Permanent bathrooms on the way for Fleet Park

Bathrooms to be completed by May 2018

Fleet Park soon could be sporting permanent bathrooms for visitors.

It’s not a new idea. Permanent bathrooms at Fleet Park — this specific plan — have been in the works since at least January 2016 when Mayor Vini Samuel took office. Then, Samuel included the bathrooms as part of a request to the state budget. That request was not approved.

On Monday, Sept. 11, the Grays Harbor County commissioners approved giving the city $86,500 from its .09 fund (funds intended to be used for economic development). That has made the project a reality.

In December 2016, the Kelsey Foundation offered to match any city financial contribution up to $15,000 for the permanent toilet facilities. The city plans to match the Kelsey Foundation grant with some $3,000 pledged by the Montesano Chamber of Commerce and the county funding. In addition to the pledge and county funding, city crews will do foundation and step tank work to save costs.

In total, the cost now is estimated at about $115,000. That figure is much higher than the $60,000 estimate less than a year ago.

“It will be a better facility, similar to what we have seen at other city parks in the region,” city Chief Financial Officer Doug Streeter said on Sept. 19.

Currently, the park has temporary bathrooms, but the bright blue, plastic shells of the temporary bathrooms lack a certain amount of curb appeal. The city installed a wooden fence around the bathrooms, but that’s also a temporary solution.

The new bathrooms will be constructed by May 2018. After city crews complete the foundation and step tank work, a pre-built bathroom unit will be set in place.