Commission approves nearly $900K CIP increase after bids show higher elevator costs

The Sedgwick County Commission approved a capital-improvement amendment on Aug. 19 to increase the 2026 public-elevator upgrades budget by $896,971 to cover low bids and additional design work.

Andrew Hills, director of facilities, said the county maintains 34 elevators and a recent low bid for modernization of three Main Courthouse elevators came in at roughly $1.2 million; permits, plan review and contingency raised the project near $1.5 million. He recommended also starting design work (about $100,000) for two jail elevators that may require modernization. Hills said new building-code requirements adopted in 2019–2022 added features and costs — for example two‑way communications, 3D infrared door protection, pit ladders and hoist‑way lighting — and he proposed budgeting roughly $600,000 per elevator in future planning.

Commissioners asked whether full replacement was the only option, whether refurbishment or staged modernization could reduce cost, and whether staff had sought alternatives; Hills said obsolete parts and compatibility concerns make modernization the practical choice in many cases, and that staff had value-engineered the bid down as much as possible. The motion to approve the CIP amendment passed on a roll-call vote 5–0.