River Mill Park’s long awaited washrooms are going to take a bit more time.
The yearslong discussion on a permanent facility was seemingly at an end in January, when council approved tree clearing for the site ahead of a May installation.
“There are a number of factors related to the delays,” says Tarmo Uukkivi, Huntsville’s Director of Operations and Protective Services. “The primary consideration was the availability of contractors, and the inflationary price increases that we saw from the initial cost estimates to what was provided as a final estimate for the work.”
According to Uukkivi, the new estimate for site preparation is roughly $330,000, compared to the initial figure of $60,000. Council approved that increase on Monday.
Uukkivi adds the trees have already been cleared, as several posed a safety hazard if left alone, but staff will now look at alternative locations for the washrooms to figure out cost savings where possible.
Uukkivi says the facility itself, a pre-built self-cleaning unit, has already been purchased by an anonymous donor and is awaiting delivery. Depending on contractor availability, he says the unit will hopefully be installed by year’s end, or at latest before next summer.
