MERCER COUNTY Commissioners OK buying equipment to improve courts

Commissioners were asked to discuss minority hiring.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County will buy new communication and computer equipment that is expected to reduce phone costs, permit video arraignments and eliminate the need to buy duplicate volumes of legal books.
County commissioners approved the $18,593 purchase Thursday for the county emergency microwave communications system from Cattron Communications, Sharpsville. Cattron had submitted the only bid.
The cost will be paid through a state grant.
Commissioners said the equipment will provide connections with each district justice's office, which will reduce phone costs and permit video arraignments. It will also give district justices computer access to county records, including the law library, so duplicate volumes will no longer have to be bought for each office.
The equipment includes seven base stations, seven processing stations and 14 cables.
Commissioners also agreed to provide a share of funding, up to $9,000, toward nine computers and six flat-screen monitors for the courts. The county's portion will come from the Records Improvement Fund, which is derived from a charge added to county recording fees.
Minority hiring
Also Thursday, the Rev. Martha Sanders of Farrell asked commissioners for a forum to discuss minority hiring. The Rev. Ms. Sanders has criticized the county in the past for not having more minority employees. Commissioner Kenneth Seamans invited her to attend one of the commissioners' work sessions the day before their twice-monthly regular meetings, or a chief clerk's meeting, a closed session usually held weekly that involves Chief Clerk Kenneth Ammann, commissioners and other county officials.
Also Thursday, commissioners approved:
UA contract with McGonigle Ambulance Service, Sharon, for basic and advanced life-support transportation for the inmates of the county jail.
UOne-year agreements with several agencies for Children & amp; Youth Services, retroactive to July 1.
UAn agreement to pay Scientific Testing Laboratories Inc. of Richmond, Va., up to $2,500 for a one-year contract to run second drug tests when needed on questionable urine samples collected in the Intermediate Punishment Program.
UA contract with Shingledecker's Welding for replacement of a bridge on Ball Park Road, Jefferson Township, for $24,259. Work has started and is expected to be completed Sept. 5.
UReappointment of Dr. Paul Chipka and Dr. Thomas Laton to the Mental Health/Mental Retardation Advisory Board for three years; appointments of Donna Murray, Sharpsville, and Carol Rich, Hermitage, and reappointment of Leslie Brazel, Jackson Center, to three-year terms on the Mercer County Commission for Women.
UAgreements with county employees Amy Nielson, Hermitage, and Pamela Shollenberger, Jamestown, that lets them enter a master's degree program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. A state program will give them a 90 percent stipend and reimburse the county for the cost of replacing them during their absence.
USale of a 1995 Ford Crown Victoria sheriff cruiser with 151,282 miles to the only bidder, Walter Sankey of Greenville, for $501.