Man lift option for medical clinic reviewed

By Lawrence Gleason, Local Press Writer

A suggestion by Municipal District of Willow Creek Councillor Darry Markle that a lift of some sort be added to the Claresholm Medical Clinic was reviewed by M.D. councillors at their Feb. 20 meeting.

The engineer, Kyle Tait of the Lethbridge firm ISL Engineering and Land Services, was the engineer for the project that just completed the handicapped parking and pedestrian access ramp to the main doors of the clinic.

Tait informed council if it was their wish to add a man-lift, possibly the best option for the medical centre was the $18,000 Savaria multi-lift.

The lift can accommodate a wheelchair and carry up to 750 pounds. It comes with a manual hand crank in case of power failure.

Councillor Glen Alm said he had installed a similar lift at his family ranch house for his father and found that he had to hand-crank to operate the lift when the temperature reached -20 Celsius.

“I had to do some rancher modifications to it,” Alm said.

When council discussions reviewed other options including a stair lift inside the building, Councillor Evan Berger asked if they were going to put a lift inside the building what was the need to put a lift outside.

Public Works Superintendent Roy Johnson said he planned to meet Tait the following day to discuss options as directed by council.

Council will know more following that meeting.