Queens councillors approve extra cost for Hillsview Acres elevator work

Region of Queens councillors have approved an extra $33,272 in work at Hillsview Acres to prepare for elevator upgrades at the facility. (Facebook)

UPDATED 3:55 p.m. Friday

It’s going to cost a little more to upgrade the elevator at a nursing home in north Queens.

Region of Queens councillors held a special meeting on Wednesday to approve an extra $33,272 for electrical and alarm panel work at Hillsview Acres in Greenfield.

The region owns and operates the 29-bed long-term care home.

Joanne Veinotte, the region’s director of corporate services, told councillors that in 2022, the contractor responsible for maintaining and inspecting the elevator told staff “that it was nearing its end of life. Should something happen to the elevator we would not be able to replace it in a timely manner.”

Council had already approved $86,250 in their 2023/24 capital budget for the work on the facility’s elevator.

But when the elevator contractor, TK Elevator, visited Hillsview in the spring, workers found that the existing alarm panel and supporting electrical components needed to be upgraded to accommodate the work on the electrical components of the elevator.

The extra costs break down as follows:

  • Alarm panel upgrade – $21,913
  • Basement changes to accommodate new access – $2,077
  • Electrical work to install new panel $7,914.50

Veinotte told councillors that the elevator contractor is due to be at the facility in the second week of August to do the work.

“All of the panel work has to be done before they come which is why we had this sense of urgency to come and ask for council’s approval for this unbudgeted expense.”

Councillors voted unanimously to approve the extra cost and to fund it from the Hillsview Acres reserve fund, which sits at more than $800,000.

Email: rickconradqccr@gmail.com

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