Schuylkill County officials hope to land a $100,000 Pennsylvania Senior Community grant, which they’d use to upgrade computers and software, install sound systems and purchase new furniture and other equipment. The grant would also include funding for computer instruction. The county has three senior centers, in Pottsville, Mahanoy City and Tremont.

County Administrator Gary Bender updated the commissioners about the grant during their meeting Wednesday. Bender also updated the board on the status of projects which have garnered Community Development Block Grant funds:

• Will advertise for a CDBG storm sewer improvement project in Delano Township. Bids will be due in the controller’s office by 3 p.m. Dec. 10, opened at 9 a.m. Dec. 12, with tentative award date Dec. 19. After the meeting Bender said that the work area is near the township’s municipal building, where stormwater runoff is a problem.

• Approved a time extension for demolition projects located at 23 N. West St. and 39 W. Coal St., Shenandoah, until Dec. 31. The contractor is Kass Contracting, Shenandoah.

• Approved a shifting of about $14,000 in funds left over from a Reilly Township stormwater project to the county’s demolition fund.

• Approved a shifting of funds left from the West Penn Township park project to the township’s housing rehabilitation program.

• Approved a change order for $23,650 for a water line project in the village of Joliett. The change will allow five additional homes to be added to the project, Bender said.

Commissioners’ Chairman George Halcovage commended Bender and his staff.

“We appreciate the work that’s you’re doing in CDBG, keeping things moving,” Halcovage said. “Reports come back from the state, and it’s stellar work.”

On another matter, the commissioners approved and authorized settlement of an assessment appeal, initiated by Reedsville Bethesda Evangelical Congregation. Regularly scheduled religious worship is taking place at the church, which is located in Wayne Township. The church will be exempt from real estate taxes, a change that has already been approved by officials at Wayne Township and Blue Mountain School District.