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Houston County awards brine quote to Bluff Country Brine and opts into state salt cooperative
Summary
The Houston County Board accepted the low quote for liquid chloride (brine) from Bluff Country Brine and authorized participation in the State of Minnesota cooperative salt purchasing program, approving estimated quantities and delegation of application options to staff and townships.
Houston County commissioners voted to accept the low quote from Bluff Country Brine for the county’s liquid chloride (brine) purchase and approved participation in the State of Minnesota cooperative purchasing program for road salt.
County staff recommended awarding the brine contract to Bluff Country Brine based on bids received March 19, 2025. The county portion of the order was described as 21,528 gallons for delivery to Caledonia at a cost the presenter said was $32,076.72; combined with township requests, staff estimated a total of about 52,000 gallons would be needed countywide, with some gallons delivered to Caledonia and some delivered and applied to roads at differing unit prices.
The presenter said the low delivered price quoted was $1.49 per gallon for delivery to Caledonia and $1.63 per gallon delivered-and-applied to roadways, and that using the vendor to apply brine on township roads could save county equipment costs even though county staff time would still be involved on county roads. Commissioners made and seconded a motion to accept the low quote and approved it by voice vote.
On the salt purchase, staff recommended the county participate again in the Minnesota cooperative purchasing contract (coordinated through MnDOT) and bid for the same total quantity as the prior year: 1,400 tons, with planned distribution of 300 tons to Caledonia, 200 tons to Hokah, 500 tons to Houston, and 400 tons to Spring Grove. Staff explained quantities can be adjusted within the contract range (an under-run of 20% or overrun up to 25%) and that the county will not know price until bids open in May; the county’s historical experience on the state contract was presented as yielding lower prices and supply security compared with buying on the open market. Commissioners voted to proceed with ordering under the state cooperative purchasing arrangement.
Both procurement items were presented as routine public-works purchases. The brine award authorizes staff to coordinate with townships and Bluff Country Brine to determine whether the county or the vendor will perform application based on cost and logistics; the salt decision authorizes participation in the state contract and an order for 1,400 tons (plus/minus contract ranges) pending final bid pricing.
Votes at a glance: the board approved acceptance of the low brine quote to Bluff Country Brine (approved by voice vote) and approved participating in the state cooperative salt purchase and ordering the same 1,400-ton quantity (approved by voice vote).
