An agreement in connection with a settlement of a tax appeal concerning an industrial warehouse facility in Tamaqua was approved by the Schuylkill County Commissioners at their public meeting held Thursday. The board held the meeting at the Girardville Borough Hall instead of the courthouse in Pottsville.

The settlement was on the property owned by MJF Reallty Company and the agreement was to reduce the market value from $1,787,150 to $1,750,000 on 41.52 acres of land.The board also approved a stipulation on settlement of two commercial buildings owned by Tri-State Envelope Corporation on 19.7 acres in Union Township on which is located an unfinished office and industrial warehouse reducing the market value from $1,523,200 to $900,000 and a tract containing 9.6 acres in Ashland Borough on which are located an industrial warehouse, office and manufacturing facility, reducing the market value from $1,786,220 to $1,500,000.Out-of-state travel was approved for two employees in the district attorney's office, Rebecca Elo and Megan Duncan, to attend a domestic violence conference from April 13 through 15 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Travel and hotel expenses will be paid by Schuylkill Women In Crisis through the grant to encourage arrest.Three purchase of service agreements were approved for the Children and Youth Services Agency. A contract was entered with Clear Vision Residential Company, Montgomery, for community residential at $181.92 pe day and independent living at $181.91 per day; Alternative Rehabilitation Company, Harrisburg, for foster care at $61.60 pre-release outreach residential at $96.91 per day and residential at $208.77 per day and Hermitage House, of Edinboro, for boys supervised in Phase 2 Program at $97.45 per day; supervised in Phase I at $135 per day and Group Home and Emergency Shelter for females at $220 per day.On behalf of Rest Haven Home and Hospital approved payment for Pelican Insurance for professional general liability, employee benefits liability and McAre Assessment Insurance in amount of $58,699 for period March 1, 2011 through March 1, 2012. A contract was also approved with General Healthcare Resources, Plymouth Meeting, for the provision of temporary nurse staffing.On behalf of Drug and Alcohol Agency a cost reimbursement contract was entered with Minersville Area School District for alternative activities at a cost of $3,300; a contact with Spartan Loop, Ashland, for alternative activites at $3,300; a contract with Mahanoy Area School district for alternative activities at a cost of $2,500 and a fee for service contract with Clinical Outcomes Group, Inc., Pottsville, to provide life skills training at a cost of $8,400.Contracts for demolition of dilapidated structures were approved for a project in Hegins Township to be carried out by Penn Earthworks, Hazle Township, Luzerne County, at a cost of $24,660; in Mahanoy Township by Ferdinand Diminick Contracting Company, Danville, at a cost of $7,300 and in Cass Township by Madonna Enterprises, Inc., Port Carbon, at a cost of $7,299.Personnel mattersThe commissioners approved promotions and hirings in various departments.Children and Youth Services Agency - Christine Lupo-Whalen, Schuylkill Haven, was promoted from caseworker 2 to casework supervisor and the salary board set her salary at $37,447 per year and Ann Keer, Coaldale, was promoted from caseworker 2 to caseworker 3 and her salary set at $21.2793 per hour.Real Estate/ Coal Lands Department - Marie Lesusky, Mahanoy City, secretary/administrative, retired.Rest Haven Home and Hospital - Christine Hunter, Saint Clair, hired as full time assistant director of nursing for the 11 to 7 nightshift at $51,835 per year; JIll DeLong, Schuyhlkill Haven and Brian Bohr, Wyomissing, hired as full time nurse's aides at $11.72 per hour; Alison Grutza, Frackville, hired as part time licensed practical nurse at $15.99 per hour. Hired as part time nurse's aide trainees at $7.70 per hour were Elizabeth Oliver, Orwigsburg; Ashley Castler, Barnesville; Laurie Lockman and Titiana Moyer, Schuylkill Haven; Marissa Stessalavage and Jenny Beach, Pottsville; Mandy Leymeioster, Saint Clair and Aimee Wright, Hegins.At the public comment segment of the meeting two Republican candidates for county commissioners asked questions of the board, Darlene Dolzani, concerning possible drilling in the county for natural gas and Larry Padora, New Ringgold, about financing.