Hebron builds shed to preserve winter salt

HEBRON — The town's highway department is nearly finished constructing a temporary open-faced shed to preserve its road salt throughout the winter, selectmen reported at their December 26 meeting.

Chairman Dick Deans reported the roof for the salt storage should be delivered some time within the next week. 

"I kind of hope we'd have it in, and have it over there and on [the shed] by now, but I guess we will have one more [snow] storm before we do that," Deans said. 

Selectman Jim Reid said the town's code enforcement officer performed an inspection on the shed and "said the boys [highway crew] did a heck of a job." 

"It's looking good," agreed Reid. 

"The only thing he recommended was hurricane supports on every other truss," Reid told selectmen, "which connects it to the truss to the main [support] beam – instead of just toenailing it." 

Reid said that the town had received a load of salt to be stored in the shed that night. 

Selectmen first discussed the need for a salt/sand shed nearly a year ago, in February. Before the shed was constructed, the town's salt and sand piles were being covered with a tarp, which didn't adaquately protect the salt, selectmen reported. 

Then road commissioner, Warren Packard, reported at a selectmen meeting February 13 that without a shed, the town was losing 25 percent of its salt to rain – a value of $5,000. 

In other news, the board: 

• Reported a number of cars slid off the roads – especially Brighton Hill – on Christmas Day due to the snow and that the town's highway crew only had one working sand truck that day to assist motorists. 

• Reported that the town is still waiting for the result of the town vs. Hebron Academy court case on whether Hebron Academy should pay property taxes on Robinson Arena and other facilities the school rents to outside groups.

• Agreed to change the town's payroll service to bi-weekly, beginning this month. 

• Signed General Assistance Appendix C.