The Schuylkill County commissioners awarded a contract Wednesday that was put out for bid at a work session while receiving bids for two other projects.
The board approved an agreement with Antz Energy Systems Inc., Shenandoah, for the removal and replacement of three heating, ventilation and air conditioning units from the roof of the county communications center. The units are 8.5 tons, 10 tons and 12.5 tons, respectively. The total cost of the project is $42,370.
Bids were opened for the cleaning of the Schuylkill County Courthouse complex and for the tire and electronics collection for the annual Fall Cleanup and Recycling event later this month.
TKO Cleaning Services LLC, Pottsville, was the only company that submitted a bid for cleaning the courthouse. The bid was for three years, increasing from $75,000 in the first year, to $79,000 and $83,000 in the final year.
County government, in cooperation with local municipalities and businesses, is sponsoring the annual recycling program from Sept. 16 to 27. The 12 drop-off sites throughout the county will be collecting scrap tires, electronics, appliances, scrap metal and other bulky items at various times during those two weeks. It is funded by the Schuylkill County board of commissioners and the state Department of Environmental Protection.
HSR, Andreas, was the only bidder for the tire collection. The bid was $100 per ton, plus varying pulling fees from $275 to $225 for each collection site.
Two companies submitted bids for the electronics collection. Telecycle LLC, College Park, submitted a bid with a $100 pull fee and varying dismantling fees per pound. Reverse Logistics Group Americas Inc., Iselin, N.J., submitted a bid with no pull or dismantling fee.
Scott Krater, county communications director, provided the commissioners with a monthly update on the 911 narrowbanding project Wednesday. Fixed network equipment, which includes racks of radios and associated equipment, has been installed at 10 of the 11 tower sites in the county. The remaining site is the Blue Mountain tower, which is being delayed because of issues with the floor.
The courthouse receive site has been installed and the text messaging software is scheduled to be ready and optimized on Sept. 16. The hardware is already in place.
The master site at the county communications center is already in operation.
Antennas and lines have been installed at three sites and the remaining eight are being scheduled for installation.
System optimization will begin in early October. Coverage testing will then start throughout the county to measure system performance.
The commissioners approved an agreement with Essentials Management Solutions, Pottsville, for a regional shared services assessment. The study is being conducted to see what equipment counties can share to reduce costs. The cost of $30,000 is being fully paid for through Act 56 funds and should be completed by February 2014.
A grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection will be used to buy a new recycling truck for the county office of solid waste. The board accepted the 902 recycling grant Wednesday and approved the purchase of a recycling truck from Haul-All Ltd for $191,877.64. The grant covers 90 percent of the purchase and the county match is 10 percent.
The board also approved the temporary change of a polling site for 2013 and 2014. Tamaqua's third precinct polling place has moved from the high rise building at 222 E. Broad St., Tamaqua, to the municipal building at 320 E. Broad St., Tamaqua. Frannie Brennan, director of the election bureau, said the change is due to Route 209 being closed for bridge construction.
In other business, Rest Haven had five appointments and a resignation. Melissa Mengel, Auburn, Carol Sheffield, Pottsville, and Kelsey Kramme, Schuylkill Haven, were appointed to part-time nurses aides, effective Sept. 25. Jenifer Moran, Branchdale, was appointed to per diem nurse's aide and Lori Fick, Pine Grove, was appointed to per diem registered nurse, both effective Aug. 25.
Donna O'Brien, Saint Clair, will resign as full-time social service director starting Sept. 20.
The appointment of Jessica Karrer, Pottsville, as a corrections officer, will go into effect Sept. 16.
The commissioners' retirement board meeting will be held Wednesday immediately following the commissioners' public meeting.