Schuylkill County’s 410 S. Centre St. building, soon to house its Drug & Alcohol and Mental Health agencies, will be included in the plan to increase safety and security at county-owned buildings.

During a meeting Wednesday, the county commissioners approved a change order which adds an additional $47,978 to a contract with Johnson Controls Security Solutions LLC in Palatine, Illinois.

In September, that firm received a $390,890 contract to upgrade the video surveillance and access control systems at the county courthouse. The commissioners had borrowed $5 million in April to pay for several improvement projects, which included the security system upgrades.

County Administrator Gary Bender requested the change order on the behalf of the county’s public works department.

Until 2016 the building at 410 S. Centre St. was home for the county’s Children & Youth Services Agency. C&Y outgrew the building and moved across the street to a building that the county bought and renovated.

“They were crowded in that building and there was no ability to expand,” Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier said. “These changes will allow people the space to do their jobs.”

In September, the county commissioners awarded about $1.2 million in contracts to renovate the former C & Y building, which included work on heating, cooling, ventilation, plumbing and electrical work. In response to a question from Commissioner Gary Hess, Bender said that “move in day” should happen in March. The building will also house the office of District Judge James Reiley.

The county currently leases the buildings where its Drug & Alcohol and Mental Health agencies are located, on Claude A. Lord Boulevard, Pottsville. It also leases office space for Reiley, located on Market Street, Pottsville. The two leases cost the county an estimated $100,000 per year.

Chairman George Halcovage said that the changes were all part of a long-range plan for the county.

“All of the county offices will be in the same general area, which will be more convenient and centralized,” Halcovage said. “We’ll save money with the consolidation.”

In other action the commissioners:

For the county’s Emergency Management Agency, approved a professional services agreement with the Private Industry Council of the Central Corridor to provide the East Central Task Force with fiduciary services related to the Homeland Security Grant Program. Also for EMA, the commissioners approved a $34,120 grant agreement which will help officials develop an integrated hazardous material response.

For 911 communications, approved an agreement with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency to receive $243,094 in grant funds for interconnectivity.

Approved and authorized an inmate housing agreement with Columbia County for the housing of prisoners at the Columbia County Prison at a rate of $70 per day.

In response to a question from Hess, Glenn Roth of the solicitor’s office said that the agreement includes an option, after one year, to extend the agreement at the same rate.

The county budgeted and spent $1.4 million to cover the expense of housing prisoners in other facilities in 2018. Inmates have been housed in Berks, Centre, Columbia and Lackawanna county prisons at an average cost of $65-70 per day.