Because of the dry conditions in the woods, Frank Staudenmeier, chairman of the board of Schuylkill County Commissioners, at Wednesday's public meeting at the courthouse in Pottsville, asked residents to use extreme caution concerning outside burning because of the brush fires which have ignited in several sections of the county.

ProclamationsThe commissioners adopted three proclamations as follows:The Month of April was proclaimed "Donate Life Month" in grateful tribute to organ donors who at their moment of death have given others a second chance in life. Everyone is urged to take the simple step of placing the organ donor designation on their driver's license.The week of April 10 through 16 was proclamed "National Telecommunicators Week" and the commissioners are honoring the staff at the Schuylkill County Communication Center who operate the Emergency 9-1-1 Dispatch Services whose staff is on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week and in 2011 answered 127,000 calls for service.The Month of May was proclaimed as "Duck Month" and on Sunday, April 29, the organization known as Avenues, formerly the United Cerebral Palsy organizaton, will hold its 23rd annual Duck Race at the banks of Mill Creek in front of Walmart Super Center in Saint Clair. People can purchase a duck and sponsor it in the race. All donations will benefit children and adults participating in vital program offered by Avenues.Other businessThe commissioners adopted an ordinance and cooperative purchasing agreement for the purpose of entering into an contract to jointly make purchases with other counties and municipalities for goods and services related to the Emergency 9-1-1 dispatch services.Approval was given to the probation department to renew the agreemwnt with BI Incorporated for the electronic monitoring program. Defendants who are sentenced by judges to be under house arrest are supervised by electronic monitoring.Personnel mattersThe commissioners approved actions taken by various departments pertaining to personnel matters.Office of Senior Services - Diane Krapf, Tamaqua, retired as fiscal technician; Celesta Gnall, Mahanoy City, resigned as clerk typist; and Christina Sogaw, Tamaqua, resigned as aging care manager.Children and Youth Services Agency - Matthew Stine, Tamaqua, hired as a county caseworker I at $16.7612 per hour; and Beth Cairns, Pottsville, transferred from aging care manager at Senior Services to county caseworker 2 at $18.0415 per hour.Rest Haven Home - Lori Cascarino, Barnesville, retired as activities director; Kathleen Ryan, Cresson, resigned as part time nurse's aide; and Maureen Manbeck, Girardville, resigned as part time activities aide.Drug and Alcohol Agency - Kathy Repsher, Ashland, hired as drug and alcohol case management specialist at $36,649 per year.Conservation District - Virginia Kunigonis, Branch Township, reclassified from administrative secretary to conservation fiscal technician and salary set at $19.1281 per hour.