The Schuylkill County Board of Commissioners will vote on room and board rate hikes at Rest Haven during the public meeting July 25.
The rate proposal was brought forward during the commissioners' work session meeting Wednesday.
If approved, rates would be increased from $250 a day each to $325 for a private room, $300 for a semi-private room with three beds, $275 for a room with four beds, and $300 for an Alzheimer's unit, per day starting Sept. 1.
While rates usually increase every year, there has been no increase since November 2009, said Jill Schaeffer, Rest Haven administrator. Schaeffer also said the increases are "in line with neighboring facilities."
At 401 University Drive, Schuylkill Haven, the Rest Haven nursing home has 142 beds and provides nursing care, social services, rehabilitation, therapeutic activities, pastoral services and specialized services with a Alzheimer's/Dementia Unit. The facility also has rehabilitation programs including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and a restorative nursing program.
Also Wednesday, Robert S. Carl Jr., executive director of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and former county commissioner, was reappointed as a member of the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board for a three-year term beginning July 1 and ending Sept. 30, 2015. There is still one more vacant position on the board.
In other news, the board approved the continuation of a service agreement with Kova Corp., Little Egg Harbor, N.J., for the 88 channel audiolog max pro recording system that was bought in 2008. Cost is $23,570 from Aug. 1 to July 31, 2013, and comes from the Act 78 and Act 56 funds. The agreement has been in place since 2009 with no price increases.
The bid to supply uniforms for the Schuylkill County Prison employees for one year was awarded to Hess Embroidery & Uniforms, West Reading. The agreement is from July to June 2013, and will be for $19,940.76. There was only one bid submitted.
On behalf of the county Public Works Office, the board approved an additional $915 for Hahner Brother's Roofing and Sheet Metal Inc., for labor and materials to finish repairs to the roof above the commissioner's room in the courthouse.
The monthly prison board meeting will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the commissioners' board room.
