Nolensville commissioners postpone vote on public works restroom trailer

The Town of Nolensville Board of Commissioners on Nov. 17 postponed a decision on a resolution to authorize purchase of a "luxury lab mini" restroom trailer for the Public Works Department, sending the item to the Dec. 4 voting meeting after commissioners requested more information on costs, rental warranties and the condition of a used unit dropped at the public works shop.

Victor, a public works staff member who presented procurement options, told commissioners that Tennessee building code does not require the town to provide an on-site restroom for the facility in question but that, if the town chooses to provide one, the unit must include an ADA-compliant component. "If if it is solely money and you're looking at strictly from that aspect, you can do the 2 person trailer and the ADA porta john," Victor said, describing the least-expensive compliance route.

Why it matters: commissioners said cost, long-term utility and maintenance obligations matter for a frequently unused facility. Depending on whether the town rents or buys, recurring servicing and warranty coverage will affect overall cost. Several commissioners said they also want to review whether the unit could be used beyond Public Works, and to inspect the used trailer that was dropped off for the meeting.

Cost comparisons and vendor notes: Victor presented multiple options and vendor quotes (all figures from his presentation and vendor emails, as recorded in the meeting). - Used trailer on-site: approximately $20,000 plus the separate cost of an ADA porta-john; Victor said the used unit appeared functional but had rough door hardware and likely carries no transferable warranty. - New non-ADA two-stall trailer (GSA contract): about $39,600; Victor said this option is on the GSA contract and could be purchased directly. - New aluminum-skinned trailer with ADA equipment: quoted in the mid-$60,000s plus shipping (Victor cited roughly $66,000 plus shipping). - New fiberglass ADA-equipped model: quoted in the low-$80,000s plus shipping (Victor cited roughly $81,000 plus shipping). - Rental example cited: Victor said a quoted rental was about $27,000 for the first year (not including weekly servicing), and roughly $20,000 for a subsequent year; Victor said rental vendors generally handle repairs and servicing under the rental agreement. Victor cautioned that shipping and weekly servicing are additional recurring or one-time costs and that new units typically include a one-year warranty while used units usually do not.

Commissioner positions and next steps: one commissioner said renting might be preferable short-term if the town expects to move to a permanent building solution; another said purchasing could be justified given potential multiuse and the value of ownership over time. Commissioners asked staff to confirm whether rental agreements include warranty-like repair coverage and whether modest in-house repairs to the used unit (for example, door adjustments) would affect future maintenance obligations.

Action taken: with a motion and second on the floor, one commissioner moved to amend the motion and place the item on the Dec. 4 voting meeting; another commissioner seconded the amendment and Chair called for a voice vote. The amendment passed unanimously and the resolution will return for a vote at the Dec. 4 meeting. The meeting minutes and transcript show the agenda listed the item as "resolution 25Dash107," while the commissioner making the amendment referred to it in speech as "resolution 25 dash 0 0 7"; that discrepancy will be clarified before the Dec. 4 vote.

The meeting adjourned after the vote on the amendment.

Sources: Town of Nolensville Board of Commissioners special meeting transcript, Nov. 17, 2025. Presentations and vendor quotes were summarized on the record by Victor (public works staff).