Temporary Portable Potty In CPAC Bid

Much needed improvements to restrooms at Cookeville’s Performing Arts Center are coming, but the transition period will likely be somewhat inconvenient.

Leisure Services Director Rick Woods told City Council Thursday night the current restrooms in the lobby will need to close when renovations begin. But the building will not close.

“We will still be having events, and we need to provide facilities for the patrons that attend the events there during the construction period,” Woods said. “We looked at many different options. We considered many different possibilities of how to go about doing that. We determined that setting a portable trailer on or near the patio was our best option.”

City Council approved adding the installation of the portable toilets to the contractor’s duties for bid. That bidding process underway with Kimley Horn, the firm working with the city on designs to renovate the center. Woods said they hope to begin bidding the process next week to take advantage of fewer events at CPAC during the winter.

“This is why we’ve added it on the agenda tonight so we could get this moving and get as much done before cold weather,” City Manager James Mills said.

Woods said architects have estimated a four-month project to renovate restrooms, though he believed that to be optimistic.

“On the women’s side, it is an addition that we’re putting onto the building, so it’s got to be a total gut job over there on that building out and adding to the building on that side,” Woods said. “I hope we can get that done in four months.”

The portable facilities outside will be tied in to the city’s water and sewer services. City staff will be responsible for cleaning. Woods said they have considered alternate plans during the construction, such as eliminating intermissions in productions so people would not try to use restrooms all at once.

“I will tell my son to go to the bathroom before he comes to his sister’s recital,” Mayor Laurin Wheaton said. “Okay, good to know.”

The work part of renovations to the facility which have been underway since the Police Department relocated. An elevator being considered. Upgrades to the parking areas and the adjacent entrance to Dogwood Park are also in design.