The Schuylkill County commissioners approved the construction of a new pavilion at Sweet Arrow Lake on Wednesday that is being donated by the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association.
"The park really appreciates the contribution and it will enhance the entire area," Robert Evanchalk, parks and recreation supervisor at Sweet Arrow Lake, said Wednesday.
The open-sided pavilion will be 16 feet by 20 feet and will be adjacent to the north shore parking area. The cost of $9,000 is being paid by the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association. Pioneer Pole Building, Schuylkill Haven, is in charge of construction.
"They felt that there was a need for the pavilion because of the number of fishermen that use that area," Evanchalk said. "It is also an ideal spot to watch waterfowl and an area where a lot of families congregate for picnics. It will be very useful to all those people."
Construction is set to begin in about two weeks. After it is built, the pavilion will be dedicated to the county as part of the park system.
Also Wednesday, the commissioners made final the plans for next week's 2012 Fall Cleanup and Recycling Event by awarding contracts for waste collection.
Starting on Monday, municipalities and businesses throughout Schuylkill County will collect scrap metal, tires, appliances, bulky items and electronics for two weeks. The cleanup is funded by the Schuylkill County Board of Commissioners and the state Department of Environmental Protection, and assists cleanup and recycling efforts in municipalities that do not have tire and appliance collection programs.
Hazleton Scrap and Recycling, Andres, will collect tires from the Pottsville site and Tamaqua Transfer Station at $200 per truck load, Girardville and Minersville sites at $225 per truck load, and Wayne, North Manheim and Porter townships, Ringtown and the Commonwealth Environmental Systems Landfill Inc., Hegins, at $250 per truck load. There is also a recycling fee of $90 per ton.
Sims Recycling Solutions Inc., Edison, N.J., will collect electronic waste at no cost for hauling or recycling and will pay the county 2 cents per pound for computers, laptops, printers, keyboards, mouses, scanners, monitors and televisions.
The board also approved lease agreements for county drop-off recycling centers in Ashland, Auburn, Cressona, Port Carbon and Branch, Butler, Eldred, Frailey, Hegins, Mahanoy, Walker, Wayne and West Penn townships. The leases were renewed for three years from Sept. 12 through Sept. 11, 2015.
The Adult Probation Office bought a 2013 Ford AWD for $28,927 with the commissioners' approval Wednesday. The vehicle purchase was at no expense to the county as funds will be provided from offender supervision fees. The fees also cover maintenance and fuel costs for department vehicles.
The commissioners voted to advertise for bids for demolition projects in Delano Township and Coaldale. Bids are due back at the County Controller's Office on Monday and will be opened on Sept. 19. A tentative award date has been set for Sept. 26.
The Walnut Street stormwater drainage improvement project in Frailey was awarded to Dallago Backhoe Service Inc., Mar Lin, at $95,565. The county's 2011 CDBG program will fund $52,000 with the township being responsible for the balance.
Advertising was also approved to advertise for bids for a sewer project in Rush Township. Bids are due back Oct. 1 and will be opened on Oct. 3. A tentative award date has been set for Oct. 10.
Bids will also be advertised for the cleaning of the Schuylkill County Communications Center. Bids will be opened on Oct. 3.
Helen Clay, Minersville, and Paul Gombola, Pottsville, were reappointed to three terms as members of the Office of Senior Services Advisory Board from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31, 2015.
According to the county retirement board report for August, the total market value of the retirement fund at the end of the month was $103.723,689. As of Wednesday morning, the fund was $105,120,709.