Town to solicit bids and hold special vote to renovate railcar restrooms used by local businesses

The Talking Rock Town Council directed staff to obtain two additional cost estimates and hold a special meeting to vote on renovations for restrooms in railcars the town leases to two businesses.

The council reported the toilets were repaired and are currently functional, but council members said the restrooms require a full renovation before spring, when foot traffic to the area increases. “The restaurant and the brewery get significant amount of traffic already, and it's our responsibility because we lease those out to those businesses,” the council chair said.

The town has one estimate and will solicit two more. The council plans a special meeting limited to the restroom renovation vote so work can proceed quickly.

The railcars are currently leased to Fox Car and the Brewery; the council did not record dollar amounts for the estimates in the meeting transcript. Staff indicated the request for additional estimates should be complete within a couple of weeks, after which the special meeting will be posted.

No formal contract award or renovation authorization was recorded in the meeting; the council’s action at this meeting was to direct staff to collect estimates and schedule a vote.