City Council OKs placing restroom direction signs downtown

By David Little, West Central Tribune 7-19-06

WILLMAR — City staff will work with the Willmar Design Center to place signs and maps showing where restrooms are located in downtown public buildings, the Willmar City Council has decided.

The council decided Monday night to direct staff to work with downtown representatives and provide directions to restrooms rather than have the city pay a property owner to maintain downtown public restrooms.

The action was recommended by the council’s Public Works/Safety Committee.

The Design Center had suggested the city pay Vince Van Heuveln $500 per month to provide two restrooms in the Centre Point Mall as a hospitality gesture to the public. The suggestion was referred to the Public Works/Safety Committee for discussion.

During the committee’s July 11 meeting, however, it was recognized that several public buildings in the downtown area, including the City Office Building and Auditorium, Rice Hospital and Public Library, have restroom facilities.

Downtown representatives then requested, and the committee agreed, that the city consider placing signs and maps indicating restroom locations. The committee recommended, and the council concurred, that the lease proposal be denied.