Cheyenne County approves lift, cooling and mini-split purchases for senior living campus

County commissioners approved several equipment purchases and heard a broad capital-maintenance update for the county-operated senior living campus.

The senior living manager told the board staff had one full-body resident lift fail and requested immediate replacement to ensure resident safety and daily care, saying the device is used multiple times per day. The commission voted to purchase the lift for $4,280.36.

Commissioners also approved purchasing three PTAC cooling units to keep on hand for the campus (total $9,570), citing past summer failures and the importance of having spares. "I would feel better if we had them there because if it's 100° and they need HVAC," the manager said.

The board approved a mini-split unit for a south-side room (quoted at about $4,795) to support a remodel and additional use as an office. Staff noted other pending capital projects — a state-inspected main boiler that may need replacement (rough estimate provided by staff), window replacements on the west wing (prior estimate ~$42,000 two years ago) and pending bids for sidewalks and curb work. For some of these larger projects, staff said vendors from outside the region will be required and estimates are not yet final.

Motions to purchase the lift, PTAC units and mini-split passed by voice vote. Commissioners asked staff to collect written bids for large projects and to bring firm cost estimates back to a future meeting before authorizing work.