“We're working on the plant this week,” said public works Director Larry Chalker. “We're moving material around.”

The design is fairly simple, he said, explaining there are no moving parts besides the pumps.

The department made the decision to build its own plant after the last spate of winter storms. “I'd rather make it here than having our people have to transport it,” Chalker said.

Having the capability to produce its own brine will mean the city will have to have extra salt storage, Chalker said. “We'll eventually have to build a larger storage facility.”

The brine plant is part of that solution and it is being built by public works employees.

The plant will have the capacity to make 3,000 gallons every 30 minutes, Chalker said, through a process that involves flushing water through two scoops — approximately 4.4 tons — of salt.

That process, which is done in a tank, dissolves the salt. “After three runs of water, its salinity balances to what you want — a 23.3 percent dilution.”

That formula is capable of treating 40 gallons per lane per mile, although the solution is applied to roads in the city differently based on traffic volumes.

It also depends on the type of weather event expected. “There's no specific time frame. We have to make the best guess decision depending on how it starts. If it's dry, we can pre-treat as much as we can. Sometimes, the forecast let's you down,” Chalker said.

Brine application has been a proven treatment method in the city. “When you dissolve salt in water you get more even applications and it tends to go further, more bang for the buck,' he said. “There are less moving parts.”

There is no specific time frame for getting the project done, Chalker said, although the goal is to have it completed before the upcoming winter season.

Chalker estimates doing the project in-house will save the city between $10,000 to $12,000 in labor and materials.

While salt storage will be the next consideration, Chalker envisions further cost savings.

Salt is about $104 per ton and two truckloads cost around $5,000. “I've seen prices as high as $8,000.”

But, he said, “If the salt application goes three time further, that's a cost-savings. It will keep employees safe and we can be more responsive.”

City Manager Joseph Scherer said he believes the plant will mean a significant savings to the city. “We can provide more efficient road treatment services in cold weather.”