There’ll be no ceremony to mark the auspicious occasion, no grand pooh-bah to pontificate from the throne.

More apropos for the occasion, perhaps, would be a simple, collective sigh of relief, just to see the time-worn Les Gove Park bathroom go, well, to that big, old, outdated johnny in the sky.

And maybe some thanks for the unmitigated pleasure of watching a sparkling new bathroom, and doubtless a more efficient one, rise majestically in its stead.

On Monday evening, the Auburn City Council awarded the $377,752 contract – $343,411 plus Washington state sales tax – to Christensen, Inc. to demolish the existing potty and replace it.

The City received eight responsive bids for the contract. The apparent low bidder claimed error and withdrew its bid. Christensen, Inc. had the second lowest bid, which was about 9 percent above the engineer’s estimate.

The anticipated project costs are as follows: general construction contract with a 5 percent authorized contingency, $396,640.29; architect design fees; $50,000.00; testing and other costs, $5,000.00.

Total project costs: $451,640.29.

Councilman Bill Peloza wondered where the extra money would come from.

Shelley Coleman, finance director for the City of Auburn, said an in-fund adjustment transferring project funds from the Auburn Teen and Community Center-H Street Southeast Exit project has been executed to cover the anticipated increase in project costs, yielding a total of $411,552.

Plus, the City expects to tap Community Development Block Grant funds and Real Estate Excise Tax monies to finish the job.

Old bathroom, your days are numbered.