LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – Repairs will soon be complete on a broken elevator at a Le Mars apartment building, allowing some elderly and disabled residents easy access to the outside world for the first time since August. Fire chief David Schipper says the elevator at the five-story Floyd Valley Apartments is expected to be in operation Friday or by the beginning of next week.

Schipper tells The Sioux City Journal special parts for the elevator have had to be made and shipped from Pennsylvania. One part was dropped down the elevator shaft and broke a couple of weeks ago, slowing down the repair process even more.

Larry Schmitz, a fifth-floor resident, says he’s only been able to leave the building four times since August. Paramedics had to assist Schmitz up and down the stairs on two of those occasions.