Jackson closes in on plan for new restroom at city park

Southeast Missourian

The city of Jackson is closing in on a plan to install a new restroom in the main city park near the girls’ softball complex. Staff engineer Erica Bogenpohl said during Monday night’s Jackson Board of Aldermen meeting the initial design for the restroom was to cost $330,000, but the city was not interested in spending that much so they want to see what can be done with $175,000. The contractor says to do so, it had to scrap plans to build a concession stand as part of the structure. Option one is a standard cement-block structure. Options two and three are prefabricated, made of metal and would not be easier for them to add-on construction if the city decides to install a concession stand later. Bogenpohl also pointed out utilities are not included and would have to be handled by the city. Electric is expected to cost $10,000, sewer is expected to cost $40,000, and water would cost somewhere in the middle. The city would use two funds. $110,000 would come from the city’s revenue-sharing agreement with the Isle of Capri Casino, with the recreation sales tax providing the remainder. The city would decide whether to repay the funds used from the recreation department’s coffers at a later date. The aldermen expressed support for construction of the concrete-block structure and are expected to green-light the project officially during the next regular session.