The Schuylkill County Commissioners took several actions concerning transportation services last week.

At one of their evening meetings last Wednesday night, the commissioners voted to apply for a federal Rural Operating Assistance grant for fixed route bus service and shared ride programs of the Schuylkill Transportation System.

The federal funds applied for amount to $738,400, and the state funds $2,127,493. Those funds, in conjunction with $175,850 in other project funds and the county’s $169.170 local match share to state funds will allow STS to provide 19,000 hours of bus service at a total project cost of $3,211,0103. The shared ride program amounts to $856,800.

The commissioners also voted to enter into a vehicle maintenance contract with STS for county vehicles on a cost-plus-15% basis for parts and fuel at a labor rate of $53.02 per hour. As self-serve vehicle wash is available at the rate of $5 per vehicle. The contract runs from July 1 through June 30, 2025.

The commissioners made appointments to the Northeastern Pennsylvania Metropolitan Planning Organization:

Susan Smith, Schuylkill County Planning Office, county representative; Lisa Mahall, planning office, county alternate; John Malinchock, Schuylkill County Planning Commission, at-large representative, and Tom Yashinsky, ARRO Group, at large alternate.

The commissioners approved a new employee identification badge policy that outlines who should have a badge, and how access will be determined for employees and certain non-employees. The intention is to provide the needed access to the appropriate people and preserve the integrity of the building security system. The policy was initiated by the human resources office.