A Schuylkill County bridge near Klingerstown will undergo extensive repairs as recommended by the state Department of Transportation.
The county commissioners awarded the contract during a public meeting Wednesday to Heim Construction Company Inc., Pottsville, for $367,984.75. Heim was the lowest bidder for the project.
The county bridge is located on Mahantongo Mountain Road over Mahantongo Creek in Upper Mahantongo Township.
Lisa Mahall, county engineer, said PennDOT has recommended to replace the superstructure with a composite deck. She said work will begin after the Heim Construction signs the contract and provides performance and payment bonds.
The board also awarded contracts for an in-house laundry facility at Rest Haven and a fuel provider for the Schuylkill Transportation System.
Healthcare Services Group will provide equipment, plumbing, electrical, supplies, linen purchases and management of the laundry facility for $161,736 per year from May 15 through May 14, 2016.
Petroleum Traders Corp., Fort Wayne, Ind., was awarded the fuel contract. The company submitted the lowest bid based on average refinery costs plus the lowest markup and transportation costs. In addition to refinery costs, markup and transportation costs per gallon was $0.001862 for diesel bio-fuel and $0.00171 for regular unleaded gasoline.
The board also reappointed several members to three-year terms on the Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board: Emory Geist, Peg Regent and Ken Port. Dr. Carol Bilinski was also appointed to a three-term on the board.
Four resolution board members were hired for election night at the STS Building for the municipal primary election May 21. Edward Barket, Pottsville, George D. Moyer, Norwegian Township, and Mary Beth Dougherty, Girardville, will be paid $100 as board members while Mark Scarbinksy, county administrator, will not be compensated.
The county is taking bids for plowing and salting streets as well as salting and cindering for county parking lots. Bids will be opened May 1.
The Schuylkill County retirement fund continues to stay near record highs in fair market value. As of Wednesday, the fund was at $110,116,638.45. In March, the fund was at $110,125,888.15 while last April it was at $100,893,037.83.
As part of National Telecommunicators Week, the commissioners recognized the Schuylkill County Communications Center for its 24-hour services.
According to the proclamation, the Schuylkill County Communications Center has answered more than 128,000 calls for service from the residents and visitors of Schuylkill County while having the highest standards of emergency dispatch services within the state.
"We owe a great debt to the men and women who, by applying their expertise in telecommunications, emergency medical dispatch, law enforcement, emergency medical and fire services to help make that achievement possible," commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier said.
"... We hereby honor the staff at the Schuylkill County Communications Center for extraordinary devotion to the ideals and goals of public safety dispatching, a consistent spirit of teamwork and cooperation, and the continued pursuit of our goal of protecting life and property while maintaining the highest level of professionalism."
Along with the state and federal government, the commissioners also proclaimed April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month. According to the proclamation, April is designated to draw attention to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and has public health implications for every community member in Schuylkill County.
The Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center of Schuylkill and Lebanon counties, which will host its third annual "Walk a Mile in Her Shoes" fundraiser April 25, accepted the proclamation Wednesday.
"We, the board of Schuylkill County commissioners, join anti-sexual violence advocates and support service programs in the belief that all community members must be part of the solution to end sexual violence," Commissioner George F. Halcovage said.Avenues will hold its 25th annual Duck Race on the banks of Mill Creek in front of the Wal-Mart in Saint Clair on April 28. The Schuylkill County Commissioners issued a proclamation Wednesday declaring it Duck Month in the county.
A nonprofit organization providing services to people with disabilities, Avenues has served Schuylkill County since 1952. The annual Duck Race is its largest fundraiser of the year.
Thousands of rubber ducks are available for "adoption" and all proceeds benefit the children and adults that participate in programs offered by Avenues.
"We commend Avenues and all the county volunteers who make this event successful," Commissioner Gary J. Hess said. "We urge all citizens of Schuylkill County who can, to consider adopting a duck in order to contribute to this worthy cause."
Ducks are $5 and can be purchased through Avenues employees or by calling the office at 570-622-7920. They will also be available on race day.