Highway department shifts $379,000 from brine building to truck upgrades to expand brine use

The Crow Wing County Board on June 24 approved a highway department budget amendment to reallocate funds originally earmarked for a salt‑brine building (TIP project 3012506) and apply the money to truck equipment upgrades and related needs.

Highway staff said the Salt Brine Building project — planned in the capital improvement program for about four years — now faces escalating construction and materials costs and some components are discontinued. The department proposed redirecting $379,000 to upgrade application equipment on existing trucks (the 2023 and 2024 truck projects), convert roughly five trucks to carry larger brine tanks, and possibly add brine storage if funds remain.

Public works staff explained the operational rationale: current truck brine capacity is about 200 gallons per truckload and the county’s brine production capacity is about 600 gallons per batch. Upgraded equipment would allow trucks to carry approximately 800 to 1,000 gallons and produce a slurry mixture with salt for more effective pretreatment and earlier ice melting. Highway staff said an initial goal is roughly a 15% replacement of rock salt with brine, with potential for larger savings over time as the program matures.

Commissioners and staff also discussed environmental concerns over chloride use and monitoring; staff reported they are tracking quantities of salt and brine applied and are coordinating with land services to monitor potential impacts on lakes and watersheds.

Commissioner Coring moved the request for board action; Commissioner Franzen seconded and the motion passed.