Caroline high schools to get stadium restrooms

DENTON – Construction will begin soon on permanent stadium restrooms at Caroline County’s two high schools.

At their April 1 meeting, the three County Commissioners approved two purchase orders totaling $350,301 for Smith-Midland Corporation to construct the facilities. The company is based in Midland, Virginia.

For the North Caroline High School project, a purchase order for $228,684 is allocated for an 8-stall restroom at the stadium on Central Avenue near Ridgely.

A second purchase order for $121,617 will pay Smith-Midland to build a 4-stall facility at Colonel Richardson High School’s stadium near American Corner.

Currently, portable restrooms serve the needs of game and event attendees.

Commission President Travis Breeding, who proposed the project in spring 2024, reiterated his claim, saying, “We are, probably, one of the only counties with stadiums that still do not have some type of bathroom facility” on the Eastern Shore.

The figure set aside in the fiscal year 2025 budget for the project was $100,000 for design and engineering. Another $276,000, originally allocated to the board of education, was unused in the current fiscal year and transferred to the restrooms project. Any extra expenses will come out of the county’s capital contingency fund.

With a 16-week lead time on the project, Public Works Director Robin Eaton, who is acting as general contractor, said he wanted to get the project on the April 1 agenda, so that it can be finished in time for football season.