Additional work at the MaryD firehouse was approved and eight persons were named on the computing board to make the official count of votes which will be cast in next Tuesday's general election, in action taken by the Schuylkill County commissioners at their public meeting held Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville.

The additional work involved at the firehouse consists of improved drainage in front of the building, installing a storm water retaining wall and blacktopping at a cost of $594 which will be paid out of Schuylkill Township's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project.Other businessEight people were appointed to serve on the computing board who will convene on Friday, Nov. 5, to make an official count of the votes cast in General Election which will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2.Named were, Joann Myers, Tamaqua; James Klock, Ashland; Joanne Dower, Mahanoy Township; Irene Morelli, McAdoo; Mary Loui McGinley, Pottsville; Sharon Chiao, Mahanoy Township; Pam Setlock, Saint Clair; and Rose Kern, Mahanoy City. They will be paid $70 per day.In an effort to assist the newly formed Schuylkill County Transportation Authority the commissioners allocated $25,000 to assist with the development and proposed transfer of operations of the Schuylkill Transportation System (STS) from ReDCo to the authority.As the year is nearing the end budgets in various departments are tightening and juggling is going on to change from one line item to another to keep away from a deficit. Under a policy established several years ago by the commissioners any changes in the budget must be approved by them which has worked to prevent runs on the budget.The commissioners approved a budget transfer of $14,041 for the prison from capital and office furniture account to maintenance and repairs to pay for a new freezer and cooler units installed in the kitchen.The county engineeer was given approval to take $40,000 from the contracted engineering services account to carry over $20,000 for additional traffic maintenance cost on SR61 in North Manheim Township, and $20.000 for board of review appraisal costs on homes to be condemned for widening SR61 in Deer Lake.Human Resources Bureau was given permission to transfer $500 from its employee development and training account to materials and supplies to cover large mailings and an ink cartridge for its printer.To pay for 2010 unemployed compensation claims permission was granted to Workman's Compensation Bureau to tranfer $8,000 from the contingency fund to meet the costs.To pay for a new multi-line telephone system for clerks the Assessment Bureau was granted permission to transfer $300 from its postage and handling account.On behalf of Rest Haven Home and Hospital a contract was entered with Qunique Corporation, Carroll Valley, Adams County, for a regulatory compliance survey and consulting services at a cost of $13,000 and an additional $4,000 to contract with Verizon T-1 Line.A contract for $53,000 was entered with Advanced Answers on Demand, Fort Laureldale, Fla., for the provision of an electronic resident care record.Additional costs were approved for repairs being made to three county bridges as follows: $8,526.24 for the bridge which carries Broad Street over Little Schuylkill River in Port Clinton; $9,000 for the bridge which carries Labenberg Road over Catawissa Creek in North Union Township and $10,000 for the bridge which carries Mill Street over Schuylkill River in Port Carbon.A proclamation was adopted designating the week of Oct. 31 through Nov. 6 as "Schuylkill County Farm/City Week," to preserve and protect a healthy environment as well as fresh food and water for all citrizens in a partnership in economics.Personnel mattersAction taken on personnel matters were:Gail Newton, Pottsville, was hired as a per diem deputy coroner investigator at $12.50 per hour; Kirsten Tiffin, Schuylkill Haven, transfered from fiscal assistant at Office of Senior Services to fulltime accounts clerk at Rest Haven Home at $11.72 per hour; Jodi Fetterolf, Pine Grove, was named aging care manager 1 at Office of Senior Service at $13.94 per hourTwo employees are retiring, Paul Troutman, Gordon, a court reporter and David Snyder, Pine Grove, a deputy sheriff.Six employees resigned, Jessica Kline, Pine Grove, part time nurse's aide; Jennifer Witcfsky, Schuylkill Haven, full time assistant director of nursing and Kelly Jo Werner, Hamburg, full time nurse's aide at Rest Haven Home and Hospital; Frank Lubinsky, Port Carbon, security guard; Mark Pothering, Schuylkill Haven, recycling truck driver with Office of Solid Waste; and George Pothering, Minersville, court attendant.