By Josh Davis, Associate Editor

(Feb. 8, 2018) Permanent restrooms were installed at Dr. William Henry Park in Berlin last Wednesday and utility hookups are expected to finish within the next few weeks.

The Town Council approved funding for the project last February, voting unanimously to pay winning bidder Green Flush Technologies $119,885 for the prefabricated outdoor restroom building.

Administrative Services Director Mary Bohlen said at the time the majority of funding for the project, about $96,000, would come from a Community Parks and Playgrounds state grant. The total cost of the bathrooms, including hookups to town water, sewer and electric, was estimated to be $135,035.

Town Administrator Laura Allen said the project did not go over budget.

She said the gap between approval and installation was mostly because of delays caused by weather.

“I think the most recent hang-up was the weather, and they seemed to find a break in it where they could actually get the restrooms down here,” she said. “Right now, it’s up to the contractor to get the electric, water and sewer connected, so we expect them to be operational sometime in the next two or three weeks.”

Allen said the bathrooms were “definitely an upgrade to the park.”

“We’re hoping that it’s going to make the folks over there happy and encourage more park usage,” she said.

Councilman Dean Burrell was a champion of the project. Reached for comment last Thursday, he said he was “very, very pleased” by news the restrooms had been installed.

“Not only for that part of the community, but the park in general. It adds a place for children to be able to utilize the playground, and when they have to use the restroom, they won’t be called upon to use a port-o-potty, which is very difficult if not almost impossible for preschool-aged children to use,” Burrell said.

“Now, I look forward to not only having a permanent restroom in Henry Park, but I’m looking forward to making applications to obtain funds to have permanent restroom in Stephen Decatur Park,” he added.

Burrell, during a council meeting last year, recalled having to help his granddaughter use the portable facilities at Stephen Decatur Park. “It ruined her day,” he said at the time.

“It’s bad enough for a grownup using a port-o-potty, but a child? It’s just impossible,” Burrell said.