Winter Best Practices Workshop
The 2024 workshops aim to help personnel from municipalities and public works facilities implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce the amount of salt they use in snow fighting operations and to address NPDES Permit Requirements. This year we are offering workshops both in person and online.
All in-person workshops are from 8AM to Noon. Breakfast is included and begins at 7:30.
Public Roads
Tuesday, September 17th
IN PERSON - City of Aurora
1200 E. Indian Trail Road, Aurora
Tuesday, September 24th
IN PERSON - Lake County
500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, 2nd Floor Conference Rm
Thursday, October 3rd
IN PERSON - Village of Homewood
1023 191st St, Homewood
Tuesday, October 8th
VIRTUAL
Tuesday, October 15th
VIRTUAL
Parking Lots & Sidewalks
Thursday, September 26th
VIRTUAL
Tuesday, October 1st
IN PERSON - Streamwood Park District
700 W. Irving Park Road, Streamwood
2022 Sponsors
2024 Workshops - Save the Date
2024 Dates
Workshop FAQs
No, the $85 registration fee is for the link to join a particular webinar and can be shared among the staff. If staff is joining webinars on different dates, then the fee must be paid for each webinar date.
After registering through EventBrite you will receive an email with a link and password to join the webinar. If you cannot register online, contact Nancy Cinatl at 630-428-4500 ext. 120 or [email protected] to process the payment and receive the link.
No, the workshops are being offered on multiple dates to accommodate schedules.
These trainings are good for both your staff that clear snow and ice as well as program managers and administrative staff that interact with residents or customers.
Yes! Participation in the workshops should be included in your annual MS4 report (for entities that have an MS4 permit). Circulating/encouraging private deicing companies that operate in your community can also be included in your MS4 report.
Yes, this is a great way to meet this requirement for your staff as well as encouraging any contractors that you hire to sign up for the trainings.
Yes, the training will be live and participants will be able to ask questions through a Q&A box.
Yes, you can request a certificate for 4 PDH’s after the webinar is completed. Requests can be sent to Nancy Cinatl at [email protected]
Northeast Illinois Salt Conference
The Salt Smart Collaborative held the first Northeast Illinois Salt Conference in September 2023. We hope to make this an annual event, so look out for next years conference!
The Northeast Illinois Salt Conference showcased local experiences with cutting edge winter road maintenance practices. The conference is geared towards Road Supervisors, Public Works Directors, and other decision makers. Topics included route management, weather forecasting and pavement temperature forecasting, liquids, and more.
Winter Technical Brief Webinars
2021 Winter Technical Briefs
More About Brine Making
Snow and Ice Removal Communications with Your Residents
Reducing Chloride Emissions: The Boost & Reduce Method
2020 Winter Technical Briefs
Reducing Salt with Organics - The Boost & Reduce Method
Sourcewell & Cooperative Purchasing
The Benefits of Segmented Blades
The Fine Art of Brine Making
Recorded Webinars
Salt Wise Wednesday Webinars
Wednesday, August 4: Get Salt Wise with Private Contractors
Owners and managers from private winter maintenance companies in the Madison-area discuss their transitions to Salt Wise practices after attending a Smart Salting workshop. Matt Maier, Envirosealers, Jeremy Johnson, The Bruce Company, and Dan Dean, MAD Plowing & Mowing, will share tips and tricks on application rates that work, brine use for parking lots and sidewalks, and conversations with customers.
Wednesday, September 1: Mayo Clinic says, “Hold the Salt”
From financial savings on salt, to reduced damage to infrastructure, and everything in-between, learn from Matt Donovan, Facilities Manager, how Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus 50% drop in salt use has been a win-win-win with no impact to their level of service.
Wednesday, October 6: Brine 101
Looking for a primer on how to incorporate salt brine into your winter maintenance toolbelt? Matt Wittum, Town of Linn Highway Superintendent, is your man. Matt helped design and lead the smart salting training program in northern Illinois before jumping across the border. He has published several articles on brine use and is eager to assist others in any way he can.
