Permission was given by the Schuylkill County commissioners to the engineering department to seek sealed bids for repairs to a county bridge which carries Greenwood Street over Panther Creek in Tamaqua; Rest Haven Home for laundry services and to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for a rahab project at the Gordon Borough Municipal Building, in action taken at a work session held Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville. All bids must be in the controller's office by April 4.

Bids openedBids were opened to provide cleaning services for a county building and for demolition of three buildings under the CDBG program.Three bids were received to provide three years of cleaning service for the Human Services Complex building in Pottsville. Oriental Pacifia Maintenance Company, Mahwah, N.J., submitted a three year bid for $107,938; Rhino Building Services, Reading, a three year bid at $107,938; and TKO Cleaning Services, Pottsville, submitted a bid for two years, $72,000.Nine bids were received for demolition of a three story vacant building at the intersection of state routes 25 and 125 in Hegins, Hegins Township.Bidding were: Penn Earthworks, Inc., Hazle Township, $24,660; Robert Gusick Demolition Company, Shamokin, $24,812.99; Northeast Industrial Services, Shamokin, $36,890; Madonna Enterprises Inc.,Port Carbon, $41,999; Empire Services, Reading, $54.000; Superior 3 Construction Inc., Pine Grove, $56,850; Shea Industries Company, Clarks Summit, $57,428; Ferdinand Diminick Construction Company, Danville, $60,000; and Ankiewicz Enterprises Inc., Tamaqua, $65,000.Fifteen bids were received for demolition of a vacant home on Park Street, Morea, Mahanoy Township.Bidders were: Ferdinand Diminick Construction Company, Danville, $7,300; Penn Earthworks Inc., Hazle Township, $7,930; Madonna Enterprises Inc., Port Carbon, $8,399; Dudash Pipeline Company, Pottsville, $9,411; Northeast Industrial Services, Shamokin, $11,890; Robert Gusick Demolition Company, Shamokin, $12,812.99; Bill Davis Cement Contractors, Mahanoy City, $13,300; Arthur "Pat" Aungst Inc., Pine Grove, $14,678.66; Bob Dudash Excavating Company, Pottsville,$14,700; AMC Enterprise Company, Girardville, $14,949; Shea Industries Company, Clarks Summit, $16,721; Superior 3 Construction Inc., Pine Grove, $17,900; Empire Services, Reading, $22,130; Ankiewicz Enterprises Inc., Tamaqua, $23,000; and MEA Enterprises, LLC, Mahanoy City, $24,762.75.Fourteen bids were received for demolition of a vacant home in Zero Valley, Cass Township.Bidders were: Superior 3 Construction Inc., Pine Grove, $7,350; Madonna Enterprises Inc., Port Carbon, $7,399; Empire Services, Reading, $7,543; Penn Earthworks Inc., Hazle Township, $8,370; Robert Gusick Demolition Company, Shamokin, $8,812.99; Ferdinand Diminick Construction Company, Danville, $9,000; AMC Enterprise, Girardville, $9,749; Shea Industries Company, Clarks Summit, $9,823; Maurer Excavating Company, Hegins, $10,300; Northeast Industrial Services, Shamokin, $10,690; Arthur "Pat" Aungst Inc., Pine Grove, $11,633.17; Bob Dudish Excavating Company, Pottsville, $11,700; Dudish Pipeline Company Inc., Pottsville, $12,767 and Ankiewicz Enterprises Inc., Tamaqua, $19,000.The bids will be reviewed and contracts will be awarded at a future public meeting of the commissioners.The commissioners reviewed two coal leases, Gale Mining Company, which is mining on county land in Schuylkill Township, and White Pine Coal Company in Reilly Township. Both companies seek renewal.The prison asks extension of the food service agreement with Compass Groups, US.A., Chicago, Ill., for an additional term of one year to March 1, 2012. They prepare the meals for the inmates.Also a request was made for the commissioners to adopt affirmative action plan for the county for 2011. This plan outlines the county's policy to eliminate and avoid discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, handicap, national origin, sex or age.The Children and Youth Services Agency submitted the name of Art Zeplin, Barnesville, to be appointed to the agency's advisory board for three years.Commissioner Mantura Gallagher chaired the meeting and announced the courthouse will be closed Monday in observance of Presidents Day. Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier was in attendance. Commissioner Francis McAndrew was absent.