Design work on a proposed public lavatory at the former firehall property in Glen Arbor will proceed after discussion this week by the Glen Arbor Township Board.

Board members agreed at Tuesday’s monthly meeting to pursue physical design of a public restroom building at the firehall property on Lake Street. Meanwhile, a committee is studying possible construction of a municipal septic system for the unincorporated village and adjacent area.

“Even if the sewer committee reaches a conclusion, construction of a system wouldn’t begin until next fall or later,” Supervisor John Solderholm said. “The (public restroom) facility would be constructed with the intent of connecting to the sewer system.

“We need to get started on it,” he said.

Soderholm and trustee Bill Thompson will serve on a design committee, which is expected to work in conjunction with the Glen Lake Garden Club in landscaping the property. Soderholm said he and club member Sarah Litch have already walked the site to review possibilities.

In the past, board members have been divided in their support of public restrooms. Some have held that the cost of services should be paid by business owners, whose operations are supported by visitor dollars and not through public coffers. However, the divisions were apparently healed Tuesday night.

“There’s a strong sense that this is something that will keep our property values up,” Soderholm said. “It’s a small, but important piece of the puzzle.”

Treasurer Terry Gretzema was directed to focus on fundraising strategies.

In other business during the 90-minute meeting, the board accepted the low bid of $12,800 from SRW to resurface and regrade the town hall parking area. Work on phase one of the plan, which includes resurfacing from M-22 to the end of the first parking area, behind the hall, is expected to be complete yet this fall.