The many headaches recent snowfalls have caused were a main topic of discussion in Slatington Monday night during the borough's Water/Sewer/ Highway Workshop Committee meeting.

Highway Committee Chairman Galen Freed explained how the continuous snow events have drained the borough's workers and resources this winter."We're getting cleaned up where we can, when we can," explained Freed. "The guys are working a tremendous amount of hours. They're been putting in a lot of overtime … and they'll be out again tonight."Freed said he knows residents are aggravated with their streets, etc., but borough road crews are keeping up with them as best they can."It got away from us somewhat because of the shortage of salt, which continues," Freed said.He explained that the borough got 50 tons of road salt last week, but that last week's double snow events and Tuesday's early morning expected snowfall "will pretty near wipe us out of salt."He said the road crews will continue using anti-skid material, but that it is not as good as road salt.Freed went on to explain that many other municipalities state-wide, and even nationwide, are facing the same shortage in regard to road salt, but said he doesn't know why."Everybody's in the same position, and (the road salt companies) are trying to satisfy everybody but it's hard … for the salt mines to keep the product on hand," Freed said.Council President Daniel Stevens noted that he had even called Washington Township to ask for salt, but was told it was out, too. Freed noted the borough has already borrowed salt from Walnutport.Freed also mentioned that two pieces of borough equipment are down right now, further complicating snow removal efforts.Later, Stevens asked residents to consider pitching in during this year's record snowfalls by shoveling out the fire hydrants in their neighborhood and also by clearing out their streets' catch basins (grates) in anticipation of the possible thaw and water runoff coming soon.In other news, Sewer Chairman Bob Steets said he received a proposal from Eastern Environmental Contractors, Inc., of Green Lane to correct a lid problem on one of the wastewater treatment plant's digesters.He said the company suggested two options, one for $11,750 in which the lid would be glued down and another, for $8,840, in which a seal would be placed around it. Steets said the company recommended the latter option because the digester lid has lifted before.Stevens asked Steets to get two more quotes for fixing the lid.