South Hills Communities Frustrated Over Rock Salt Delivery Delays

Municipalities say supplier Compass Minerals was unprepared for a harsh winter season.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Pittsburgh-area municipalities in the South Hills region are expressing frustration over delays in rock salt deliveries from their supplier, Compass Minerals. The South Hills Area Council of Governments (SHACOG) says the company has struggled to keep up with increased demand for salt due to a particularly harsh winter, leaving local communities unable to properly plow and treat their roads.

Why it matters

Reliable access to rock salt is critical for municipalities to maintain safe road conditions during the winter months. The delivery delays have forced some communities to ration their salt supplies, potentially impacting public safety and mobility. The situation highlights the importance of effective supply chain management for essential services, especially during extreme weather events.

The details

Compass Minerals is the vendor responsible for mining the rock salt and transporting it by barge to West Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, before delivering it by truck to local municipalities. SHACOG's executive director, Patrick Conners, says the organization has been aware of delivery delays since January 14th, with thousands of tons of salt yet to arrive over the past month. Conners notes that this winter has seen snowfall levels not experienced in 10-15 years, leading to higher than usual salt consumption by communities.

  • On January 14th, SHACOG was first made aware of delivery delays from Compass Minerals.
  • Over the past month, thousands of tons of rock salt have yet to be delivered to local communities.

The players

South Hills Area Council of Governments (SHACOG)

A regional council representing municipalities in the South Hills area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Compass Minerals

The vendor responsible for mining and delivering rock salt to the Pittsburgh region.

Patrick Conners

The executive director of the South Hills Area Council of Governments.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I can say that our experience with Compass Minerals has been very disappointing, and they clearly weren't prepared for a western Pennsylvania winter.”

— Patrick Conners, Executive Director, South Hills Area Council of Governments (CBS News)

“This winter has been a very, very hard one. We've seen snowfalls that have come around once every 10 or 15 years, so our communities have been using more rock salt than usual, and the shortages have obviously impacted many of our communities in the way that they can snowplow and salt their roads.”

— Patrick Conners, Executive Director, South Hills Area Council of Governments (CBS News)

What’s next

Just today, SHACOG says it received 3,000 tons of rock salt, which is expected to start being delivered to local communities beginning tomorrow.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the importance of effective supply chain management and preparedness for extreme weather events, which can have significant impacts on essential municipal services and public safety. It also underscores the need for municipalities to have robust contingency plans in place to mitigate the effects of supply chain disruptions.