City of Grand Marais purchases a portable public restroom trailer

Following a 4-1 vote during the Apr. 10 city council meeting, the city of Grand Marais has finalized the purchase of an ADA-designed portable restroom trailer. 

The new trailer is a seven-stall (one ADA-compliant) portable restroom trailer and is expected to arrive by Memorial Weekend. After comparing public restroom options in previous city council meetings, the city council approved the purchase of the trailer from Portable Restroom Trailers, LLC, for $107,980. 

In the last week, city staff and officials met onsite in Boulder Park’s parking lot to discuss logistics and how to run power to the trailer. 

In the coming weeks, the City of Grand Marais will work to prep the site at Boulder Park. 

As part of the preparation for the new restroom trailer, Grand Marais Recreation Park staff have removed the big yellow ‘Restroom’ letters from the city hall building to repurpose on top of the new portable trailer. 

The decision to approve a portable restroom trailer remained in limbo in recent months as the city council explored and discussed various options. During the Apr. 10 meeting, a handful of individuals and business owners voiced their support for the city to resume the tabled public restroom discussions and provide an option during the new city hall building construction process. 

At the start of the Apr. 10 meeting, Grand Marais Mayor Tracy Benson read two written letters, one submitted by a Grand Marais business owner and the second by a manager of a non-profit thrift store. Both letters expressed support for the council in selecting a temporary public restroom option.

Then, Theresa Bajda, the executive director of the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority (EDA), spoke on behalf of the business community about the importance of public restrooms. She requested that the city council resume the discussion during the Apr. 10 meeting. 

Following Bajda, the owners of Joyne’s Ben Franklin, Tyler, and Jessica Dean, read a letter to the council signed and supported by numerous other Grand Marais business owners expressing their support for a public restroom option.

“As the summer season approaches, the need for accessible and adequate public restrooms in our city, not just becomes a convenience but a necessity,” Tyler Dean read. 

Following the public comment period, the council discussed adding the public restroom discussions to the agenda. Mayor Benson said, “This can’t wait.”

“It’s either tonight or for me, it’s our next work session,” she said. 

Councilor Michael Garry motioned to put the public restroom discussion on the agenda. Mayor Benson seconded. 

Find the Apr. 10 city council meeting here. 

Kalli Hawkins April 28, 2024