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Board repurposes salt-brine building funds to expand brine capacity and upgrade trucks
Summary
Crow Wing County approved a $379,000 budget amendment to reallocate funds from a Salt Brine Building project (TIP 3012506) to increase truck brine capacity, upgrade equipment for several trucks and possibly add brine storage as the county shifts toward more pre-treatment brine use to reduce rock-salt volumes.
The Crow Wing County Board approved a highway-department budget amendment on June 24 to reallocate $379,000 from the Salt Brine Building CIP (project 3012506) toward truck-capacity upgrades and related equipment. Highway staff said the project has faced higher-than-expected costs and discontinued materials; instead of building the originally planned small brine building now, the department will increase truck brine tank capacity (from about 200 gallons to roughly 800–1,000 gallons on upgraded trucks), retrofit equipment on five trucks and use any remaining funds for increased brine storage.
Highway staff said the change will enable more pre-treatment brine on roads and that early conservative estimates show about a 15% salt-use reduction at rollout—with potential for larger savings as operations are refined. "We're looking at moving forward that direction and utilize these funds in that direction," the highway presenter said, describing a goal of producing larger slurry mixtures on trucks for faster melting and better salt efficiency.
Commissioners raised environmental questions about chloride runoff and tracking. Staff said the department is already tracking rock-salt tonnage and brine volumes and is coordinating with land services to monitor watershed impacts; they noted reporting to the state for such tracking may be required in the future. The board approved the CIP reallocation by motion and voice vote (voice vote recorded as 'aye').
Next steps: Highway staff will proceed with reallocation, order equipment upgrades for the designated trucks and continue monitoring brine and environmental metrics.
