09.e1 Gravel Road Dust Control
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: 4/15/2025
For: Honorable Mayor and Council
From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works
Subject: Calcium Chloride Application
Background:
The gravel roads in Scandia have been receiving applications of Calcium Chloride for many years
to stabilize the road and control dust from vehicle traffic. Public Works has coordinated the
applications through vendors at specific times of the year with the most important application
taking place mid-Spring. Calcium Chloride applications are non-toxic, trap moisture from the air,
and does not evaporate easily making it an ideal dust suppressant. One major drawback to
Calcium Chloride is the corrosive nature to metal surfaces. Typically, one application per year
has been done but during dry seasons the southern gravel roads (185 th St. N., Oakgreen Ave. N.,
and Old Marine Trail N.) have received a second application in the later portion of the summer.
When the City applies the product to the entire road surface, complaints have come from
residents of vehicles and trailers rusting much faster than if no Calcium Chloride were to be
applied to the roadway. On the other side of the spectrum the City has received complaints that
not enough applications are completed and health concerns over dust inhalation have been
reported. Public Works favors the applications of Calcium Chloride for the reasons of road
surface stabilization and dust control. Calcium Chloride helps prolong the loss of dust and fine
particles. The loss of fine particles contributes to the loss of larger aggregate from vehicle traffic
and gravel roads deteriorate faster leading to the need for additional grading and gravel to be
added to the roads. The City includes other private sections of gravel within the quotes and if
treatment is requested by the property owners, the city charges for this service at a rate of 1.15
over the cost of application to offset staff time coordinating application.
For 2025, Public Works has requested an alternative material be added to the quotes along
with typical Calcium Chloride.
Proposal:
This year Public Works is proposing to apply one Spring application of dust control to all gravel
roads highlighted on the map and have the ability to apply a second application later in the
season to road sections of concern for dust and road surface instability.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding for the applications will come out of the Public Works General Fund and have been
factored into the total Contractual Road Maintenance Repair line item along with other
necessary maintenance or repairs required.
Quotes have been received from two vendors: Envirotech Services and Northern Salt Inc.
Envirotech has set their cost to $1.60 per gallon of Calcium Chloride solution applied and
Northern Salt Inc. has set their cost to $1.66 per gallon of Calcium Chloride solution applied.
Envirotech was the only vendor to propose the cost of an alternative solution. The y have
provided a cost for a proprietary solution which still incorporates Calcium Chloride but is
enhanced with a polymer additive which has been tested to reduce leaching of Calcium
Chloride off the road surface and increase water absorption from the air. Total cost for each
vendors application has a marginal difference. A full application of standard Calcium Chloride
through Envirotech will cost $22,080.00 and a full application of standard Calcium Chloride
through Northern Salt Inc. will cost $22,908.00. A second application will vary in cost but
typically has been half the amount of the initial full application and the cost per gallon will not
change at any point during the season. The optional proprietary product through Envirotech
Services will cost $23,460.00 for one full application and again the cost per gallon will not
change during the season for additional applications.
Options:
1.) Award Calcium Chloride application for dust control to Northern Salt Inc. at a cost of
$1.66 per gallon totaling $22,908.00 for one full application and second application later
in the season to areas of concern for dust and road surface instability.
2.) Award Calcium Chloride application for dust control to Envirotech Services at a cost of
$1.60 per gallon totaling $22,080.00 for one full application and second application later
in the season to areas of concern for dust and road surface instability.
3.) Award the Proprietary Blend application to Envirotech Services at a cost of $1.70 per
gallon totaling $23,460.00 for one full application and second application later in the
season to areas of concern for dust and road surface instability
4.) Do not apply Calcium Chloride or other blends of dust control on gravel roads.
Recommendation:
Option 3: Although the more expensive option by $1,380.00 over the least expensive option,
the reduction of leaching of Calcium Chloride may likely outweigh the additional cost.
Note:
Public Works recommends moving to Option 2 for a standard Calcium Chloride application if
Option 3 is not of interest to the Council.
Del Description Qty Unit Price/Unit Disc. % Net Amount Gross Amount
1 Calcium Chloride 38% -
Applied
13,800 gal 1.60 0.00% 22,080.00 22,080.00
1 Calcium Chloride 38% -
Applied
8,500 gal 1.60 0.00% 13,600.00 14,739.00
2 DuraBlend® CEP 8,500 gal 1.70 0.00% 14,450.00 14,450.00
2 DuraBlend® CEP 13,800 gal 1.70 0.00% 23,460.00 23,460.00
Net Total: 73,590.00
Tax Total 1,139.00
Gross Total 74,729.00
Quotation
Delivery Address:
City of Scandia
15040 Scandia Trail North
Scandia MN 55073
Document Address:
City of Scandia
14727 209th Street
Scandia MN 55073
Product Application Wanted Delivery Date:
Length in Feet:
Width in Feet: Payment Terms:
Rate in Gallons:30 Days Net
Label Note:
Water Application Dust Control Quote
EnviroTech:N
Rate:
Gallons Required:
Quotation Date: Date Printed: Expiration Date:
4/3/25 4/3/25 10/31/25
Quotation Number: Revision No: Customer Number:
S7217 2 14239
Your Reference: Our Reference:
Accounts Rodney Havard
1 (1)
Disclaimer: No warranty is conveyed concerning this product, be it expressed or implied. This includes but is not limited to a
warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Product performance may vary depending on road conditions,
traffic counts, weather and other related factors.
PO Box 1028 * Forest Lake, MN * 55025
Phone: (651) 209-3148 Fax: (651) 407-0609
www.northernsalt.com
March 11, 2025
City of Scandia, Minnesota
Attention: Charles Fischer
Public Works Director
14727 209th Street North
Scandia, MN 55073
Northern Salt submits a bid for the 2025 dust control season.
38% Calcium Chloride $1.66 per gallon applied.
First application in the spring. Estimated 13,800 gallons at $1.66 per gallon = total for all gravel
roads application $22,908.00
Second application area of southern road section application. Estimated 8,500 gallons of 38%
Calcium Chloride at $1.66 per gallon. Total for southern roads application $14,110.00
Grand Total estimate of 38% Chloride for main roads and south roads of spring 2025 season is
22,300 gallons $37,018.00
Please contact our Operations Manager Ryan McCray if you have any additional questions.
ryan.m@northernsalt.com
651-304-0738
We look forward to working with you again this year!
Tammy Kmetz
Controller
tammy@northernsalt.com
651-363-2787