Cherry Hill Adds $232K Brine System for Winter Season

Cherry Hill will go to battle against the winter elements with a new weapon in the arsenal this year—a brine system for the township’s public works was approved by the township council last week and will likely be up and running before the first threat of snow, officials said.

The new system will run the township $232,800, but with savings on both supplies and employee overtime, that cost could be recouped within three years, officials said.

“There are a lot of pluses to brine,” township business administrator Lenore Rosner said, ticking off everything from reduced costs—brine runs 7 to 10¢ per gallon, about 15 percent less than a comparable amount of rock salt—to reduced wear and tear on roads.

One of the biggest potential savings is in employee overtime, officials said, given brine can be applied hours ahead of an impending snowstorm, rather than having to wait to call in public works staff whenever a storm strikes, especially if it hits at night or on a weekend.

The new system will also allow for brine storage for up to a year, officials said, so there’s less chance of wasting supplies.

Five companies bid on the system, with Roger Wuestefeld Inc. of Marlton putting in the lowest bid that met all conditions the township laid out, officials said.

With a few months still to go before snow becomes a real threat, township spokeswoman Bridget Palmer said there’s little chance a storm could hit before the system is up and running.

“It should be in place for this season,” Palmer said.