A resolution was adopted by the Schuylkill County Commissioners supporting passage of Pennsylvania House Bill 2585 of 2010 which will restore full police powers to the Commonweath's sheriffs and deputy sheriffs.

County Sheriff Joseph Groody appeared at the work session and asked for support of the bill claiming about 20 other counties have also gone on record in support of the bill. Groody claims the county sheriff's department are prohibited by an "antiquated" provision of the county code from performing duties of a municipal police officer and that this bill is slated to restore that power.Groody pointed out his deputies travel all over the county serving papers on lawsuits filed in the county court or in other courts against county residents but if they happen to see anything illegal they are not able to act but must refer the matter to police officers. He said the bill will add 2,000 extra law enforcement people in the state to deal with criminals by its passage.All three commissioners, Mantura Gallagher, Francis McAndrew and Frank Staudenmeier, voted to endorse the bill.Other actionsPermission was granted two adult probation officers to travel to Connecticut for the purpose to bring back Lisa Ann Downing, 48, of Shenandoah, wanted on criminal charge in the county and currentlly held by Connecticut authorities. She is wanted for sale and delivery of illegal drugs from her home.The Victim Witness Office was granted permission to file an application to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to fund the district attorney's rights and services project. Sought is $160,542. Also funds from the same department are sought for the district attorney's victims of juvenile offenders project in amount of $36,376. District Attorney James P; Goodman said the grant money goes towards salaries of the victim's witness office who aid juvenile and adult victims of crime.A cooperation agreement was entered with McAdoo, Palo Alto and Girardville boroughs for a demolition project undertaken by the county's Community Development Block Grant (CDBS) project.The Solid Waste Department received approval to seek bids for waste tire collection and recycling which will be held during the annual fall cleanup and recycling event held throughout the county.Bids openedEleven bids were opened for the stormwater drainage improvement project in Reilly Township. Bidders were:Fidler Brothers Construction Company, Pottsville, $37,720; Dallago Backhoe Service Inc., $43,687; Penn Earthworks Inc., Hazle Township, $49,413; Dudash Pipeline Company Inc., Pottsville, $51,095; Arthur "Pat" Aungst Inc., Pine Grove, $56,988; Schuylkill Paving Inc., Schuylkill Haven, $69,750; Tri-County Excavating, Hazleton, $69,750; Grand Prix Excavation Company, Tamaqua, $76,392; Eastern Industrices Inc., Winfield, $78,805; RGC Development, LP, Bath, $82,860; and Landis C. Deck and Sons, Bernville, $85,283.14. Action will be taken at next week's public meeting to award a contract for the project.The commissioners public meeting next week will be held on Thursday instead of the regular time on Wednesday.