Spalding County staff seek permission to bid restroom building for Yamacraw Road Park

County staff asked the Spalding County Board of Commissioners at a workshop to approve soliciting bids for a restroom building at the Yamacraw Road park property, a site that county staff described as a former landfill restricted to recreational uses. Director Amberger told the board the restroom building would be needed to support planned disc golf, practice soccer and an amphitheater and that construction funds would come from a hazardous-waste grant rather than the county general fund.

The restroom concept comes from a UGA capstone project and has been reviewed by the county’s plaque (planning) group, Amberger said. The proposed building would include four family-style restrooms, an office area for event coordination, storage, a concession area and some pavilion space. “We would anticipate actually having some soccer on the facility this fall for practices,” Amberger said.

Why it matters: the Yamacraw site cannot be used for housing because of environmental constraints from its past as a landfill, but the county has been moving toward recreational uses that require facilities and utilities. Commissioners pressed staff on utility arrangements and site monitoring. Amberger said county water is available to the site, a septic system will be needed, and engineers and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division will monitor placement and performance.

Details: Amberger described the restroom building as part of an initial implementation package that also includes disc golf and a practice soccer field; those items were priorities from the UGA conceptual master plan and have plaque approval. Commissioners confirmed the county would seek bids for costing and return a formal vote at the next meeting. No bid solicitation or contract award was approved at the workshop; the board was asked to authorize staff to seek bids and to return with cost estimates.

Staff and process notes: Amberger said placement of facilities will be specific and guided by engineers because of the site’s environmental monitoring requirements. Commissioner Flowers Taylor asked whether water would be supplied by county lines or a well; Amberger said county water is available, with a septic system planned for wastewater. The restroom bid request will appear on the board’s next business meeting agenda for a formal vote.

Next steps: staff will prepare bid documents and return cost estimates to the board at the next meeting, where commissioners will be asked to approve moving forward with the procurement. A formal contract award would come later after bid evaluation.