RV park at fairground will get new restrooms

The RV park at the Palouse Empire Fairground will have a new addition this summer: restrooms. The Board of County Commissioners Monday approved a $22,000 expenditure from the county’s lodging tax proceeds at the recommendation of the lodging tax advisory committee.

Fair and Facilities Director Bob Reynolds and Melissa Leinweber, office administrator, were present at the meeting to discuss the project.

“We do not have restrooms in the RV park,” Leinweber told the commissioners. “This would be of benefit to everyone in the RV area.”

Reynolds said the current facilities at the fairgrounds failed beyond repair from 2015-16, and porta potties are currently being rented at $200 per month.

“The RV park is our largest money stream,” he said of the necessity for the restrooms.

“It would get used all year round,” added Leinweber. “It’s not seasonal.”

Total cost of the project is estimated around $38,000. It will be paid for by the $22,000 award from the lodging tax, as well as $5,413 which facilities has on hand.

Additionally, facilities received a grant totaling $10,955 from the Washington State Department of Agriculture to help fund the project.

The new facility will be a double vault with two pit toilets. The pit format was chosen because there is no room for another drain field at the fairground.

The fair has five drain fields, seven holding tanks and two wash rack drain fields.

The commissioners, in approving the expenditure, noted they are aware of the need for a restroom facility in the RV park.

“I’ve had complaints about that at the fairgrounds, too,” said Commissioner Art Swannack. “I know it’s a needed project.”

In addition to the pit toilets, the project also includes construction of an outside hand and boot wash area. An outside light will also be installed

In presenting the proposal to the lodging tax advisory committee, the fair and facilities department highlighted that up to 70,000 people utilize the fairground each year and approximately 10,000 people come from more than 50 miles away to utilize the fairground. It is also estimated that of those 10,000, approximately 6,800 travel from another country or state and approximately 3,400 stay overnight in the area. The events listed at the fairground on the application include the fair, threshing bee, plowing bee, rodeo, horse shows, RV rallies, business meetings, weddings and reunions.

The contract, which was selected through a state bidding system, was awarded to CXT Incorporated out of Spokane.

Expected completion date of the project is June 30.