Schuylkill County will pay a Berks County company to perform autopsies at a cost of $2,750 each.

The contract with Vanguard Forensic Pathology Services, Sinking Spring, runs through Dec. 31, and is renewable every Jan. 1 unless either party gives a 30-day notice.

Vanguard’s sole principal is pathologist Supriya Smith, who is affiliated with Lehigh Valley Health Network.

County commissioners Chairman Larry L. Padora and Gary J. Hess approved the contract at a public meeting Wednesday. Commissioner Barron L. Hetherington, a strawberry farmer, was away attending Penn State Ag Progress Days in State College.

In other matters, commissioners agreed to allocate $1.3 million from the liquid fuels local use account to replace a deteriorating county-owned bridge in Pine Grove Township.

The bridge, on Camp Road, crosses Lower Little Swatara Creek.

As part of the project, commissioners agreed to hire Alfred Benesch & Company, Pottsville, for engineering design services. The contract is for $378,000, with $205,000 for environmental studies and preliminary engineering, $153,000 for final engineering, and $20,000 for contract and construction administration.

In personnel matters, commissioners and the Salary Board approved the hiring of Brianna Casserly, West Penn Township, as a payroll specialist in the controller’s office at a salary of $31 an hour, and Michael Howard, Butler Township, as an accountant/auditor at $65,138 annually.

Commissioners also appointed Pamela Baddick of Tamaqua as a district justice assistant I at a salary set by union contract.