Questions keep coming from the Schuylkill County commissioners about the county coroner’s office.

Last week commissioners delayed voting on a fee change for the 2021 costs for those who request reports. Commissioners will discuss the proposed change and other items for the coroner’s office Wednesday at their weekly meeting.

At issue is a $30 administrative fee added to the schedule for “requests for records, excluding cremation authorizations request.”

“I just have an issue on that $30,” Commissioner Gary Hess said.

The sheet provided lists costs for services such as different autopsy and toxicology reports and photos.

Commissioners’ Chairman Barron “Boots” Hetherington said the increases reflect changes of what other counties have. As an example, a virtual autopsy report is listed as $150. A 2020 fee list was unavailable.

County Administrator Gary Bender said it has been “at least two or three years” since Schuylkill County Coroner David J. Moylan III increased prices.

“It would have been good to have an explanation from the coroner’s office,” Hess said about the increases.

“That is very difficult to obtain,” Bender said.

Commissioner George Halcovage said the fee schedule was discussed at a prior meeting with Moylan and others at the courthouse. Hess said after the meeting he didn’t recall that discussion.

Two other items related to the coroner’s office were also discussed last week.

Commissioners voted to approve a budget adjustment of $26,153 for the office. Of that, $13,295 is coming from contingency to cover an increase in autopsies done. The remainder is a transfer from one account to another.

Hetherington said the cost will pay Dr. Wayne Ross, a pathologist, for November and December. Hess said the county can’t pay bills due if the invoices are not received in a timely manner, although he understands the workload the employees of the office are under.

“I know they are overtaxed,” Hess said.

Hetherington said he would appreciate if someone from the coroner’s office would have attended.

Approving a change to add $15 an hour cost for follow-up casework on the investigation report was also delayed until Wednesday.