The Ward County Commission is facing a potential bill of around $400,000 to replace a Courthouse elevator that is becoming less reliable.

Facilities Director Brian Vangsness told the Ward County Commission Tuesday that the elevator is between 57-61 years old.

“We have been having problems with it lately. There are concerns about the age of it and how much longer it is going to last and whether it even meets ADA requirements,” Vangsness said. “I just want to get ahead of it before we don’t have options.”

The $400,000 replacement cost is just an estimate. Vangsness said he plans to seek a couple of price quotes. Regardless, that kind of money is not in his budget, he said.

Vangsness said he will be looking for grants, including investigating a state Court Facilities Improvement Program grant.

The Courthouse elevator continues to be usable at the current time. The county has a contract with a firm that provides repairs on the county’s six elevators, located in three buildings.

Commissioners on the building committee will be monitoring the situation as quotes are obtained, and the matter is expected to come back to the commission at a future meeting.