To assure that all deceased county veterans are remembered and honored the Schuylkill County commissioners gave approval to its Veterans' Bureau to purchase flags to decorate their graves for Memorial Day in action taken at the public meeting held Wednesday at the courthouse in Pottsville.

The county is part of a five county cooperative which purchase a large bulk of flags at cost savings because if each county made separate purchases the cost would be higher. The five county group consists of Schuylkill, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Monroe and Lycoming.Schuylkill County is purchasing 39,600 flags at a cost of $19,008. Brenda Griffiths, director of the veterans bureau, reported since last Memorial Day 800 county veterans passed away and she will be distributing 38,900 flags to veterans organizations who visit and decorate the graves on May 30.Other businessAn agreement was entered with Simplex Grinnell, of Allentown, for testing, inspecting, and maintaining the fire alarm and electrical systems in all county buildings, including the courthouse, 9-1-1 Center, and Humane Services buildings. The contract is for the period from July 1 through June 30, 2014, at a cost of $54,822.The bid of TKO Cleaning Services, Pottsville, for cleaning the Human Services building at 410-420 N. Centre St., Pottsville, was accepted. The contract is for a three year period ending April 14, 2016, at a cost of $102,000.The board approved taking $575,000 from the county's liquid fuels tax account to pay for work on the county bridge which carries Mahantongo Mountain Road over Mahantongo Creek in Upper Mahantongo Township. The repair work includes replacement of the pre-stressed beams, upgrades, and erosion control.An access agreement across county property was granted Daniel J. and Jacqueline S. Kokitus, who reside in Landingville Borough. The easement encompasses 1,475 feet or 0.34 of a acre along the easterly side of Canal Street where the street adjoins a former railroad bed. The reason the easement was granted, as explained by Lisa Mahall, director of the Real Estate Department, was the Konkitus' property is landlocked and needed the easement to access their property.The commissioners are seeking bids for an in-house laundry facility at Rest Haven Home to include equipment, plumbing, electrical supplies, linen purchases, and management of the department. Bids are due in the county controller's office on April 1.Budget mattersAt the recommendation of Paul Buber, fiscal officer, the commissioners approved a number of resolutions pertaining to budget adjustments.A sum of $200,000 is being taken from the Clerk of Courts Collection Account with $100,000 transferred to Drug and Alcohol Agency to cover costs of programs for those assigned by the court to receive treatments from drug and alcohol addiction. Also, $100,000 to the county general fund which will be used to pay for costs of operating the county prison. The Clerk of Courts office collects all fines and costs imposed on persons sentenced by the court in drug and drunken driving cases.A sum of $50,000 is being transferred from the Marcellus Shale account to be used by the Conservation District for farm land preservation which keeps farms from being converted into housing subdivisions.A sum of $108,152 is being transferred from the Juvenile Probation Collection Account to the county's general fund to offset expenses for operating the juvenile probation department. The juvenile collection account collects fines and costs imposed on juvenile offenders.Three purchase of services agreements were approved on behalf of the Children and Youth Services Agency.A contract was entered with The Center for Independent LIving for standard interpretation at $49 per unit rate; emergency interpretation at $75 per unit rate and legal services at $100 per unit rate. A contract was entered with Hermitage House for intensive supervised Group Home at $269 and boys therapeutic transition living at $173.84 per unit rate. A contract was entered with Triad Treatment Specialists for sex offender therapy at $32 per unit rate, initial assessment at $88 per unit rate at $375 per unit rate.Personnel mattersAction was taken on a number of personnel matters.District Attorney's Office - Assistant District Attorney Leo Breznik, West Mahanoy Township, retiredRecorder of Deeds Office - Jane Wertz, Pine Grove, first deputy, retired.Children and Youth Services Agency - Samantha Kranch, Coaldale, promoted from caseworker 2 to casework supervisor; and Mary Begley, Tamaqua, hired as social services aide 2. Morgan Ferrari, Orwigsburg, resigned as parttime nurse's aide.Rest Haven Home - Deborah Walchak, Pottsville, retired as fulltime licensed practical nurse; and Elaine Hozella, Pottsville, transferred from per diem to part time practical nurse.Adult Probation Department - Rebecca Weller, Orwigsburg, was appointed a student intern.Coroner's Office - Paul Kennedy, Pottsville, resigned as a deputy coroner investigator.Salary boardThe Schuylkill County Salary Board met after the commissioners meeting to act on creating a position and setting salaries.On behalf of the Conservation District it created the position of per diem rental clerk and fixed the salary at $10 per hour.On behalf of the Children and Youth Services Agency it set the salary for Samantha Kranch, who was promoted, at $39,727 per year; and adjusted the salary of Jennifer Schumacher, Schuylkill Haven, a casework supervisor at $39,727. The salary of Mary Begley, who was hired as a social services aide 2 with Children and Youth at $12.5369 per hour.Commissioner George Halcovage chaired the commissioners and salary board meetings in the absence of Chairman Frank Staudenmeier.