Contracts approved for transit buses

PennDOT now requires two appraisers for each right-of-way acquisition.
MERCER, Pa. -- Contracts for new handicapped-accessible transit buses have been awarded by Mercer County commissioners.
Mercer County Community Transit will buy four accessible 12-passenger buses from M.A. Brightbill Body Works Inc., Lebanon, at $61,077 per vehicle.
Bill Jones, transit director, said there was one bid that was lower, but said the bid did not include a diesel engine as required by specifications, and so had to be rejected.
A contract for a 24-passenger bus was awarded to Myers Equipment Corp., Canfield, for $77,386.
The vehicles will be paid for by grants, Jones said. During a meeting Thursday, commissioners also approved a temporary contract with Manpower to provide clerical support for the Mental Health/Mental Retardation director until a full-timer can be hired through the civil service system.
The temporary employee will be paid $16.81 per hour.
Commissioner Olivia Lazor said the temporary employee is needed because it takes two months or more to fill a position through civil service.
Agreements
Commissioners entered agreements with attorneys Tedd Nesbit and Joseph Joseph to provide legal services to Mercer County Children and Youth Services in cases where a conflict of interest exists for CYS' primary counsel. Hourly rate is $65.
They also approved a contract with Dan McGowan & amp; Co., Volant, for appraisal services for right-of-way acquisition on Mercer County bridges for $375 per parcel.
County Engineer Mark Miller said a recent change in PennDOT rules requires two appraisers for every parcel, one to appraise and one to review the appraisal.