Assemblyman Aron Wieder Visits Ramapo Highway Department as New Brine Machine Secured Through $100,000 Grant Is Unveiled

Yisroel R.

A new brine-making machine purchased through a $100,000 state grant secured by Assemblyman Aron Wieder for the Town of Ramapo Highway Department was officially unveiled Tuesday morning, as Assemblyman Wieder visited the department’s brine plant to see firsthand the operation the funding will help modernize.

Wieder was joined by Town Supervisor Michael Specht and Highway Superintendent Fred Brinn during the visit, where the assemblyman toured the facility, unveiled the new machine, and viewed the process used to produce brine for treating roads ahead of winter storms.

As previously reported by Rockland Daily, Assemblyman Aron Wieder secured the $100,000 in state funding earlier this year to help the Highway Department purchase the advanced brine-making machine, which will automate a process currently done manually by department employees. Superintendent Brinn explained that the former process required approximately four workers, while the new equipment purchased through the grant will allow manpower to be redirected to other Highway Department operations.

Brine is applied to roadways before snowfall to help prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement, making roads easier to clear and reducing the amount of salt needed following a storm.

State Assemblyman Aron Wieder said in a statement to Rockland Daily, “I am proud to have secured this $100,000 in state funding for the Town of Ramapo to purchase a state-of-the-art brine-making machine. This investment will modernize our highway operations, reduce costs for taxpayers, free up personnel for other essential duties, and improve winter road safety throughout the Town of Ramapo and the villages it serves. Delivering real results for our communities is my top priority, and this grant is one more example of the millions of dollars I have brought back to our district for infrastructure upgrades, public safety, education, and vital local services.”

Ramapo Highway Superintendent Fred Brinn said, “Our previous brine-making operation was very primitive and required multiple people to manually mix the water and salt. This new machine is going to make the entire process much easier and more efficient. I want to thank Assemblyman Aron Wieder for securing this grant. A lot of politicians talk, but Assemblyman Wieder acts, and it is amazing to see him deliver something that will make a real difference for our Highway Department and the residents we serve.”