Carbon County continues to put finishing touches on its Emergency Operations and Training Center and is preparing for classes in early April, Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said Thursday.

An interior firefighting class is starting in early April, and two active shooter classes are scheduled, he said. Other classes are being slotted onto the schedule as well, Nothstein said.

The first “cure burn” happened last Saturday to dry out the mortar on the center’s burn building, he said. Nothstein said that all four burn rooms were used, and the temperature got up to 500 degrees.

Another cure burn will likely be held this weekend, possibly Sunday, he said, to get the temperature up higher and for a longer period of time. A third cure burn will likely be needed to cure the mortar, he said.

The committee will also continue to work on policies for using the burn building to ensure firefighters using the facility are safe while training, Nothstein said.

Other actions

In other business, the commissioners:

• Tabled for two weeks an agreement with Penn Power Group LLC of Fleetwood, to perform annual inspections on 12 county generators in various sites at a cost of $4,150 a year. Lukasevich suggested looking at service from brand-specific companies, or dealers, one of which is located in the county, as part of the county’s due diligence to seek a lower cost.

• Announced that draft guidance for the first round of funds being made available by the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority for wired and fixed wireless broadband. Applications could be accepted as early as April 27, Lukasevich said. Information will be provided to area internet service providers to apply for the $200 million available to reach underserved areas in the state.

• Announced a list of notable accomplishments for 2022 of county departments under the commissioners’ office has been compiled to highlight the positive impact that county employees have. The commissioners also recognized office personnel who are critical to overall operation.

• Authorized the invitations to bid for refuse and recycling collection at various county locations. The current agreement expires April 30 with no option to renew the contract.

• Authorized finding of No Significant Impact/Request for Release of Funds and Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds on March 24 to Peaceful Knights Homeless Facility Women’s Shelter.

• Appointed Abbie Guardiani, of Nesquehoning, to the Environmental Education Advisory Board, five year term ending Dec. 31, 2027.

• Reappointed Carbon Engineering Inc. of Summit Hill, as county engineer.

• Submitted a grant application for the 2022 Federal Emergency Management Performance Grant requesting funding in the amount of $70,087, from Oct. 1, to Sept. 30, 2023, to support salaries and benefits of the emergency management coordinator and administrative assistant.

• Approved a modification to Jim Thorpe Borough’s Community Development Block Grant contract for reallocation of funds, moving $10,384 from Business Assistance to Parks, Recreation – Kemmer Park to install picnic tables and replace the pavilion roof.

• Approved an agreement for use of the Franklin Twp. Volunteer Fire Co. in Lehighton and to provide catering services for the 2023 Senior Games banquet on May 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. for about 150 people at a rate of $17 per person. Rental fee is $300 plus $100 cleaning fee. The security deposit was waived.

• Approved an agreement with the Woodlands Inn and Resort, Wilkes-Barre, to reserve the classroom on March 24, 2023, to hold a special event/project hosted by LINK. Cost is approximately $4,513, depending on number of attendees, for rental fee, audio-visual equipment, buffet and refreshments.

• Approved a special activities agreement for the use of 525 Iron St., Lehighton, for St. Luke’s University Health Network, for car seat installations May 25. Commissioner Rocky Ahner noted that the county will be moving equipment into the building that week, which may be a problem, but Nothstein believed they could accommodate the event, if set up properly.

• Approved a proposal from IntegraOne of Allentown, for a new telephone system at 525 Iron St. property at a total cost of $4,274.

• Approved a special activities agreement for use of Mauch Chunk Lake Park from St. Luke’s University Health Network for the Carbon County Kid Zone, May 6.

• Authorized the collection of county real estate taxes by the county treasurer for calendar year 2023. County Solicitor Robert Frycklund said the move was due to a vacancy for tax collector in Parryville.

• Authorized the collection of Parryville Borough real estate taxes by the county treasurer for calendar year 2023, again due to a tax collector vacancy.

• Approved an agreement with Parryville Borough outlining the terms to tax collection services by the county treasurer on behalf of the borough for calendar year 2023. The municipality agrees to pay the county an annual fee of $3,000 plus $15 for each tax certification and $20 each if a fax response is required.