Carbon County courthouse's roof is being properly maintained to guarantee the integrity of the slate.

During the county commissioners' meeting on Thursday, the county approved a professional services agreement with Slate Roof Repair Specialists, LLC of Columbia, Pa., for repairs to the courthouse slate roof. The cost of the project is $7,173 and will be completed on or before Sept. 30.The roof of the courthouse was last repaired in late 2008 by C&D Waterproofing Corporation of Bloomsburg. At the time, the county officials had decided that the slate, which was 36 years old, needed to be repaired or replaced and preventive measures needed to be taken to make sure the pedestrians below were safe when walking along the sidewalks around the courthouse. That previous winter, a pedestrian was struck with a piece of falling ice after the sun had melted some of the ice on the courthouse roof.The cost of that project came in around $250,000, and was made up of 16 smaller projects, including gutter installation, slate removals, board replacement, and snow guard installation.Commissioner William O'Gurek, chairman, said this action is part of a plan to maintain the stone structure, which was constructed in the 1800s.Last year, the county also repointed the courthouse's exterior walls to make sure all stonework was secure. The cost of that project came in over $363,000.In other matters, Carbon County's Children and Youth agency is in compliance with federal and state civil rights regulations.O'Gurek said the county received a letter from the state Department of Public Welfare stating that the results from a review "indicate your agency is currently in compliance with applicable federal and state civil rights regulations in regard to the delivery of human services."O'Gurek said the letter was in response to additional information the county sent in June to the department.The additional information was needed because earlier this year, O'Gurek said the county received a report that pointed out that there were some deficiencies with services. These areas were addressed by Children and Youth officials and Randall Smith, county administrator.Commissioner Charles Getz also reminds residents that the Carbon County Fair is taking place until Sunday, and urged everyone to go support the local fair and the 4-Hers participating through livestock and other projects.