A dispute erupts in Odesa City Council over expensive restrooms

The Odesa City Council almost failed the "Barrier-Free Odesa" program because of a scandal over the cost of inclusive toilets, which cost 5.7 million hryvnias each. After a second vote, the decision was passed.

The decision was supported at the session of the Odesa City Council.

The Odesa City Council again considered the issue of amending the City Target Program "Barrier-Free Odesa" for 2023-2028, with a total funding of over UAH 688 million. The program envisages the creation of inclusive infrastructure, including the arrangement of special routes, beaches, and public restrooms. It was the latter point that became the reason for the discussion.

One of the most controversial positions was the installation of four automated toilets in 2025, costing 5.7 million hryvnias each. In four years, the city plans to equip 19 such toilets. Deputy Petro Obukhov opposed the project, saying that the price was unreasonably high.

"It cost me less to renovate my apartment with all the appliances and furniture than this one toilet," he emphasized.

Obukhov proposed to exclude the cost of restrooms from the program.

He was supported by MP Anastasia Bolshedvorova, who emphasized:"It turns out that one square meter of this restroom costs 14 thousand dollars."

Deputy Mayor Hanna Pozdnyakova explained that these are not ordinary toilets. According to her, they will be inclusive, fully automated, equipped with video surveillance and compliant with all accessibility standards. The cost also includes connection to communications.

"There are such restrooms in other cities, and not everything can be evaluated only by money," the official said.

She clarified that in 2025, the toilets are planned to be installed on Soborna Square, Prymorskyi Boulevard, in the City Garden, and on Ukrainian Heroes Avenue.

In turn, Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov urged the deputies to look at the problem from a broader perspective:"There is no need to manipulate the war. Tourists with disabilities are already coming to Odesa, and they can't even go to the toilet." He suggested that the decision should be made without removing this paragraph.

MP Oleksandr Baiderin proposed to postpone the issue and try to find cheaper analogs of the restrooms. And Oleh Etnarovych called the discussion itself fruitless.

As a result, the deputies refused to support Obukhov's amendment: "Only 8 colleagues voted in favor, while 28 abstained. During the first vote on the changes to the program, the decision also failed to receive the required number of votes: 27 MPs were in favor, none were against, 2 abstained, and 7 did not vote.

This caused outrage among Pozdnyakova, who emphasized that the city could lose a state subvention due to the dispute over the cost of restrooms. MP Roman Senyk urged his colleagues to return to the issue: "We need to prioritize, because there are more important decisions. And we can do anything with the restrooms at the next session."

As a result, the document was put to a second vote. This time, it was supported by 35 MPs, with one abstention. Thus, the amendments to the "Barrier-Free Odesa" program were approved.

They include two key points: the creation of an inclusive beach in the Otrada district, where they plan to equip a rowing base for veterans, and adjustments to the Barrier-Free Route. According to officials, if the decision fails, Odesa could lose 42 million hryvnias in subventions from the state budget.

Although the deputies gave the green light to the changes to the program, the dispute over the cost of city toilets remained open and is likely to continue at the next sessions of the city council.

At the same time, according to the Prom.ua marketplace, such modular toilets cost from 570 thousand hryvnias. Thus, the real price of such toilets is 10 times lower than the one specified in the draft decision of the Odesa City Council.

SCREEN SHOT: Prom.ua

Back in April, it was planned to install four inclusive toilets in Odesa. They will be equipped with modern engineering systems and electronics, and their appearance is part of the city's infrastructure renewal program. To protect the facilities, the city plans to provide enhanced control: each restroom will be equipped with video surveillance cameras, and patrols will be carried out by the Municipal Guard and the National Police. The city authorities also plan to announce a tender for their maintenance.

Анна Бальчінос