TO THE EDITOR:

I am writing to address Mr. Collier’s October 31, 2024, letter regarding installation of permanent restrooms in Sherburne County parks. While the precast concrete restroom vaults are priced at $33,700 each, Mr. Collier’s cost assessment omitted required design, engineering, permitting, and site preparation (excavation work, exterior concrete pad, accessways, etc.) expenses, as well as delivery crane rental charges.Not including these project elements is like claiming the price of a new underground pool is just the cost of the fiberglass shell - leaving out the cost for permitting, excavation, plumbing, wiring, pool deck, landscaping, and fencing. Since county board approval last year, the estimated total project cost of $150,000 per park facility has been reduced to about $100,000. Final project costs will be determined with installation in spring 2025. The County fully complied with public purchasing and expenditure requirements.  Additional review, reporting, and auditing will also be conducted, as federal funds were also used for this project. On October 15, the county board reviewed and found no reason to expend further local taxpayer dollars on Mr. Collier’s concerns.  The board also expressed support for installing permanent restrooms in Sherburne County Parks, thus ending the seasonal rental and maintenance of “port-o-potties”. I am available at bruce.messelt@co.sherburne.mn.us, or (763) 765-3001, to address any specific questions or comments regarding this parks capital improvement project.

Bruce Messelt

Sherburne County 

Administrator