Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
The public restroom in Oakesdale may stay open later into the fall according to a proposal discussed at the city council meeting Monday night.
The one public restroom in town, at Oakesdale’s park by the pool, is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
When it’s not, visitors often walk into Crossett’s Market and ask if they have a restroom.
The park bathrooms are under the jurisdiction of the Oakesdale parks and recreation board, which proposed developing an agreement with the city to share the labor for keeping the restrooms open later in the year.
During the summer, pool lifeguards clean and supply the facilities and empty garbage.
“We heard from some people in town that this was something the city was interested in,” said Doug Hovde, Oakesdale Parks Board member, who sent a letter to the council July 31.
“Nothing has been decided, this is a first step, I guess.”
The Oakesdale council took up the matter of Hovde’s letter Monday night.
Chief concerns surfaced as liability and insurance.
“We’re discussing someone else’s risk,” said Councilman Tom Crooks, of potential insurance issues. “It’s not our risk.”
“They could shut the doors and be just as happy,” said councilman Randy Robinson.
“They do run on a very tight budget,” said Mayor Dennis Palmer.
“As do the rest of us,” said Robinson.
“If I was a private citizen, I wouldn’t be here discussing it,” said Crooks. “I’d be over there discussing it.”
Discussion wrapped up as the matter was tabled until further contact with the Parks Board.
“It’s like the FBI not talking to the CIA,” Crooks commented.
Essentially, the issue for the city is about insurance, Crooks later told the Gazette.
“They’re talking about working together, which I don’t have a problem with, but it’s a facility that belongs to them,” said Crooks. “We can go ahead and make an agreement but that doesn’t mean our insurance will apply. We need to find out if in fact there will be insurance issues.”
After the pool closes each Labor Day, the Parks board puts away the garbage cans and picnic tables and later winterizes the restrooms.
Hovde said that his proposal aims to fill a need.
“It’s something we’re willing to do,” Hovde. “We happen to have two public restrooms available in town.”
Also discussed at Monday’s council meeting was that the city would get signs made to inform people of the public restrooms.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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