By ANDY GARDNER

MASSENA -- With the sale of the former Department of Public Works building on South Main Street expected to close on Feb. 15, Mayor Tim Currier at Tuesday’s village board meeting said officials need to solve their salt storage problem.

The village is selling the lot to St. Lawrence Soyway, a soybean processing company that has previously stated they plan to employ about 30 people in their manufacturing operation.

The village had been considering storing their sand and salt at or near their current DPW on Robinson Road, but nearby residents turned out at numerous village board meetings and said they don’t want the truck traffic that would accompany it.

“I think the last time we talked about this, my thoughts were a lack of a viable alternative, a salt barn could be placed down by our current facilities,” Deputy Mayor Matt Lebire said.

He said there is also the possibility of putting it back in nearby woods, which would require state legislative approval.

“I know that wasn’t wildly popular but I haven’t heard any alternative,” he said.

There had been talk of possibly working with the town on a shared facility. They have had separate discussions about their need to build an entire new Highway Department garage.

“The only thing we’ve consistently heard from them is they have to do something,” Mayor Tim Currier said.

“Tim are you going to suggest a committee made of town members and village members, or get both boards together?” Trustee Tim Ahlfeld asked.

“For the purpose of productivity, I think smaller is better,” Currier replied.

He said he would communicate with board members via email and bring the topic back for future discussion.