The lighting projects at the Schuylkill County Courthouse and Rest Haven nursing home will not be complete for another 30 days.
The Schuylkill County commissioners approved a 30-day extension for both projects with David W. Fannick Electrical, Frackville, during a public meeting Wednesday. This is the third time the board approved extensions for the projects since they received approval last July.
The projects are under separate agreements with Fannick. Costs of security light installations are $46,061 at Rest Haven and $9,854 at the courthouse.
County Administrator Mark Scarbinsky said "very minimal" work remains on both projects and mainly consists of wiring.
The new completion dates are March 29 at the courthouse and March 30 at Rest Haven.
In other business, the commissioners extended the food services contract with Trinity Services Group Inc. for three years at Schuylkill County Prison. Price per meal will remain at $1.25 in the first year from March 18 through March 17, 2014, and will be adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index the following two years.
A waterline replacement project in Porter Township also received an extension until April 30. The board awarded Dallago Backhoe Service Inc., Mar Lin, a $76,622.56 contract for the project in August.
The extension is due to an extra fire hydrant being installed and paid for by the township. The additional cost is $4,978 for the township, and there will be no cost increase for the county.
The commissioners renewed a site lease agreement for the county drop-off recycling center with New Philadelphia borough. The recycling center is located at the Little League field and the lease will be for one year through Feb. 27, 2014.
Robert Schlack, Shenandoah, retired as a corrections officer at the Schuylkill County Prison. He had an hourly rate of $23.12, and his retirement went into effect Sunday.
Robert Matta, West Mahanoy Township, resigned as part-time district attorney, effective Feb. 17. Matta had a salary of $21,418.
Debra Smith, New Philadelphia, was appointed as a part-time district attorney. Salary was set $21,418 and will go into effect Tuesday.
During the meeting, representatives from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance Business Finance Corp. gave a presentation on Small Business Association 504 Loans available for small businesses in Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill and Wayne counties.
"We want to get some money to small businesses and spur economic development in Schuylkill County," Jeff Box, CEO of the business finance corporation, said Wednesday.
While banks or other lenders finance 50 percent of project costs and take a first lien position on assets financed, Box said SBA 504 loans finance 40 percent of project costs up to $5.5 million and takes a second lien position. The borrower then contributes a down payment of 10 percent, he said.
Small businesses can also receive fixed rate financing with long-term maturities of 10 or 20 years, if eligible.
For more information, contact Dave Nat at dnat@nepa-alliance.org or Paul Macknosky at pmacknosky@nepa-alliance.org, or call 570-655-5581 or 866-758-1929.