Mercer Co. buys 2 electronic units for storage and filing for $34,708

The county now is in the recycling business.

By MARY GRZEBIENIAK

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County commissioners approved purchase of two electronic storage and filing units Thursday at a total cost of $34,708.

One machine replaces an old unit at Domestic Relations and one is needed for records storage by the Victim/Witness program.

Commissioners bought the units from Hruska Enterprises, Inc., Youngstown, the exclusive area distributor of the patented equipment. Officials said they are priced below the state contract rate.

Commissioners also renewed a contract for actuarial services for 2008 for $1,839 per month with the Hay Group Inc., Philadelphia.

The group provides services for the pension fund and is paid by the retirement fund. It also provides an individual annual pension benefit statement for $1.85. Costs are the same as last year.

Commissioners accepted a proposal by D&G Mechanical Inc., to replace a furnace at the district justice building in Mercer with a five-ton rooftop unit for $4,865. The company also will remove the old furnace.

William Boyle, county director of administrative services, said the furnace, which was more than 20 years old, broke down two weeks ago. The purchase did not have to be bid because it is under $10,000, but three proposals were obtained.

Commissioners also approved an addition to their agreement with Keystone Adolescent Center, Greenville, to allow Children and Youth Services to place girls aged 8 to 18 to be placed in Keystone’s new group home in Greenville at a cost of $159 daily. The services will be used as needed up to $159,000.

They also signed an agreement to take over the assets, rights and obligations of the Mercer County Solid Waste Authority.

Commissioner Brian Beader explained that two years ago when a court decision disallowed use of fees charged for dumping of waste to be used to fund local recycling programs, this eliminated most of the authority’s revenue to run its recycling program.

The program is now being funded primarily by the county, which has budgeted $60,000 for it this year. Of that amount, $49,000 is an annual contract cost for a private contractor to pick up the recyclables.

The agreement transfers all the authority’s assets to the county, including $90,000, a truck and some office equipment.

Commissioners also approved using $27,650 in leftover 2003 Community Development Block Grant funds for extending waterlines to the Greenville-Reynolds Development in Pymatuning Township. They also approved shifting $8,051 in other CDBG funds left from 2003 to assist the five municipalities in the Mercer Area School District with an update of their zoning ordinances.

Planner Chris Conti of Mercer County Regional Planning Commission said the communities updated a joint comprehensive plan several years ago. He said the zoning must now be updated to make it consistent with the plan. The five municipalities are East Lackawannock, Coolspring, Findlay and Jefferson townships and Mercer borough.

Commissioners promoted Dorothy Pepe of Hermitage to first deputy in the recorder’s office and named Cathy Herriott of Sharpsville to replace Pepe as second deputy. They will be paid $26,419 and $22,336, respectively.