The Schuylkill County Commissioners, by a split vote, purchased a building in the business district of Pottsville and two parking lots in action taken at Wednesday's work session held at the courthouse in Pottsville.

Commissioner Gary Hess cast the negative vote, not because he objected to acquiring the building and lots, but questioned the method used in the transaction to purchase the building and lots.The county acquired the building at 324 N. Centre St., near the city hall building, a parking lot on Progress Avenue, and a second parking lot on Second Street, near the courthouse building from Dale Schoeneman and Franklin K. Schoeneman, brothers, of Pottsville, who operated the Empire Beauty School on the site before moving to a new location on SR61, Pottsville-Saint Clair Highway. The building was acquired through the condemnation proceeding.Hess claimed it should have been accomplished through negotiations between buyer and seller. Another reason he objected was that the county had to be involved in caring for a tenant which should have been the owners job. The tenant is a tele-communication company which employees 40 people. With the help of the commissioners and its solicitor staff the tenant was able to locate in the former post office building in the city to make sure the company did not relocate in another county. Hess said acquiring the building was needed because the county needs space but objected to the manner it was acquired.Commissioners Frank Staudenmeier and George Halcovage cast the votes to purchase the building and lots for $740,000 minus any adjustments. Staudenmeier claimed they had no choice but to proceed to purchase the building and lots through the eminent domaine procedure because there was a chance they would lose it. He said the county paid only the price which an independent real estate agent appraised it.Shollenberger said the county has been looking for additional space for the past six years because of overcrowding, especially in the building housing the human service agency which is located across the street from the building purchased. He said desks were in the hallway because of cramped quarters. Also, a huge basement in the purchased building will allow storage of more than 400 electronic voting machines and the two lots present valuable parking space for the courthouse .West PennThe commissioners approved advertising a public meeting in West Penn Township Municipal Building to be held on June 3 at 7 p..m. for the 2013 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Because of the increase in the township's population they received CDBD funds separately.Townships and boroughs who do not meet a certain population figure have to depend on the funds the county receives. However, the township has the county serving as administrator of its funds.Gary Bender, the county director of the CDBD program, reported the township has been told by the state it will receive $80,000 for the 2013 program and the purpose of the meeting is to get input from the public on projects to be undertaken. Last year the funds were used to install handicap accesses in the township park.Contracts were approved for four county school districts for the preventing activities program in each district in connection with the county's drug and alcohol agency.Pottsville Area will received $2,000; North Schuylkill, $1,060; Minersville Area, $1, and Mahanoy Area, $1,450. The programs are to combat drug and alcohol use. Halcovage lauded the program because it allows parents, police, and business people to join the students in mapping out plans to eradicate illegal drugs and alcohol abuse.Two members of the Officer of Senior Services Advisory Board were reappointed for a three year terms ending May 31, 2016. They are Julia Kubick, Minersville, and Rose Kern, Mahanoy City.Bus lineDiscussion was held on continuing the operation of the county bus line proved by Schuylkill Transportation System (STS).Mike Micko, director of STS, reported the fixed route program seeks $390,976 from the federal government and $1,276,890 from the state with the county's local share of $169,170. If the anticipated funds are received, $764,000 will be funded for the shared ride for older adults; $215,000 for the shared ride for people with disabilities; $113,224 for providing transportation for people on welfare to their jobs; and $1,092,224 for shared ride requests.Micko reported last year the bus firm provided 53,992 discount shared ride trips to older adults, 15,190 trips for persons with disabilities, and 5,640 for trips for welfare to work program.Hire driversApproval was given to Frannie Brennan, director of the county election bureau, to hire 10 drivers to deliver voting machines to the 125 precincts for the Municipal Primary Election to be held Tuesday, May 21. Hired were:Walter Taylor, Barnesville, $210; Joseph Contrady, McAdoo, $210; Kenneth Breisch, Schuylkill Haven, $210; Kenneth Eichenberg, Minersville, $170; Jason Frantz, Girardville, $160; William Klinger, Girardville, $160; Thomas Kurtek, Pottsville,$140; Walter Leashefski, Orwigsburg, $220; Wayne Robbins, Frackville, $210; and Kurt Yoder, Hegins, $200.Brennan was also granted permission to select six people to serve on the computing board which meet on Friday, May 24, to make the official count of the votes cast in the Tuesday election. They will be paid $70 per day.The commissioners approved payment of $104,394 to Pennsylvania County Risk Pool (PCORP). This is an organization consisting of 47 counties who pool their resources for an insurance policy to cover damages to county properties and protect against liable suits. Staudenmeir is chairman.The commissioners approved Fiscal Officer Paul Bubers request to make two supplemental budget appropriations.One was to take $56,400 in funds from the Capital Reserved Assigned fund to pay $46,500 for a lighting project in the courthouse and $9,900 for a lighting project at Rest Haven Home. The second budget adjustment was to deposit a check for $26,907.58 received from the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation into the county's general fund which will be utilized for park and recreational purposes. The foundation is a charitable nonprofit organization that was formed in 1967 with a mission to serve donors by developing, managing, and investing their contributions and to serve the community by distributing earnings annually to meet the present and future needs of the county.Honor nursing homesA proclamation was adopted to pay tribute to the 14 skilled nursing facilities in the county who provide care for many citizens through talented caregivers, residents, volunteers, family members, and vendors. The proclamation sets aside the week of May 12 through 18 as "National Nursing Home Week."Personnel matterThe commissioners reviewed personnel matters on which action will be taken at next week's public meeting.District Attorney - Kelley Murphy, Norwegian Township, resigned as secretary; and Amanda Wessner, Wayne Township, was promoted from clerical aide to secretary III at salary of $13.08 per hour.County Solicitor's Office - Peter Shlanta, Walker Township, to be hired as a per diem research analysis at $9.50 per hour.Rest Haven Home - Tammy Bryniarski, Orwigsburg, resigned as a part time laundry aide and housekeeper and floor care technician; Amanda Sterner, New Ringgold, resigned as a part time nurse's aide; Lianne Kleiner, Valley View, Hegins, resigned as a full time nurse's aide; and Elaine Hozella, Pottsville, as a part time licensed practical nurse.Children and Youth Services Agency seeks to promote Stephanie Crawford, Butler Township, from caseworker 1 to caseworker 2 at salary of $18.0415 per hour.Next week's commissioners meeting will be held Thursday morning instead of Wednesday.