Why would the Minnesota DOT reducing salt usage on the roadways be relevant in Minot? Because a common question of those new to our area is why don’t we use salt on our roads? And the answer is because it’s more expensive than sand. Plus, it’s bad for the environment — salt gets into the water, then it gets into rivers and lakes. But they’re not all wrong — they’re also using some high-tech solutions to make sure their dollars are maximized.