Schuylkill rejects bid for asbestos removal

Schuylkill County received just one bid, of $58,950, for the job of removing asbestos tile in the former human services building at 410 North Centre St., Pottsville.

On Wednesday, commissioners rejected that bid, submitted by Forrester Environmental Inc. of Bloomsburg.

They’ll give it another go within a few weeks.

The county is renovating the building, which until 2016 housed the county Children & Youth Services Agency.

That agency was moved to a larger building nearby. Now the county is planning to house its mental health and drug and alcohol agencies and the office of District Judge James Reiley there.

Now, the mental health and drug and alcohol agencies and district judge currently are in leased buildings. Moving them to the county-owned building will save $100,000 a year.

The renovation is being engineered by Y. Kim Architects, Pottsville. McClure Co., Harrisburg, is replacing the windows, roof and air conditioning units for $832,540.

In other matters Wednesday, commissioners hired Lehigh Asphalt Paving & Construction, Tamaqua, for a base bid of $455,152 to improve University Drive in Schuylkill Haven.

University Drive is the road leading from Route 61 to Penn State University’s Schuylkill Haven campus.

Lehigh Asphalt was among six companies bidding for the job.

The project will paid for with liquid fuels funds.

In other matters, commissioners:

• Terminated the lease between the county and Pottsville/Schuylkill Technology Incubator effective June 30.

The county, through a state grant, leased space in the incubator, on South Second Street, Pottsville, for the Adult Probation and Drug & Alcohol program to send clients to learn skills.

The incubator provides support and help for startup technology businesses.

But commissioners believed the space was underutilized. They were disappointed, said county Administrator Gary R. Bender, and hope to renew the lease when the grants once again become available.

• Agreed to seek bids for a county prison paving project. Bids will be accepted in the controller’s office at the courthouse until 3 p.m. June 4, and will be publicly opened at 9 a.m. June 6 in the commissioners’ board room.

The bids will be announced at the commissioners’ work session at 10 a.m., with a tentative award date of June 13.

• Presented a trophy and a plaque to this year’s scholar athlete, Tri-Valley High School senior Logan Yoder.

Logan, who plans to attend Penn State University, is an outstanding athlete, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He’s also first in his class of 70 students.

Logan thanked the commissioners, his parents, Ginger and Larry Yoder, his teachers and coaches, and “my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ” for making the honor possible.

Commissioners held their weekly public meeting at the high school in order to present the award.

• Proclaimed May 6-12 National Drinking Water Week.

“Porcupine Pat” McKinney of the county Conservation District was on hand to accept the proclamation. He urged people to appreciate and protect the county’s drinking water.