The Haines Borough Parks and Recreation Committee recommended Thursday that borough staff work with the Division of State Parks to fund, install and maintain an outhouse at Mosquito Lake State Park.
The committee has been discussing solutions for months to put a bathroom at the popular recreation site.
But state parks did not want to be responsible for maintaining the facility and don’t have money to pay for an outhouse, said park ranger Travis Russell.
“My gut feeling is that regardless of the department of parks and outdoor recreation and their budgetary problems, that’s an important recreational site and an important recreational asset,” said committee member Burl Sheldon. “The one thing it kind of really needs is a place to go to the bathroom.”
Sheldon, who proposed the recommendation, said an outhouse at Mosquito Lake is worth it for the borough to explore because the area is used by residents year-round.
“We have to have a reasonable expectation that it’s going to be cleaned up and useful, and I feel that that is something the borough needs to make happen because it’s our recreational facility,” Sheldon said, even though the state owns the land.
Committee member Lori Smith said she was still in favor of an idea to have a volunteer group maintain an outhouse.
Greg Rasmussen, who lives near Mosquito Lake, said two pits where an outhouse used to be are barely covered and pose a safety hazard. Russell said he was aware of the danger and plans to fill the pits.
Resident Jack Smith Jr. said the committee could ask Klukwan or Chilkoot Indian Association if they could get grant funding for the outhouse
The committee ultimately voted 5-2, with Smith and Zack Ferrin opposed, in favor of borough staff working collaboratively with the division of state parks to construct and maintain an outhouse at the site.
Ferrin said he wanted more information on Jack Smith Jr.’s suggestion.