Fenton committee approves exterior work for park restrooms; staff to pick site for new facility

Fenton's board committee voted to move forward with exterior repairs and painting across city park restrooms and pavilions and directed staff to identify a location and plumbing approach for a new restroom to serve tournaments and community events.

Parks staff told the committee they had received recent bids for exterior painting, fascia repair and gutters and were still gathering interior plumbing and flooring bids. "If you want to see some improvement starting as soon as possible, the easiest way to move forward is let's go ahead and start with the exteriors," staff said, urging immediate work to avoid losing the spring construction window.

Committee members discussed whether to bid park projects individually or collectively; staff recommended awarding exterior painting/staining and related exterior repairs now and returning later with interior bids and fixture recommendations. The board agreed to proceed with exterior contracts to preserve the construction season.

A motion to start exterior painting and associated exterior work was made by Alderman Hill, seconded by Alderman Wiesbrock, and carried on a voice vote. Staff said painting, fascia and gutter work would be contracted first while concrete and interior plumbing bids are finalized.

Separately, the board discussed siting a new restroom in Fenton City Park. Floodplain manager Dan Howard and staff outlined sewer connection options and tradeoffs between proximity to the Hitzhert Pavilion, pickleball courts and the main pavilion; staff recommended a general area near the Hitzhert parking lot as the most viable site to balance access and sewer run length. Staff will produce detailed cost and routing estimates once the board confirms the preferred site.