Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Uniontown restrooms
Uniontown public restrooms
Above: The public restroom in Uniontown is a key feature of the park for locals and commuters. Right: The town council’s posted sign explains the reason for the closure.
The Uniontown town council is deciding on options to continue to offer a public restroom after closing their facility along Highway 195 in late June.
The restroom building, which was built 15 years ago with funding from Washington Department of Transportation and the American Legion, was shut down by a council vote June 14.
Increasing problems with maintenance and theft of toilet paper and paper towels led to the decision.
“I can’t have my maintenance person down there three hours a day cleaning it,” said Mayor Dave Jacobs.
The mayor and Brent Lane, Public Works superintendent, showed pictures to the council of the messes left.
“It’s the people that are using it, is all I can say,” Jacobs said.
At the council meeting last Wednesday, July 12, members heard feedback from the community and discussed the option of leasing a portable restroom.
“That’s a possibility,” Jacobs said.
The option would involve paying a company to place the portable toilets and maintain them.
Jacobs indicated that if they can find a price of $200-$250 a month, they will likely do it.
The lack of the public restroom is noticed by locals as well as those who travel through town on the highway.
“The park isn’t real useful without a restroom,” said Dale Miller, president for Uniontown Community Development Association. “It’s a hard one. We’ve been working on making Uniontown an attractive place to live and do business in. It’s counterproductive for what we’re trying to do.”
The matter will be on the agenda at the next council meeting Aug. 9.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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