Schuylkill County sees benefits from wellness plan
“An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day,” said Henry David Thoreau.
Turns out that walking can also be beneficial financially. Due to the successful ventures of its Wellness Committee, Schuylkill County is $18,599 richer, issued by Capital Blue Cross in “wellness credits.”
Capital Blue Cross, the insurance carrier for Schuylkill County courthouse employees, rewards counties which have reduced claims by instituting wellness programs. During a meeting Wednesday, the Schuylkill County Commissioners approved using the funds for programs run by the county’s Wellness Committee, spearheaded by county employee Jackie Pellish, county engineering.
“Our committee, which meets once a month, consists of 24 county employees from several departments and agencies,” Pellish said after the meeting. “The committee is focused on overall employee health and wellness; we offer free health screenings to any full-time county employee. In the past we have offered thyroid, carotid artery, pulmonary function screenings.”
The Wellness Committee also offers yearly biometric screenings, which are overall screenings that check the employee’s cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides and blood glucose level. Every summer, the Wellness Committee organizes a walking program.
“The walking program challenges employees to be active and allows for some friendly competition among age groups,” Pellish said. “We’ve offered lunchtime yoga as a means of stress relief.”
“Last year we had employees participate in a CSA Program (Community Supported Agriculture) which helped to promote healthy cooking with locally sourced produce,” she added. “We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to keep our fellow employees happy and healthy — our motto is “Healthy Living, Happy Life.”
In other action, the commissioners approved a new contract with Westlaw Legal Research. Westlaw provides an online research program which is used by the county’s judges, law clerks, attorneys in the district attorney’s office, attorneys in the public defender’s office and the solicitor’s office.
After the meeting, District Attorney Michael O’Pake said the research program is an important asset.
“It’s invaluable to our office, and to all the attorneys, judges, clerks that use it,” O’Pake said. “We’re grateful to the commissioners for renewing this service each year.”
The monthly contract amount is $4,347 for 36 months with no more than a 3 percent increase for each 12-month period. The county had an existing contract with Westlaw but needed to redo the contract to cover three additional users, for a total of 21 users. The current contract was set to expire Jan. 31, 2020.
The commissioners awarded Bill Davis Cement Contractors, Mahanoy City, a $24,999 contract for demolition of a property at 241 Lafayette St., Tamaqua. The commissioners also awarded ADM Logistics, Port Carbon, a $13,500 contract for demolition of 638 W. Bacon St., Palo Alto; and an $8,327 contract to Northeast Industrial Services, Shamokin, for demolition at 305 Laurel Blvd., Pottsville.
On the request of Director of Finance Paul Buber, the commissioners approved a budget adjustment involving funds from 2018. The Schuylkill County Prison has a commissary account; at the end of 2018 that account had a balance of $168,220. The funds will be drawn from the commissary account and used to offset some of the prison’s operating costs.
