Schuylkill Commissioners adjust contracts

Renovations at the county’s human services building at 410 N. Centre St., continue, with change orders coming as needed with the project coming to an end. The building will house the county’s drug and alcohol and mental health agencies, the public defender’s office and the office of District Judge James Reiley. The county had budgeted $2.9 million for renovations to the building.

Until 2016, the building was home for the county’s Children & Youth Services agency. C&Y outgrew the building and moved across Laurel Boulevard to the former home of Empire Beauty School, a building that the county bought and renovated. Purchasing and renovating buildings will rid the county of costly leases, the commissioners have said.

During the commissioners’ meeting Wednesday, change orders were approved:

• $1,892 to relocate door openings and fill depressions in floors.

• $5,573 to relocate a switch in the lower level training room, relocate a data box and conduits along the south wall, and install a power drop for four doors at the magistrate area.

In response to a question from Commissioner Gary Hess, county Administrator Gary Bender said that the project is still within the budget. Bender did say that “it’s been a very difficult project.”

The commissioners also approved adjustments to two Community Development Block Grant projects:

• Change orders to the street program in Tamaqua, reducing the contract from $184,745 to $149,068. That contract is also with M&J.

• A contract with M&J Excavation in Bloomsburg reduced to $86,668 from $86,931 for a road improvement project in Shenandoah.

The courthouse blind replacement project is on hold. The commissioners rejected all bids for replacement of window blinds, which include those in all courtrooms, hearing rooms, some chambers and hallways on the second and third floor of the courthouse. More research will be done as to the type of blinds currently in place and options for replacement.