Commissioners OK a variety of grant projects

MERCER, Pa. -- Mercer County commissioners gave final approval Thursday to several Community Development Block Grant 2005 projects.
These included $217,283 for road reconstruction in Wheatland Borough; $48,000 for Mercer Borough for replacement of sewer laterals; $10,000 for the Literacy Council of Mercer County for public service; $10,000 for the Community Counseling Center, Hermitage, for public service; and $12,007 for AWARE, the county's rape crisis and domestic violence agency, for public service.
Also Thursday, commissioners amended a contract with social workers at Children and Youth Service who are represented by Pennsylvania Social Services Union Local 668. The amendment states that any union member accepting a temporary supervisor's position will be paid $1 per hour over their current pay rate and that all other rights and benefits of membership will continue.
Several service agreements for CYS also were approved Thursday. These included contracts with the Western PA. Child Care, LLC, Emlenton until June 30, 2005, for detention, treatment and shelter at rates ranging from $200 to $330 per day; Viaquest Behavioral Health of Pa., LLC, Dublin, Ohio, for mental health treatment, room and board; and for Seven Mountains Academy at rates ranging from $67 to $327 daily; and NHS Youth Services, Harrisburg, for a variety of services ranging from $29 to $252 per day.
Commissioners also announced they intend to assist Mercer County Area Agency on Aging in refinancing of a 2001 bond issue that will save $116,000.