The Schuylkill County commissioners acknowledged that the county has received two state grants. The information was released during the board's work session held Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville.

A grant of $425,000 comes from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to operate the HOME Program and a grant of $1,000 from the state's budget department for the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RCAP).Other actionsApproval was given to John Richmond, head of the adult probation department, to submit a grant-in-aid application to the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole for continuing participation in the program.The monies are used to pay 40 percent of the salaries of 17 probation officers.An agreement with County Commissioines Association of Pennsylvania was approved to continue to participate in the data quality project designed to create data consistance between the district attorney's office, county prison and adult probation department.The commissioners approved a stipulation reached by its legal staff with four property owners whose properties were acquired by the Schuylkill Women in Crisis, a non-profit organization, for new quarters under constructed on the sites. The appeals arose when the county's assessment appeals board decision in denying these properties being exempted from real estate taxes. The agreement reached was that the market value of the four properties shall remain unchanged but effective as of Jan. 1 each of the four parcels will be deemed to be exempt as they are now properties of the non-profit organization.A lease agreement was made with James McAndrew for 2,288 square feet of storage space in a building located at 33 S. Main St., Shenandoah. Lisa Mahall, county engineer, stated the storage space is divided among the district justice, adult probation and juvenile justice. The monthly rent is $585. Commissioner Francis McAndrew abstained from voting because the owner of the property is a relative.Four vacancies were filled on the Schuylkill County Rail Transportation Authority. Edward Barket, Brian Canfield and James Thomas, all of Pottsville, and Todd Selgrade, Girardville, were appointed.Commissioner chairperson Mantura Gallagher announced the Schuylkill County Retirement Board and the prison board will hold their monthly meetings next Wednesday followng the commissioners public meeting in the commissioners' board room at the courthouse.