A resolution declaring a countywide 30-day burn ban on open fires was adopted by the Schuylkill County Commissioners at the public meeting held Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville. It becomes effective at 10 a.m. Friday. The high temperatures and high humidity along with a long spell of dryness caused a large number of brush fires in the county which prompted the action.

Other businessThe commissioners awarded a contract to Barletta Materials and Construction Company, Tamaqua, for maintenance and repairs to the county bridge which carries Broad Street over Little Schuylkill River in Tamaqua. Barletta was the low bidder at $268,506. Bill Anskis Company Inc., of Elysburg, got the contract to make maintenance repairs to the county bridge which carries Labenburg Road over Catawissa Creek in North Union Township. He was the low bidder at $288,614.An agreement was reached with Diakon Inroads Company, of Wyomissing, to provide an employee assistance program for all county employees for a period commencing now through June 30, 2011. The program, according to Martina Chwastiak, human resources risk manager, provides confidential counseling to employees who are experiencing any kind of problem, including depression, marital, family, etc. There is a $10 cost for each employee for request and $60 paid by the county for the first two sessions. If additional sessions are required the employee pays toward the counseling.A service agreement was entered with Kova Corporation, Little Egg Harbor, N.J., for an 88 channel audiolog max prerecording system for the 9-1-1 Center at a cost of $23,570 for a one-year period starting Aug. 2. The funds to pay the cost are from a grant under Act 78 and Act 56.An agreement was reached with ReDCo Group DBA, Pottsvile, for transportation services provided by Schuylkill Transportation System (STS) setting 50 cents for a child's bus ticket and $85 per hour for urgent care transportation. The agreement expires June 30, 2011.A rate agreement was approved with NHS Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, for the provision of transportation services to clients in the summer therapeutic activities program at a rate of $14 per one trip under 10 miles and $15 per one way trip over 10 miles.A rate agreement was approved with Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 School District, Norwegian Township, for provision of transportation services to client in the counsel house summer program at a rate of $14 per one-way trip under 10 miles and $15 per one-way trip over 10 miles.Approved was a state purchase contract for the 2010-11 state food purchase program.A rate agreement was approved with Lifeline Systems Company, Framingham, Mass., for personal emergency response systems at the rate of $25 per month per consumer for the period beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2011.Approved a rate agreement with Good Will Hose Company, Minersville, to provide a specialized transportation service for heavy wheelchair clients trips out of the county at rate of $35 each way and $25 per hour sitting fee.A rate agreement was reached with Aaron North Inc., Allentown, for homemakers and personal care services at $17.76 per hour and $26.64 on holidays; and a rate agreement was approved with Maximum Care Inc., Whitehall, for homemakers and personal care services at $16.95 per hour and $25.43 for holidays.Service contractsEighteen fee for service contracts were approved for the Drug and Alcohol Agency with the following providers:Carbon-Monroe Pike Drug and Alcohol Commission Inc., Lehighton, $10,000; Pennsylvania Treatment and Healing Company, Middleburg, $5,000; New Directions Treatment Services, Reading and Bethlehem, $10,000; Treatment Trends Inc., Allentown, $75,000; Clem-Mar House, Edwardsville, $5,000; Advanced Treatment Systems Inc., doing business as Lebanon Treatment, Lebanon, $25,000; Eagleville Hospital, $5,000; Gaudenzia, Pottsville, $180,000, $85,000 and $200,000; Schuylkill Health Counseling Center, Saint Clair, $240,000; White Deer Run Inc., Watsontown, $130,867; Pyramid Inc., Duncanville, $165,000; Bowling Green, Brandywine of Kennett Square, $20,000; Serento Gardens, Hazleton, $15,000; Co-County Wellness DBA Ban and Schuylkill Wellness Services, $36,353; and Clinical Outcomes Group Inc., Pottsville, $71,092.On behalf of Children and Youth Services Agency agreements were entered with the following:Penn Kashar, Inc., Pottsville, for after-hour answering service at $90 per unit; Psychological Associates of Schuylkill County, Pottsville, for group sexual offender counseling at $35 per unit; $80 per unit for bonding evaluation and $300 per unit for polygraph testing; Access Services, Orwigsburg, for rebound program at $19,013.33 per unit; and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Schuylkill County, Pottsville, for increasing cap of original contract from $7,200 to $9,000.A timber lease agreement was entered with D&L Logging, Tremont, to remove timber on five acres of county-held land in Reilly Township, with payment of $175 monthly royalty fees.A contract was entered with Reading Anthracite Company, Pottsville, to supply coal to the county courthouse and prison from July 19 to July 18, 2011 at $138.95 per ton delivered.Safety policyCommitted to maintaining safety and health practices for its employees the commissioners renewed a safety policy.All accidents, injuries, potential safety hazards, safety suggestions and health and safety-related issues must be reported immediately to supervisors, department heads or designated company representatives.Department heads and elected officials are responsible for advising new employees about proper entrances and exists and unescorted or unauthorized visitors are prohibited in work areas such as customers and friends.The county will exercise its right to inspect all packages and parcels upon entering main door at courthouse. All employees asked to keep their work area neat and orderly at all times. Courtesy and common sense should be shown in the parking area to eliminate accidentsIn case of emergencies such as fire or bomb threat, employees are advised to evacuate the building, stop all work immediately, contact 9-1-1, shut off all electrical equipment, walk to nearest exist and do not use elevators.Personnel mattersHirings approved were as follows:Rest Haven Home - Laura Manness, Tamaqua, and Linda Corell, Orwigsburg, as part-time nurse's aides at $11.72 per hour.Coroner's Office - John Galloway, Klingerstown, as deputy coroner and investigator, per diem rate.9-1-1 Communication - Cory Rainis, West Mahanoy Township, and Jason Eichenberg, Reilly Township, as telecommunicator 3, at $11.5082 per hour.Courts - Roberta Domlesky, Minersville, as law clerk for Judge D. Michael Stine, at $36,065 per year.County Prison - David Reeves, Pottsville, correctional officer, $18.7650 per hour and Ryan Parker, Saint Clair, correctional officer, $15.6375 per hour.Chairperson Mantura Gallagher was absent. However, all items on the agenda were approved by Commissioners, Francis McAndrew and Frank Staudenmeier.Salary boardThe Schuylkill County Employees Retirement Board met after the commissioners' meeting.Controller Melinda Kantner, who serves as secretary, reported the market value of the fund on June 30 was $83,547,740, but as of Wednesday it increased to $86,255,800. Kantner reported four retirees passed away, 12 members received refunds totaling $40,363.26, and four members received annuities totaling $735,417.45.