The city may reject a bid for building a new restroom facility at Waterfront Park.

City staff recommended that the City Council opt out of the single bid received after estimates ran far beyond the facility’s budget. The council will consider the issue at tonight’s meeting at City Hall.

Only Drury Construction submitted a bid after the city advertised the project through local newspapers on March 6.

Drury’s base bid was $690,000 with a total of $1.012 million including sales tax and other costs.

City estimates for the project were much less – ranging between $437,000 to $535,000.

The Waterfront Park restroom project plan consists of public toilets, an observation deck, a shower room, landscaping, pathways and the replacement of a water main.

Other alternatives for the project include an added storage room, a second shower stall or the restoration of the tennis court that now occupies the site.

The park’s last restroom was demolished in 2001.

Since then, the city has issued numerous draft plans for a new restroom and sought grant funding.

But the public appears tired of waiting, with over 70 percent of respondents to a city-sponsored survey expressing a strong desire for restrooms at the park.

When asked where they wanted the restroom located, some respondents offered such comments as “Somewhere!” and “WHEREVER.”