The City of Saluda has decided to begin work on its public restrooms. 

Commissioners decided during their August meeting to use profits from this year’s Coon Dog Day to begin work on public restrooms downtown.

This year’s Coon Dog Day made a profit of approximately $6,300. The Saluda Board of Commissioners decided last month to take that profit to begin the project.

Public restrooms are proposed to go in the rear of Pace Park, located downtown.

Last year’s Coon Dog Day festival broke even; this year’s festival took in less money than last year but made more profit. Commissioner Leon Morgan attributed the success of this year’s festival to Terry Baisden, Tangie Morgan and city staff.

Saluda City Manager Jon Cannon said he and they mayor had discussed potentially using the profits from Coon Dog Day to start the bathrooms at Pace Park. Saluda City Clerk Tola Ellis is also working on submitting grants to help fund the new restrooms.

The board approved plans for public restrooms last September including preliminary drawings done by architect John Gardner.

The proposed restrooms will include separate men’s and women’s restrooms with sinks. The women’s restroom is proposed to have three stalls and a changing station and the men’s to have two stalls, two urinals and a changing station. The plans approved last year also include a utility closet. Both restrooms will be ADA compliant.

The design is for 336 square feet and based on costs of $100-$150 per square foot, the total estimate for the restrooms is $33,660-$50,400, according to figures discussed last year.

Saluda plans to raise the money for the public restrooms through donations, grants and new festivals. The city has $7,245 in the bank to start the project, according to Finance Officer Julie Osteen.

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