Bids are being sought by the Schuylkill County Commissioners for a county Community Development Block Grant CDBG) project in Rush Township in action taken at the public meeting held Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville.

Bids are due back in the controller's office at the courthouse in Pottsville on Oct. 1, will be opened on Oct. 3 and a tentative award date is Oct. 10.According to Gary Bender, the county CDBG director, the Rush Township project involves a sewer main and manhole replacements on Delford Street and Purnell Avenue in Hometown. The specifications call for approximately 410 feet of pipe laid along Purnell Avenue and 249 on Delford Street.Other businessContracts were awarded by the commissioners to two companies to pickup electronic equipment and old tires from the county drop-off recycling sites located in various areas in the county during the fall cleanup drive to be held from Sept. 17 through 28, with the exception of Sundays.Hazleton Scrap and Recycling Company, Andreas, was awarded the contract with fees approved for various sites.They include for Tamaqua and Pottsville, $200 for pulling recyclable matters and $90 a ton hauling fee; Girardville and Minersville, $225 for pulling and $90 per ton for hauling and Wayne Township, North Manheim Township, Porter Township, Ringtown and CES landfill in Foster Township, $250 for pulling and $90 a ton for hauling. (Pulling refers to dismantling various item).Sims Recycling Solutions, Edison, N.J., was awarded a contract, at no pull or dismantling costs and they will pay the county two cents a pound for various items, such as computers, laptops, printers, keyboards, mice, scanners, and all types of television and monitors.The commissioners also accepted the proposals for additional services necessary for the fall cleanup.Weiner Iron and Metal Corporation, Pottsville, to handle scrap metal transportation and recycling from the sites; Potts and Monger Sanitation, Pine Grove, collect bulky items from Wayne Township; Mostik Brothers Disposal, Atlas, bulky items from Pottsville, Ringtown, Minersville, and Girardville; Yost Mechanical Inc., Schuylkill Haven, freon collection from the CES landfill; and Rick's Refrigeration and Heating, Mahanoy Plane, freon collection at Weiner Scrap Yard in Pottsville and Tamaqua Transfer Station.The commissioners approved renewal of leases for all of the county's recycling centers for a term of three years ending Sept. 11, 2015.The commissioners approved the construction of a 16 by 20 foot open sided pavilion adjacent to the north shore parking area at the county's Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association. The pavilion will be constructed by Pioneer Pole Building of Schuylkill Haven at a cost of $9,000 and work is expected to start in two weeks.Dallago Backhoe Services Inc. Marlin, Norwegian Township, was awarded a contract for $95,565 for replacement of six inlets to five streets as part of the Walnut Street improvement project in Frailey Township.Helen Clay, Minersville and Paul Gombola, Pottsville, were re-appointed to three year terms ending Aug. 31, 2015, as members of the Office of Senior Services Advisory Board.John Matz, head of the county's Emergency Management Agency and 9-1-1 Center, accepted an award presented the county agency by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Service for its fine response to emergencies in the area.A proclamation was adopted designating Sept. 17 to 23 as Constitution Week to mark the 225th anniversary of the drafting of the U.S. constitution.Personnel mattersMary Lou Pillus, New Philadelphia, was appointed by President Judge William E. Baldwin to serve as chief court reporter. The salary board set her salary at $29.37 per hour. The county had not had a chief court reporter since the death of the late John Shandor, of Saint Clair.Sheriff Joseph G. Groody announced the appointment of to interns, Joshua John Lowker, Frackville, and Alexandra Louise Larish, Saint Clair, at no pay.Rest Haven Home and Hospital announced the appointment of Irene Moyer, Pine Grove, as part time nursing assistant at $11.72 per hour and the resignation of Cathy Gregory, Saint Clair, who held the position.The Office of Senior Service Agency announced the appointment of James Bankes, Frackville, as aging care manager 1 at $13.94 per hour and the promotion of Barbara Abrasonis, Shenandoah, as aging case aide 2 at $10.88 per hour.