Two more bridges in Schuylkill County are set for repairs.
The Schuylkill County commissioners approved two agreements for the engineering design and repairs to county-owned bridges during a public meeting Wednesday.
Traffic Planning and Design, Pottsville, will design the repairs to county bridge 30 on Spittler Road over Swatara Creek, Pine Grove Township, for $107,000. Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, will design the repairs to county bridge 92 on River Drive over Pine Creek, West Brunswick Township, for $112,700.
At the request of the Schuylkill Conservation District, the commissioners approved participation in the state Department of Environmental Protection's 2013 Black Fly Suppression Program. According to DEP's website, the goal of the program is to reduce adult black fly, also known as gnats, populations to tolerable levels during spring and summer. The program involves monitoring and treatment of approximately 1,562 miles of 44 Pennsylvania rivers and streams. Schuylkill County is one of 33 counties participating in the program.
The board approved the annual software license for 2013 with Election Systems & Software Inc. for $25,605.
The board also reappointed the following three people to the Office of Senior Services Advisory Board for three-year terms: Mary A. Labert, McAdoo; James Reiley, Pottsville; and the Rev. Paul Schaediger, Pottsville.
After a recommendation from the county prison, the board agreed to extend the current three-year deal with Global Tel*Link Corp., an inmate phone vendor, for an additional three years, expiring in November 2015. The new extension includes a commission increase and a bonus. The company has also proposed to install new equipment at no additional cost.
There were five retirements and three resignations in various county departments.
Retirements were: Maureen Capone, Barnesville, full-time office support; Douglas Gressens, Ashland, and John Pfluger, Pottsville, domestic relations supervisors; Sally McShaw, Pottsville, archives clerk; and Helene Choplick, Shenandoah, Office of Senior Services clerk typist.
Resignations were: Sarah Snyder, Mount Carmel; Children &Youth Services caseworker; Kathleen Kimmel, Schuylkill Haven, Rest Haven part-time switchboard operator; and Janelle Bohr, Pottsville, Rest Haven part-time nurse's aide.
Also during the meeting, awards were presented to local elementary schools and three students who participated in the annual phone book recycling program.
Lee Raring, county solid waste and recycling program coordinator, said about half of the phone books are shredded and used as animal bedding for local farmers while the other half is recycled at Weiner Iron & Metal.
"This is a way for them to learn how to recycle and show them the need for it," Raring said.
Raring said 15,747 books, or 20,472 pounds, were collected.
He said this year's total about doubled that of last year and all the individual leaders exceeded the previous overall winner.
Local school winners were determined by the number of books per student collected.
Trinity Academy won first place and received $125. The school collected 1,192 books, or 6.62 per student.
John S. Clarke Elementary Center took second and received $100. The school collected 5,961 books, or 6.24 per student.
Rush Elementary took third place and received $75. The school collected 1,595 books, or 5.84 per student.
Individual winners were also honored by the commissioners. Kelly Sullivan, Trinity Academy, placed first with 708 books and received $150. In second place, Justin Lescavage, John S. Clarke Elementary, collected 465 books and received $125. Sabrina Brown, John S. Clarke Elementary, collected 379 books and received $100 to take third place.