Mercer Co. fills child-support officer position

SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR

MERCER, Pa. — Mercer County commissioners have filled a vacant position in the child support enforcement division of the county domestic relations office.

Commissioners hired Christine Helmuth as a child support enforcement officer to fill a position left vacant by a retirement. She will be paid $21,165 annually.

Although commissioners announced several weeks ago they will not be filling vacant positions due to tight finances, they agreed Thursday to fill this one because it will be at least 66 percent funded by federal money.

Rand Nicoloff, director of Domestic Relations, said the job has a workload of 410 cases. Commissioner Brian Beader said there is additional incentive money available for the position and the county might not have to pay any part of the salary for the position.

In other matters, commissioners renewed a maintenance and service agreement with the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute in Harrisburg for the SAVIN statewide victim notification program for 2009 at a cost of $1,133. The automated system notifies victims when the criminal who harmed them is released from jail or moved to another facility.

They also approved a contract with G.H. Hurl Construction Inc., Sharpsville, to pay $50 for each plowing and each salting at the District Justice Office at 1217 Hall Avenue, Sharon.

They reappointed Donald Koontz of Mercer to a four-year term ending Dec. 31, 2012, as a farmer director on the Mercer County District Conservation Board.