By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorWarren County will be spending considerably less for road salt this year.The county commission last week awarded a salt contract to Lange-Stegmann Company. The St. Louis-based company submitted the lowest bid of of $74.50 per ton out of four received. The county agreed to purchase 400 tons, which will cost $29,800.Last year, the county sought bids three different times due to a shortage of road salt. The shortage, which was the result of the extreme winter weather in late 2013 and early 2014, drove up the price.Eventually, the county purchased salt for $130 per ton, more than twice what it paid the previous year. In 2013, the county paid $62 per ton.Commissioners said they were pleased with the bids this year.“I was expecting it to be there,” Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner said. “I was shocked last year. Availability was the biggest thing. “It’s back to where we need it to be.”Kluesner noted the county still has salt remaining from last year. Due to the high price, the county was only able to spend $19,500 for salt.Other salt bids submitted this year were from Independence Salt Company ($83.43 per ton), DBK Salt Supply ($98.50) and Gunther Salt Company ($110). Two other companies — Cargill and Central Salt — sent no-bid letters.Road Salt