SALUDA – The City of Saluda is on its way to having public restrooms after approving a bid to pour the slab for the facility at Pace Park downtown.

The Saluda Board of Commissioners met June 12 and approved a $4,700 bid from Trace & Company to do the work.

Saluda Mayor Fred Baisden said the city wanted to go ahead and get approval on the contract so as soon as the city is ready the slab can be poured.

Commissioner Leon Morgan asked if the city got more than one bid for the project.

Baisden said the city is not required to get multiple bids for projects less than $30,000. He said Trace recently did other work that the city was extremely pleased with so the city asked them to bid on the restroom slab while they were there.

The funding for the slab will come from revenues from last year’s Coon Dog Day festival along with donations.

The budget for the project will include a 10 percent contingency of $470.

Saluda has been planning on having public restrooms for a couple of years, particularly for festivals such as Coon Dog Day. Preliminary drawings were done in 2015 for a 336-square-foot building, including separate men’s and women’s ADA compliant restrooms with sinks as well as a utility closet.

Estimates on the costs a couple of years ago ranged from $33,000 to more than $50,000. The city is attempting to build the restrooms through donations and grants as well as from festivals, particularly new festivals.

The restroom facility is proposed to be located towards the rear of Pace Park, which was created in an alleyway downtown.

Anyone wishing to donate funding for the new restrooms is urged to contact city hall at 828-749-2581.