The new board of Schuylkill County commissioners held its first public meeting outside the confines of its board room at the courthouse in Pottsville by journeying to the Minersville Area School District Wednesday where they presented the annual Schuylkill County Scholar Athlete award to one of the students.

The high school auditorium, located in Cass Township, was filled with school students and their instructors. Principal Charles McBreen welcomed the commissioners. Commissioner Chairman Frank Staudenmeier presented the trophy to Senior William Powanda. The school will hold the trophy one year.Regular businessThe commissioners then proceeded to hold their regular meeting.Two proclamations were adopted. The month of May was proclaimed "Elder Abuse Awareness Month" to call attention to an every increasing problem in today's society that crosses all socio-economic boundaries and take steps to protect seniors. The second proclamation recognizes the week of May 6 through 12 as "National Drinking Water Week" to call attention to guard the precious watersheds, rivers, acqifers and reservoirs.Several agreements were approved on behalf of the adult probation department.The board entered into an internship agreement with Bloomsburg University to offer credit-bearing internships to the university students. The agreement is for five years.A standard referral agreement was entered with the Schuylkill County Medical Center to facilitate continuity care, treatment service and timely transfer of information for individuals referred by the Schuylkill County Health Counseling Center. This is a two year agreement.The board agreed to continue to participate in the grant-in-aid program with Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP) to receive funds which will be used to pay the salaries of eligible professional adult probation and parole personnel. This is a five year contract.The board renewed a supervision fund agreement with PBPP whereby the county will continue to collect monthly supervision fees and remit them to PBPP who agrees to return the monies to the county. This is a five year agreement. The county court collects a $50 monthly fee for each defendant is placed on probation or parole by a county judge.The bid of YCP Inc., of Dover, Del., was accepted to install a 10,000 gallon storage tank on the grounds of the Schuylkill Transportation System in the Saint Clair Industrial Park at a cost of $78,900.A number of actions were taken on behalf of the Solid Waste Department.An application will be submitted to Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to reimburse the county for 80 percent of the cost which will be incurred for the county's solid waste plan update. The remaining 20 percent of the costs is fulfilled by in-kind services from the county staff. Under state rules the plan must be updated every 10 years.An agreement was entered with Nestor Resources, Inc., Valencia, for the revision and update of the county's solid waste plan at a cost of $91,656 with $73,325 being used as the professional service consultant fee and $18,331 for in-kind-services.The board terminated the lease for the recycling site located at Midway Supermarket, Hegins, because the store has been taken over by Redner's Market. There are recycling bins located at the municipal building for Hegins residents to use.The agreement to provide administrative services for Rest Haven Home and Hospital, located in North Manheim Township, was entered with Service Access and Management Inc. (SAM). The contract runs from July 1 through June 30, 2015, at a cost of $730,000 annually. The nine employees in the business office will be terminated by the county and re-hired by SAM.The board approved filing with the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth a certificate requesting termination of the Schuylkill County Rail Authority which is no longer active.Because of unforseen structural repairs needed in the county prison the board approved a change order with Sherer Building Contracting Company in the amount of $4,616. It was reported the structural repair was not visible during the initial inspection of the prison.Also a change order for $3,100 in the contract with Rapco Environmental Services was approved for removal of the prison tower stairwell ceiling walkway which was not included in the original contract for $71,212.Personnel matterThe board approved several appointments and acknowledged resignations.Attorney Robert Reedy, of Schuylkill Haven, a former state trooper and a defense attorney, was hired as an assistant district attorney and will be prosecuting defendants. His salary was set at $44,356.Thomas E. Strope, Shenandoah, was hired as a per diem driver for the Office of Solid Waste at $13.3779 per hour. Brittany Williams, Pottsville, was hired as a part time activities aide at $9.50 per hour; and Stacy Roberts, Port Carbon, as a part time housekeeper at $9 per hour at Rest Haven Home.Cataia Ives, Pottsville, was hired as a per diem boat rental clerk with the Conservation District at $10 per hour. Crystal Brooks, Pottsville, resigned as a clerk with Children and Youth Services Agency; and Jil Delong, Schuylkill Haven, resigned as a full time nurse's aide at Rest Haven Home. Christina Sogaw, Tamaqua, resigned as an aging care manager with Office of Senior Services.