The Schuylkill County commissioners awarded a $609,315 bid for repointing the county prison’s wall to Houck & Company Inc. of Harrisburg, the lowest of four bidders.

The prison occupies a city block in Pottsville, and the 19th century wall surrounds it. The wall doesn’t function as a barrier for prisoners but functions as a retaining wall around the grounds.

In other action the commissioners:

On the recommendation of the county’s Drug and Alcohol Department, approved spending up to $45,000 to purchase 2 mg and 4 mg naloxone/Narcan from Remedy Repack, Indiana, Pennsylvania.

Approved a 2020 Emergency Solutions grant submission seeking $505,561 from the Department of Community and Economic Development. The board also approved an associated cooperation agreement between Schuylkill Women in Crisis, Schuylkill Community Action and Servants to All for administration of any funds that are awarded.

Agreed to a change order to an existing contract with Johnson Controls for security upgrades in the courthouse’s third floor reception area, near the courtrooms. The county will spend $3,285 to purchase and install new monitors in that area, according to County Administrator Gary Bender.