.
Yet the legal liability has not changed one bit.
This is not just a contractor problem.
This is a public safety problem.
This is a policy problem.
If the state is going to control the salt supply, then the state also needs to step up and provide temporary legal protection for private snow contractors. That means liability shields, modified standards of care, or emergency provisions that recognize ongoing storm conditions and material scarcity.
We need to talk about this salt shortage openly.
We need to push this subject publicly.
We need to stop pretending this is business as usual.
We need a change. We need you to tag your state rep. Let’s make a change and GET THIS SHORTAGE ADDRESSED NOW! No more staying quiet. We need out state reps to address this issue.
