After discussions that date back to September 2007, plans are in the works to have public restroom facilities in downtown Sparta after going through a finalizing process and requesting bids.
The Sparta Town Council approved an area adjacent to the now-closed BP gas station in the town parking lot to house a 24 feet by 24 feet facility with a six-foot canopy overhang on the front of the building.
Town Manager Bryan Edwards pointed out there were different sites under consideration, from an area behind the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce—the rock building on South Main Street in Sparta which formerly housed the Town Office—to acquiring an existing building to convert into public restroom.
According to Town Manager Bryan Edwards, the brick facility would include stalls for women, a stall and urinal for men, as well as changing tables for babies and a utility room to store supplies and provide access to water and sewer lines for maintenance.
If water and sewer connections are convenient and accessible.
Edwards noted there is not a cost estimate on the project as of yet.
"When the project specifications are complete, the project will be advertised and let for competitive bids," stated Edwards. Of potential contractors, he added he had received advice from several, including Jacob Irwin who had provided the town with preliminary drawings and a floor plan.
Of cost, Edwards remarked, "In the current year budget, I had used a number of $40,000, but that is only a preliminary figure at this time because we do not have a final project design and materials list. This is currently being developed."
Edwards explained, "This is a project that all members of the council fully support, as they believe it is something really needed to serve the tourists and visitors to downtown Sparta. Most downtown businesses are not well equipped to allow visitors to use restroom facilities in the stores, so this will help with that situation. Also, when there are events scheduled for downtown, like parades, festivals, etc., we will be able to offer a much-needed service to visitors."
The council approved the proposed site unanimously.
Sidewalk Repairs
The council approved going into discussions and a contract with Precision Safe Sidewalks of Florence, S.C. to repair sidewalks within the town.
Edwards commented, "We've had a survey done and they have identified 174 total hazards on Main Street and four on Grayson Street near the post office. They began with a quarter-inch hazard and go up to the more severe ones. I think our recommendation would be that we would start with a half an inch or more; the quarter inch is not that much of a problem. At the maximum, the cost to do all those would be $11,746."
He went on to say, "They do an inventory and based on their analysis of it; there is certain criteria they have to look at…on some of them they recommend they have to tear it out and repour it, these are really more for those that have no more than an inch and most of them that they recommend have to be less than an inch. You can saw enough of that sidewalk off that you actually destabilize it more. The cost to do this is $50 to $60 per repair compared to the cost of removing that sidewalk…"
Powell Bill appropriations will fund the project.
Wine Request
The request to possess or consume wine under a canopy of Dave Lineback's business Backwoods Bean was denied. Lineback came to the council last month with the request.
Edwards said he spoke with Agent Shon Tally to clarify the matter and said in the letter addressed to Lineback, "According to Agent Tally, he was referring to examples of limited arrangements where certain towns that he was familiar with, on certain 'festival-type' days, for a limited time period…the town will allow appropriately licensed businesses to extend their 'area of operation' onto the sidewalk area in front of the business, and allow the business to serve customers. Agent Tally expressed that it was not his intention to imply that such arrangements were permanent and ongoing, or that it was a simple matter for the town to allow a business to extend their operations onto the public sidewalk area."
