There was plenty to smile about during the Schuylkill County commissioners work session Wednesday morning as a $500,000 state grant was announced for the construction of a travel plaza at Highridge Business Park, while local clowns "Splash" and "Peanuts" were in attendance to accept a proclamation for National Clown Week.
"The travel plaza is part of economic development and it's going to help out the area," Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. said. "It's a real plus and really makes what we do at the Highridge Business Park even more valuable."
The board approved an agreement with the Schuylkill County Industrial Development Authority and the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp. for the state Redevelopment Assistance Program Grant that provides $500,000 for the development of a travel plaza on Gordon Mountain Road, just off Interstate 81 near Minersville.
Plans for the plaza include parking spaces for 120 tractor-trailers, a hotel, convenience store, restaurant and rest area. In addition to the jobs created for the construction of the plaza, at least 150 people will be employed when the complex is officially opened.
"We are fortunate because the people at SEDCO care about the community and create jobs that will make Schuylkill County viable and in play for years to come," Halcovage said.
Halcovage said the 36-acre tract has already been cleared by SEDCO and the construction has already been put out for bid. Halcovage said the project is being developed by SEDCO and an independent company will be sought to run the complex.
Frank Zukas, president of SEDCO, was unable to be reached for comment on Wednesday.
SEDCO agreed to build the travel plaza about 10 years ago when the business park was built. In exchange for SEDCO's promise to build the public rest area at the plaza, the state Department of Transportation built an exit at mile marker 119 along Interstate 81. As of May, the lawsuit remained on hold.
In March 2010, PennDOT filed a lawsuit against SEDCO for not completing construction. Zukas had said that truck traffic and other market conditions has delayed construction.
In July 2010, the project received a $134,750 state grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority for engineering and design work. Zukas had previously said the total project will cost about $3.5 million.
In other news, the commissioners approved the purchase of a 2013 Ford Explorer for the juvenile justice department. The vehicle was bought with state funds for $27,987 at no cost for the county. Ken Porter, of the county's Juvenile Justice Office, said that several vehicles will need to be replaced as three are at least 10 years old and several have well over 100,000 miles.
"Our vehicles are used very heavily because we have to go to the kids, they can't come to us. That's why mileage is so high all the time," Porter said.
The board also approved an agreement with Miller Bros. Construction Inc., Schuylkill Haven, for repairs in the work release area of the Schuylkill County Prison. Warden Eugene Berdanier said during the last prison board meeting that the floor around the shower and floor boards in the area have sustained heavy water damage. The cost of the project is $60,030.
On behalf of Human Resources, the commissioners approved a service agreement with Inroads at the Family Guidance Center, Wyomissing, for an employee assistance program, which started on July 1 and will end June 30, 2013. The county will pay an administrative fee of $10 per covered employee and an additional fee of $65 for each authorized counseling session. With 683 county employees, total cost is $6,830, plus the counseling sessions.
Bids were opened for the waterline replacement project on Main Street in Keffers, Porter Township, during the meeting. Companies submitting bids and the amount were Dallago Backhoe Service Inc., Mar Lin, $76,622.56; Furnance Steam Farms Excavating, Hamburg, $105,511.12; Dudash Pipeline Co. Inc., Pottsville, $92,108; and Arthur "Pat" Aungst, Pine Grove, $128,929. All bids had a 10 percent surety bid bond.
A proclamation was also issued by the commissioners declaring the week of Aug. 1 through Aug. 7 as National Clown Week. Reading the proclamation, Commissioner Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier said: "... With their baggy trousers, oversized shoes, red bulb noses and silly antics, clowns lessen pain and sadness by providing laughter to children's hospitals, nursing homes and everyone whose lives they touch ... We thank those people we affectionately call clowns for their tireless efforts to make us laugh."
Accepting the proclamation were "Splash the Clown" John Sullivan, Pottsville, and "Peanuts the Clown" Bill Kauffman, Minersville. Kauffman brought a box of red clown noses that are being sold as a fundraiser for Camp Sundown, Craryville, N.Y. The camp is for children suffering from a rare disease known as xeroderma pigmentosum. The camp is at night, as children with the disease can develop cancerous tumors with the slightest of sunlight. Most children with the disease don't live past 20. The items were being sold at $1 a piece and at least 20 were sold immediately following the meeting.
While there was no salary board meeting because no actions required the board's approval, there was about a dozen adjustments within Rest Haven.
Effective Aug. 13, Kathleen Law, Reading, will be appointed to part-time graduate practical nurse at $15.06 per hour; Antonio Lesher, Pottsville, will be appointed to per diem nursing assistant at $13 per hour; and Christine Macricz, New Ringgold, will be transferred from part-time nursing assistant to full-time at $11.72 per hour.
Nine part-time nurse's aides will now receive $11.72 per hour following completion of the nurse's aide training program last week. They were Dekota Willis, Pottsville; Angela Marmas, New Philadelphia, who resigned two days later; Brandie Hamilton, Pottsville; Kristi Burke, Port Carbon; Matthew Beene, Pottsville; Crystal Cortex, Pine Grove; Eufemia Crishock, Minersville; Ciara Hosler, Pottsville; and Holly Kellman, Schuylkill Haven.
The resignation of Anita Keller, Saint Clair, as part-time licensed practical nurse went into effect July 22. Her hourly rate was $15.99.
The resignation of James Crossen, West Brunswich Township, as part-time assistant district attorney will be effective Aug. 10. His salary was $26,342.18.
The Schuylkill County commissioners will hold their next public meeting Aug. 9 in the commissioners' board room due to a county commissioners' conference on Wednesday. The retirement board meeting will be held immediately following the commissioners' public meeting.