San Antonio builds $290,000 toilet at city park

[Chris]

Only the government could manage to mismanage building a toilet.

San Antonio builds $290,000 toilet at city park (http://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/san-antonio-builds-290000-toilet-at-city-park)


A new bathroom is turning heads near downtown San Antonio because of its price tag. The new restroom finished at Lions Field Park earlier this month.

...In the summer of 2016, city officials took some heat after constructing a roughly $150,000 bathroom downtown.

“People are using it,” said District 1 Councilman Roberto Trevino on Sunday. “Citations are down. Public safety has improved. Quality of life has improved. That doesn't lie.”

...According to a spokesperson from the city, the new bathroom at Lions Field is price tagged around $290,000 total. Officials say it was more expensive compared to the downtown version, because of plumbing and sewage that had to be added in the area.

“I think it's a good investment,” said Sherman a visitor at the park.

“It's just too much money. Too much money,” said Alex Martinez a park visitor on Sunday. “Sure it's got the kids at the park here, but really who is really going to use it?”

Also, the new bathroom at Lions Field Park has a noticeable sign on it. The sign reads, “All user restroom,” with a wheelchair logo and braille.

“It helps all people,” said Councilman Trevino. “If we say we are the compassionate and inclusive city that we are, this is proof.”

[Perianne]

Well, that "is nuts".

[Ethereal]

Just another example of the most corrupt and dangerous institution in history (the state) gorging itself on the honest labor of society.

[donttread]

Well, that "is nuts".

Depends, how big is the bathroom?

[Ethereal]

Depends, how big is the bathroom?
http://static-17.sinclairstoryline.com/resources/media/ce8fbf47-aa14-4453-8ce2-e670f2319aa0-large16x9_restroom.JPG

[Chris]

Depends, how big is the bathroom?

Single crapper.

Imagine outhouse.

[barb012]

Perhaps San Antonio should have shopped at Home Depot and purchased a toilet that cost under $200. The people who have funded this in taxes should be outraged.

[jimmyz]

There looks to be a lot of Stainless used in its construction but not $290K worth.

[Captdon]

They should charge a dollar to use it. Pays for itself and keeps the riff raff out.

[Chris]

They should charge a dollar to use it. Pays for itself and keeps the riff raff out.

You mean privatize -- should've done that to begin with.

[Crepitus]

Running the sewage, plumbing, and power, is what cost so much, not the toilet.

[Peter1469]

http://static-17.sinclairstoryline.com/resources/media/ce8fbf47-aa14-4453-8ce2-e670f2319aa0-large16x9_restroom.JPG

That looks like ones I saw in Paris.

[Cthulhu]

For the price it better be a golden toilet bedazzled with jewelry about it.

And the TP should be only the finest Egyptian cotton, or an eye pleasing velvet.

On second thought, go with velvet, smooth is best...

Sent from my evil cell phone.

[Kacper]

Running the sewage, plumbing, and power, is what cost so much, not the toilet.

It also depends on if they use zero-base budgeting for these cost numbers and how much was done with public workers as opposed to contractors, but yes. I personally prefer to look at these things in terms of added cost as opposed to project costs--how much more did they actually pay out because of this project as opposed to how much of it was money they would have spent anyway on those workers' normal paychecks.

[Doublejack]

Running the sewage, plumbing, and power, is what cost so much, not the toilet.


Thats the deal.

It'd be nice to see the plans and/or before and after pics of the park and what work was done. Did they lay new sidewalk? repave the section of road or just the trench? Lots of stuff could add up.

At minimum you're going to trench through sidewalk/street to get to the main. Core-drilling, concrete work, asphalt paving, distance, materials etc.

Still pricey .. then again consider about 2 city blocks of "beautification" work costs around $10 million (giver or take a few) it's not super surprising. City goes waaaaaay above and beyond general spec. That shitter will be there when all of us are long dead.

[Kacper]

Thats the deal.

It'd be nice to see the plans and/or before and after pics of the park and what work was done. Did they lay new sidewalk? repave the section of road or just the trench? Lots of stuff could add up.

At minimum you're going to trench through sidewalk/street to get to the main. Core-drilling, concrete work, asphalt paving, distance, materials etc.

Still pricey .. then again consider about 2 city blocks of "beautification" work costs around $10 million (giver or take a few) it's not super surprising. City goes waaaaaay above and beyond general spec. That $#@!ter will be there when all of us are long dead.
A lot of pipe can be pulled these days which requires less trenching if they go that direction. My city charges $5K to hook a new lot up to sewage and utilities under the pretense they aren't making any money when often we are talking about 15-20 feet of ground and $1K to permanently disconnect the same utilities. I know the gas and water lines are trenchless. Not sure about the sewer.

That said, my city will spend a fortune just on design consultation. My neighbor obsesses about this--for instance they just spent like $300K to have someone design a proposed park at a 5 acre site and he is fit to be tied about that. I understand his point--throw out some grass seed and plant some trees and flowers for $50K and be done with it, but it is a neat plan they came up with. Now to come up with the $2M to build it....

[resister]

They should charge a dollar to use it. Pays for itself and keeps the riff raff out.
I was just thinking, I wonder how often a junkie will go in there, to hit up a shot?

[resister]

Running the sewage, plumbing, and power, is what cost so much, not the toilet.
As much as buying a nice, new home? :huh: You could build, like 6 of my houses for that!

[Crepitus]

As much as buying a nice, new home? :huh: You could build, like 6 of my houses for that!

Yes.

[resister]

Yes.
So how many MILES of utilities would 290,000$ run? Is this loo in the middle of the wilderness?

[Crepitus]

So how many MILES of utilities would 290,000$ run? Is this loo in the middle of the wilderness?

Are you kidding? Miles would cost tens of millions of dollars.

[resister]

Are you kidding? Miles would cost tens of millions of dollars.
I see you are a fan of Government waste, this was built in a developed area, how the hell can it possibly cost that much?

[Crepitus]

I see you are a fan of Government waste, this was built in a developed area, how the hell can it possibly cost that much?

Did you not read the rest of the thread? It's been explained.

[resister]

Did you not read the rest of the thread? It's been explained.
Over a quarter of a MILLION dollars, for a little john in a park in a developed area? :shocked:

[Crepitus]

Over a quarter of a MILLION dollars, for a little john in a park in a developed area? :shocked:

I ask again: did you read the thread?

[resister]

I ask again: did you read the thread?
Yes I did, do you have some point? Other than you think a tiny bathroom in the middle of a developed area, is a good use of over a quarter MILLION $'s?

[Crepitus]

Yes I did, do you have some point? Other than you think a tiny bathroom in the middle of a developed area, is a good use of over a quarter MILLION $'s?

<sigh>

Never mind kid.

[resister]

<sigh>

Never mind kid.
Just keep thinking that local goverments can afford 290,000$ bathrooms, pops:rollseyes: Don't forget to vote Democrat!

[jimmyz]

Running the sewage, plumbing, and power, is what cost so much, not the toilet.

Ah. I did not consider that point. What do Port-A-Potys cost I wonder.

[resister]

Ah. I did not consider that point. What do Port-A-Potys cost I wonder.
500,000$ 25,000$ to empty!

[Doublejack]

Ah. I did not consider that point. What do Port-A-Potys cost I wonder.
Around $100 a day if they have to clean it daily.
Puts it over $350k a decade.
That toilet will be there a lot longer than that so its cost beneficial in comparison.

[resister]

Around $100 a day if they have to clean it daily.
Puts it over $350k a decade.
That toilet will be there a lot longer than that so its cost beneficial in comparison.
A 100$ a day! How much time does it take to spray some sanitizer, put some TP in and suckaroo, like twice a month? I doubt they service them, daily.

[jimmyz]

Around $100 a day if they have to clean it daily.
Puts it over $350k a decade.
That toilet will be there a lot longer than that so its cost beneficial in comparison.
Well then, well spent money to be washed in 2026. I hope the addicts dont corrupt the shiny toilet. I would escort my kids to and fro though.

[Doublejack]

A 100$ a day! How much time does it take to spray some sanitizer, put some TP in and suckaroo, like twice a month? I doubt they service them, daily.

I would imagine it would be at least once a day in a city park.

[resister]

I would imagine it would be at least once a day in a city park.
Shit! A 100 bucks? I got rubber gloves, I would clean it thrice daily, for that! $33.33 cent for like 10 minutes of work?

A shitty job, but someone has to do it! :)

[The Xl]

Lol, money well spent.

[Doublejack]

Shit! A 100 bucks? I got rubber gloves, I would clean it thrice daily, for that! $33.33 cent for like 10 minutes of work?

A shitty job, but someone has to do it! :)


hehe - cost of business.

Generally a small business won't even start up the work truck for less than $1k a day.

[jimmyz]

Shit! A 100 bucks? I got rubber gloves, I would clean it thrice daily, for that! $33.33 cent for like 10 minutes of work?

A shitty job, but someone has to do it! :)
A new business start up idea my friend. Call it a Shitty Start-up. Sorry.

[resister]

Lol, money well spent.
I think the taxpayers got shit on!

[Cthulhu]

I see you are a fan of Government waste, this was built in a developed area, how the hell can it possibly cost that much?No, Crepitus is right on this. Running utility lines is not cheap.

Getting power installed short distances from existing power can cost tens of thousands of dollars depending on the load supplied. Even then there are minimums. Trench still have to get dug, back filled, Earth hauled away or trucked in etc...

And then track on the efficiency modifier of government - you get the idea.

Sent from my evil cell phone.

[Cthulhu]

Ah. I did not consider that point. What do Port-A-Potys cost I wonder.That would have been more logical for the short term. They could have made this bathroom part of a bigger public works project and accomplished it for a fraction of the cost. Or as part of a commercial development taking advantage of existing work being done.

A lot of things can be done in the wake of others.

Sent from my evil cell phone.

[Chris]

Around $100 a day if they have to clean it daily.
Puts it over $350k a decade.
That toilet will be there a lot longer than that so its cost beneficial in comparison.


I'm sure it will survive a N Korea nuclear attack.

[Chris]

Shit! A 100 bucks? I got rubber gloves, I would clean it thrice daily, for that! $33.33 cent for like 10 minutes of work?

A shitty job, but someone has to do it! :)



All you have to do is invest is a few port-a-potties, and truck to hall them, and big for contracts.