Commission asks for second opinion on elevator service after high Otis pricing

TCS Northwest told the Granite County Commission that the elevator battery-backup pricing quoted by Otis was “extremely high,” and staff sought a local service provider to evaluate repair and maintenance alternatives. Terry Moreland of TCS (presenting to the board) said he had reached out to Gallatin Valley Elevator, which indicated it could do an assessment and might offer a more responsive, lower-cost service alternative.

Moreland said the county’s current five-year maintenance agreement with Otis includes limited coverage and that some components and software are proprietary; replacing or modifying certain systems could void warranty language and might conflict with the signed maintenance agreement. "We did get an email from Otis with pricing for that battery pack…it was extremely high," the presenter said. He recommended an on-site assessment by the local company to determine what could be done without creating larger warranty exposures.

County attorney Blaine (present in the meeting) told commissioners he would review the contract language and any liquidated-damages provisions. Commissioners discussed that the Otis service rates, travel costs and parts charges appeared high and that a local provider’s shop rates and responsiveness could make an alternative attractive over the life of the equipment.

Resident Derek Campbell later asked why the county had entered into the high‑cost maintenance contract without more protective language; the county replied that the county had awarded an all‑in elevator contract originally and that staff would pursue alternatives and bring cost comparisons back to the commission.

The commission directed staff to arrange an assessment by Gallatin Valley Elevator and to report results, including price estimates and any legal implications of modifying or terminating the Otis contract.