Council pre‑approves materials for park restroom repairs after mold found

The Byron Town Council on Feb. 10 agreed to pre‑approve materials for temporary plumbing work at the town park after members raised concerns about mold and moisture in the restroom buildings.

Mayor Allan Clark and Council members discussed mold growth on the women’s restroom ceiling and bubbling paint on interior cinderblock walls. Councilwoman Karma Sanders said the mold “is a problem that must be dealt with, prior to any plumbing work performed.” Council directed Public Works Supervisor Jacob Gruell, Mayor Clark and Councilman Mikey Brightly to trace possible moisture sources and determine whether the polyboard ceiling can be painted or needs replacement to mitigate moisture and mold.

Council also discussed exterior repairs and painting; those outside repairs were tabled for later consideration. To allow limited immediate progress, the council pre‑approved Grizzly Plumbing to order materials for the job. Councilman Mikey Brightly moved to pre‑approve material purchases and Councilman Brandon Hessenthaler seconded the motion; the motion passed with the full council voting in favor.

Clark warned that further votes on specific repair work will follow after a complete inspection and a recommended plan is presented at the March meeting. The council also noted potential conflict‑of‑interest concerns and said Brightly would recuse from votes on park restroom work if a personal conflict were declared.

Next steps: staff will inspect ceilings and exterior envelopes to identify water intrusion points and return with a recommended scope and cost estimate at the council’s March meeting.