Portable toilets at Foster removed after vandalism
Mar. 21—Vandalism, garbage and needles prompted the removal of portable toilets at Foster Park this week in Clarkston.
The vendor who provided the toilets about a month ago, Hahn Rental Center, picked up the units near Diagonal and 11th streets because of extensive damages, officials said Wednesday. The toilets were rented by the Asotin County Health District when the park was opened for overnight camping for homeless individuals.
Many portable toilets in larger cities wind up in similar conditions, officials said. Once they are vandalized and condemned, the company has to dispose of them.
"I'm sad it didn't work here," said Public Health Administrator Brady Woodbury.
In an email to the city, Woodbury said the district is considering other vendors, but anticipate similar problems to recur.
"These issues have been ongoing since the placement of the toilets, and Hahn has graciously continued to find ways to service the toilets, but cannot keep doing it against their policies," Woodbury wrote.
The public health official said he's not pointing any fingers at the unhoused individuals for causing the damages. It's difficult to determine who is responsible for vandalizing the restrooms, Woodbury said.
"The next step for us is supporting any group or agency that has a long-term solution for the unhoused," he said. "We would like to be part of the planning process."
The park's permanent public restrooms were closed for the winter and may reopen in April. Until then, the homeless community will have to find other bathroom options.
Lindsey Cannard, director of the recovery navigator program at Quality Behavioral Health, said she's grateful the health district provided the portable toilets as long as it did.
"It's hard to say how many people are staying at the park," Cannard said of the homeless situation. "I'm glad the weather conditions are warmer as we all work on possible solutions."
Clarkston Mayor Pro-tem Skate Pierce said the public health board meets Monday at the Courthouse Annex in Asotin, and the restroom issue will likely be discussed. He is a member of the board, along with representatives from Asotin County, the city of Asotin and community members.
"Hopefully, we can find another (portable toilet) provider, but the likelihood that those get misused is high," Pierce said. "It's exactly what happens to the public toilets when they're open. Clothes, garbage and needles get flushed, often requiring extensive repairs."
Lewiston-Clarkston Valley officials said they are eagerly awaiting a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court next month and hoping it provides some guidance. The case involves the city of Grants Pass, Ore., and whether its ordinances violated a homeless woman's Constitutional rights.
Earlier this year, Clarkston adopted an ordinance detailing where people could camp at night, with the goal of adhering to previous court rulings.
"At the city, we're trying to do our best with the meager resources we have," Pierce said. "We'll likely have to wait for clarification and direction after the Supreme Court hears the Grants Pass case in April."
Sandaine can be reached at kerris@lmtribune.com. You can follow her on X @newsfromkerri.
