STEUBENVILLE, Ohio -- A city council member said the reason there is a salt shortage in Steubenville is the lack of salt in the state and a bidding war between cities.

The city of Steubenville is waiting on a 1,200-ton order of salt.

The city street department told NEWS on Friday that the salt was ordered this week from Morton Salt, a company located in Cleveland.

NEWS9 talked with councilman-at-large Ed Chanoski to find out why there wasn't already enough salt on hand in the city.

Chanoski told NEWS9 that street superintendent Joe DeSantis followed standard procedure in ordering the salt this week.

Chanoski said the problem is, with the amount of snow in surrounding areas, there's a lack of salt, and now a bidding war has begun.

Chanoski told NEWS9 that Morton Salt is a main supplier, and that Steubenville is competing with larger cities like Cleveland and Akron to get the salt.

He said the city just can't keep up with the prices.

“Joe DeSantis did exactly what he's done for years upon years about ordering the salt when it's supposed to be ordered,” said Chanoski. “And normally that salt would've been here with plenty of time, but it's just that there's a shortage everywhere, and the company is making us bid for that salt."

The street department told NEWS9 on Friday that the salt order is expected to arrive on Saturday.

In the meantime, ODOT is lending crews about 100 tons of salt.

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