Commissioners approves EMS funds

Oct. 6--POTTSVILLE -- Schuylkill County has more money to fund its emergency management services, as the commissioners approved on Wednesday a grant agreement that will funnel more than $80,000 into the program.

The 2019 emergency management performance grant of $84,826.10 consists of federal funds funneled through the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The county solicitor's office reviewed and approved the grant.

County Administrator Gary R. Bender said the grant is an annual one and is to be used only for salaries and benefits.

Also, the county will receive $14,750 as the result of a settlement with an insurance company in connection with a November 2018 accident in Hegins Township that damaged a county bridge.

Assistant county solicitor Glenn Roth said the settlement with Westfield Insurance Group includes the release of the company and its policyholders for any further damages arising from the Nov. 15, 2018, accident. At the meeting, the commissioners authorized and approved the release.

"We've already made the repairs" to County Bridge 73 in Valley View, Roth said.

The commissioners also approved the following eight budget adjustments for 2019:

--Adult Probation & Parole Office, $1,800

--Children & Youth, $30,230

--Community Development Block Grant, $42

--Controller's Office, $400

--Economic Development, $4,485

--Human Services, $2,484

--Sheriff's Office, $450

--911 Communications, $1,153.

Director of Finance Paul E. Buber said each adjustment is a movement of budgetary authority between line items.

"We are not increasing overall spending," Buber said.

Also at Wednesday's meeting, the commissioners took the following actions.

--Announced that they will designate Behavioral Health Alliance of Rural Pennsylvania to execute a contract with the state Department of Human Services to allow it to establish a contract for behavioral health care in Schuylkill and other counties.

--Closed out a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources grant project for East Brunswick Township.

--Ratified 15 contracts that Bender had made for amounts under the competitive budding threshold of $20,600.

Contact the writer: pbortner@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6014

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