Schuylkill County Commissioners on Wednesday hired a provider for meals for the Office of Senior Services.

The three-year contract with Preferred Meal Systems of Berkeley, Illinois, runs through June 30, 2018.The $1,467,882 contract is for 98,800 home-delivered meals and 33,800 congregate meals at $3.69 per meal.Preferred Meal Systems was the lowest bidder for the contract.Also on Wednesday, commissioners approved a five-year agreement with the Schuylkill County Transportation Authority for maintenance/repair and fuel services performed on county owned/leased vehicles. The agreement runs through June 30, 2020.In other business, commissioners approved a contract addendum with Primecare Medical of Harrisburg for services at the county prison.The addendum adds an additional 56 hours of nursing services per week for the third shift at a cost of $58,257.20 annually or $4,854.77 monthly.An adjustment has also been made to the average daily population, increasing it from 240 inmates/patients to 245.Commissioner George Halcovage said the 56 hours will allow for a night-shift nurse.The move will save money, he said, because if an inmate becomes ill, medical services will be available in-house rather than correctional officers having to take the inmate to the emergency room.On behalf of the grant writer's office, commissioners approved publishing notice of a public meeting at 10 a.m. July 16 in the commissioners' board room to seek public input about plans to apply for 2015 emergency shelter grant program funding from the state Department of Community and Economic Development.Also, at the request of Human Resources Director Martina Chwastiak, commissioners approved a one-year employee assistance program services agreement with Inroads at the Family Guidance Center.The county will pay an administrative fee of $10 per covered full-time employee and an additional fee of $70 for each authorized counseling session.The cost to the county for 559 employees will be $5,590, plus the cost of the counseling sessions provided to covered employees/household members.Commissioners also reminded people the courthouse will be closed on Friday in observance of Independence Day.