Carbon County Commissioners on Thursday opened bids for three Community Development Block Grant funded projects. The commissioners expect to award the jobs on Sept. 29.

Three bids were received for work on the Court Street retaining wall in Franklin Township, second phase. The lowest bidder was Bruce George Paving & Excavating Inc., Kunkletown, which offered to do the work for $174,245. Pickarski Inc., Gouldsboro, Wayne County, bid $195,435.30, and Bill Anskis Company Inc., Elysburg, Northumberland County, bid $228,850.Three companies also bid on the job of dredging Pond # 2 the Phifer Ice Dam in Franklin Township, second phase: Sikorsky Contracting Co., Lehighton, bid $17,855.50; Luzerne County Site Contractors, Hazleton, bid $28,886 and Barletta Materials & Construction Inc., Tamaqua, bid $61,950.Only one company bid on the job of building Americans with Disabilities Act handicapped improvements on Lehigh Avenue in Palmerton. Luzerne County Site Contractors bid $49,669.25 to do the job.In other matters, commissioners accepted, with regrets, the retirement of Coordinator of Records/Genealogy/Ancestry Researcher, Register of Wills Ruthie E. Cunningham, effective Sept. 23.They also accepted the resignation of parks lifeguard Tricia K. Janowiak, Nesquehoning, effective Aug. 24.Commissioners granted requests from employees to attend seminars: Kimmy Mulik of juvenile court will attend the 2011 Pennsylvania Conference on Juvenile Justice in Harrisburg, and public defender Gregory Mousseau will attend a seminar, "Brainstorming the Capital Case" in Gettysburg. The cost is a $375 conference fee, lodging, mileage and meals.Also on Thursday, commissioners:• Approved a $300 proposal from 903 Appraisal Service, Summit Hill, to complete a market value appraisal on a county-owned property on Mill Street in Nesquehoning;• Hired Renaissance Psychological & Counseling Corp., Frackville, to provide in-home services; Family Care for Children & Youth, Milton, Northumberland County, to provide family based and kinship treatment services. Commissioners also extended the 2010-2011 contract with Families United Network Inc., Muncy, Lycoming County, from July 1, 2011 until such time that the rate for fiscal year 2011-2012 is settled between the provider and the county.