The Carbon County Commissioners acted on or discussed the following items during their weekly meeting last week.

• Approved an amendment to the agreement with Tu-Way Mobile Communications Inc. of Bethlehem to maintain and operate the Northeast Core Phone System and ESInet services for the region. Maintenance includes hardware, software support and on-site services at a total cost of $57,012.17. The cost is covered under the Statewide Interconnectivity Grant.

• Commissioners Chris Lukasevich and Rocky Ahner again voiced their differing views on the offer to purchase 410 Center Ave. from the Jim Thorpe Area School District.

Ahner echoed his thoughts that he thought the county was taking on too much financial spending since the courthouse is going to be renovated at a cost of approximately $6.9 million.

Lukasevich reminded that no deal has been made with the district, but that an offer is in. The county voted 2-1 last month to move forward with looking into the purchase of the building.

He said that the motion took into consideration the feasibility study that was completed on the property.

• Ahner also suggested that the county look into a group that is available to come to Jim Thorpe and assess the courthouse since they have experience in reconfiguring older courthouses to best meet the needs of the courts. This group would work in conjunction with the architects and engineers the county already has in place. The cost would be the two individuals’ travel time from New York and Denver, Colorado.

• Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that the county had a meeting with the governor’s office and spoke about a variety of issues that the county faces, including staffing, transportation, mental health services, emergency services and more.

• Nothstein also commented that the commissioners told the state that the U.S. Census was done at the wrong time with the pandemic.

He said that the county feels the numbers recorded, even though the official report hasn’t been released yet, don’t represent the influx of people that moved into the county, as well as surrounding counties, last year.

Personnel

• Employment separations: Daniel N. Gilberry of Lansford, part-time corrections officer/Teamsters, effective Oct. 20; Joseph M. Kiraly of Tresckow, corrections officer, effective Oct. 20.

• Resignations: Jason N. Jaramillo of Hazleton, corrections officer, effective Oct. 14; Jason K. Pfleiderer of Lansford, corrections officer, effective Oct. 31; Daniel J. Walsh of Stroudsburg, county caseworker I, Children and Youth, effective Oct. 18.

• Hire as recommended by department supervisor: Heather Wuttke of Delano, secretary III, Children and Youth, effective Oct. 25.

• Acknowledgments: Clerk of courts resignation: Jennifer L. Heffelfinger of Summit Hill, bench warrant clerk, effective Nov. 2; Sheriff appointment: Kaitlyn Spitzer of Jim Thorpe, civil process clerk, effective Oct. 25.