On requeset of Solicitor Robert Frycklund the Schuylkill County Commissioners, at their work session held Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville, authorized the execution of a stipulation pertaining to a tax appeals settlement of two parcels of land in Tamaqua Borough.

The Tamaqua Area School District appealed the assessment on the two parcels owned by Saint Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill. Both properties are located on the north right-of-way of East Broad Street (SR209). One parcel consists of 8.830 acres on which is located a medical building and the second parcel, a lot consisting of 0,.6 of an acre, is vacant. Both were bought by the hospital from Thomas L. Blew and Ronald S. Dramptrow for $290,000.After the sale the school district appealed to have the assessment on the two parcels increased but the county Assessment Appeals Board but the board ruled no change keeping the fair market value on the larger parcel at $66,570 and assessment at $33,375 and the smaller parcel at $2,640 and assessment at $1,320.The school district then filed an appeal to the county court and the proposed settlement as approved by the commissioners and agreed to by the hospital is to increase the fair market value of the larger parcel from $66,570 to $115,000 and the parcel assessed at $2,640 to $159,000. The new assessment is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2008. The stipulation will be presented to a judge for approval.Award contractThe commissioners also took action to award a contract in the amount of $32,451 for the Chapel Road Water System extension project in Foster Township. Mark Scarbinsky, fiscal administrator, told the commissioners this project is being funded under the 2009 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.The commissioners accepted the bid of Uhrig Construction Inc., Reading, and awarded the company a contract for $78,260 to perform major renovations to the pavilion and install a new sewage pump and water fountain at the Sweet Arrow Lake County Park in Pine Grove and Washington townships.The board also approved the reappointment of Dr. James Shadle and Diane Wolfgang, both of Hegins, to the farm directors board which approves the preservation of farms. Other action was to approve the reappointment of Joseph Orlowsky, Pottsville, and Commissioner Francis McAndrew, as directors of the Schuylkill Conservation District for the period ending Dec. 31, 2010.One bid was received to supply heating oil for the Child Development Building on Centre Street, Pottsville, and the county garage. Jack Rich Inc., Frackville, was the lone bidder. His bid was to supply 1,000 gallons to the child development building and 2,000 to the garage for $7,047. The bid was turned over to a committee for review and recommendation.