With the closing of the sale of Rest Haven to a New Jersey firm looming, Schuylkill County commissioners on Wednesday approved increasing contract amounts for three service providers.

They are with Schuylkill EMS to increase the contract amount by $22,000 and extend the agreement to Sept. 1, the day the $10.9 million sale of the nursing home to Investment 360 of Lakewood, New Jersey, is to be closed.The increase brings the contract to $67,000.The second contract is with with Christine Sullivan, doing business as Prostat, to increase the contract amount by $15,000. That brings the total to $33,000.The third is with Advantage Home Care, to increase the contract amount by $15,000, bringing the total to $32,500.Also on Wednesday, commissioners approved a $125,000 grant application to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for STOP grant funding, to be administered by Schuylkill Women In Crisis.STOP (Services, Training, Officers and Prosecutor) grants provide money to more effectively prosecute violent crimes against women and provide services to victims.Commissioners also renewed a special risk accident insurance policy for county volunteers with County Commissioners Association insurance programs.The cost to cover 796 volunteers for one year beginning Sunday will be $3,038, an increase of $207 over last year.The insurance, through the Hartford Life Insurance Company, covers 796 volunteers, from those who serve Meals on Wheels to prison inmates on work release who volunteer to do work for the county.Commissioners also agreed to amend an agreement with Mailroom Systems of Reading to include the processing of certain large envelopes, called flats, to save 10 cents each, or up to $2,600 a year, depending on the flow of envelopes."What can't be measured directly is savings garnered through efficiencies. For instance, previously our staff had to dedicate significant time to presort mail by ZIP code, which is now done by Mailroom Systems. Also, flats no longer require weighing and application of postage, simply placed in the container for processing by Mailroom Systems," said Gary Bender, of the county Office of Community Development and Central Services.The company already handles much of the outgoing mail for the county, said Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr.The move saves manpower by having the company pre-sort the envelopes and put the postage on them.Certified mail is handled only by county employees, not Mailroom Systems.The agreement also includes setting up an escrow account with Mailroom Systems where mail fees will be deducted and then replenished by the county.