Upgrades are coming for the city’s downtown public restrooms that will do away with users’ ability to lock themselves in.
City council, at its Nov. 27 meeting, voted to award the Ross Street Plaza washroom upgrade to McDiarmid Construction for $153,182 (taxes included). Council also authorized a financial plan bylaw amendment to reallocate $45,000 for the work, and a $15,000 contingency from the city’s Covid Restart grant.
A staff report to council, presented by roads and parks manager Darin Gerow, explained the heated “male and female” washrooms at the plaza are open 365 days a year and are heavily used. Constructed in 2007, the washrooms are described as “single use,” where the occupant enters and locks the door from the inside.
“In recent years these washrooms have had significant use, wear and vandalism,” reads the report. “It now appears the single use washroom is not desirable due to occupants being able to lock themselves in for extended periods of time not, allowing for public use.”
The planned upgrades will include additions on the north and south sides of the building allowing multiple stalls on both sides, eliminating the opportunity to lock from the inside.”
“In addition, due to the extensive vandalism over the years, all fixtures and structures will be upgraded to become vandal-proof to our best ability,” reads the staff report. “The stage and mural will not be affected, nor altered during the upgrade of the washroom facility.”
In 2021, the city awarded preliminary design of the upgrade to Avex Architecture and, in 2022, the city received preliminary approval for $84,000 in Canada Community Revitalization funding for the project. Final approval for the grant wasn’t received until March 2023, decreasing the time available to tender the project. This left the city to tender the project and get the work done over the winter
The city had $135,000 allocated for the project in the 2023 budget. Four bids were received, with the lowest coming from McDiarmid, based in Salmon Arm. The highest came in at $283,500 (taxes included).
Coun. Kevin Flynn, council’s representative with Downtown Salmon Arm, said the Ross Street Plaza washrooms are discussed at most of the improvement association’s meetings, that he looks forward to the changes and is glad to see it being done by a local company.
Mayor Alan Harrison noted how single-use washrooms with single doors “used to be the way it was done.
“I know that everywhere there’s significant damage done to those washrooms…” said Harrison. “This way, I think it will certainly improve that situation. I also hear from residents and sometimes they’re frustrated because the door is locked and they can’t get in, and they wait but nothing happens.”
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