Kayakers, hikers and picnickers will be relieved to learn that the City of Porterdale will move forward with installing portable toilets in Yellow River Park this summer.

At the city’s work session April 23, council members approved the installation of the facilities, one handicapped accessible, in the park near the kayak launch, at a cost of approximately $800 for the four months.

“We need to get something in place, and once we can get the basics there, we can work our way up to a more sophisticated solution,” said Mayor Arlene Chapman.

The portable toilets will be provided while the city works on building more permanent facilities, most likely in a renovated rail car on site.

The cost for the renovation is estimated to be between $12,000 and $24,000, and city officials will investigate whether or not they can use some of the grant money they received for the kayak launch and recreational trails in Yellow River Park.
An ordinance banning smoking in city-owned parks will be voted on at the May 4th council meeting. The ban would bring the city’s policies in line with Newton County’s Recreation Departments anti-tobacco policies adopted by neighboring counties.

The ban had been discussed at previous meetings, but the final vote has not been held.

However, some council members expressed concern that such a ban would have an economic impact on The Social House Restaurant, Argyll Coffee House and other restaurants in the area. The council opted to put the original ordinance on next month’s agenda, and would decide what to do about smoking in other areas of the city at a later date.

A special called meeting of the council followed the closing of the work session. The council went into executive session to discuss personnel matters.