Douglas County commissioners agreed Wednesday to buy 3,000 tons of salt to prepare for next winter’s anticipated snow-clearing efforts.

The $129,060 expenditure — that’s $43.02 per ton — is considered a bargain, considering what would happen if the county were to wait for temperatures to begin dropping and precipitation to start freezing.

“If you buy it now, it’s $43 per ton,” said Craig Weinaug, county administrator. “If you wait until winter, it’s about $100 per ton.”

Also slated to buy road-clearing salt as part of the combined bid submitted by Central Salt:

• City of Lawrence, 3,500 tons, for $150,570.

• City of Eudora, 200 tons, for $8,604.

• Wakarusa Township, 400 tons, for $17,208.

• Franklin County, 1,200 tons, for $51,524.

• City of Ottawa, 300 tons, for $12,906.