Schuylkill roof project to cost $450K

A Pottsville architectural firm will begin engineering designs to replace the original slate roof of the 167-year-old Schuylkill County courthouse and its attached, newer archives and public entrance sections.

County commissioners on Thursday approved a $24,000 agreement with Y. Kim Architects.

The firm will also design an air conditioning system for the ornate courtroom 1. It will also handle the bidding and construction documents for the system. Those agreements will cost the county up to $2,500.

The payments are part of the estimated total $450,000 cost of the project.

County engineer Lisa Mahall said the county hopes to have the section over the archives building done this year because it’s leaking.

The slate roof replacement is expected to be done next year. The county is considering various materials to determine which would be best, she said.

“There are a lot of nice synthetics out there that are a lighter weight,” Mahall said.

In other matters Thursday, commissioners awarded a $54,384 contract to Northeast Industrial Services, Shamokin, for a Community Development Block Grant demolition project at 38-40 N. Lehigh Ave. in Frackville.

They also approved a resolution to submit an application to the state Department of Community and Economic Development for the Community Development Block Grant program in the amount of $1,194,978 for federal fiscal year 2018.

The funds will pay for various county programs.

In other business, commissioners awarded a $152,096 contract to Spotts Brothers Inc. for a CDBG project at 200 Catherine St., Butler Township.

The project will replace doors and windows and make other improvements at a child development center using the township’s CDBG funds.

Also, commissioners awarded a $32,625 contract to Affordable Construction & Demolition for a demolition project at 124 W. Main St. in Girardville.