Schuylkill seeks bids for demolition
Schuylkill County will again seek bids for the interior demolition and removal of asbestos tile from its former human services building in Pottsville.
Having rejected the one bid they had received, county commissioners on Thursday agreed to try again.
Bids for the work must be received by the controller’s office by 3 p.m. June 18.
They will be publicly opened at 9 a.m. June 20, and the job is expected to be awarded at 10 a.m. June 27.
The county had received just one bid, of $58,950, for the job of removing asbestos tile in the former human services building at 410 N. Centre St., Pottsville.
Last week, commissioners rejected that bid, submitted by Forrester Environmental Inc. of Bloomsburg.
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 Thursday, commissioners approved an $18,560 grant agreement under the Hazardous Material Emergency Preparedness Program.
The grant will provide financial assistance for hazardous materials planning and/or training. This is a reimbursable program, which involves a federal share of 80 percent, with the county providing the other 20 percent, which will be from the locally collected hazmat assessment funds.
Commissioners also signed an agreement with UGI for the purchase of gas for the courthouse and prison for 36 months.
The cost is $3.33 per dekatherm.
The agreements run from Nov. 1, 2018, and expire on Oct. 31, 2021.
Also on Thursday, commissioners issued proclamations noting the county 4-H program and National Dump the Pump Day.
The 4-H program is marking its 100th year. More than 1,200 young people in Schuylkill County participate in the programs.
Commissioners also urged residents to ride Schuylkill Transportation System fixed route buses free of charge on June 21, “Dump the Pump” day.
