Schuylkill County is expanding its wellness program thanks to funding from Capital Blue Cross.
Capitol Blue Cross is providing $66,914.43 in funding over the course of the two-year program for the county.
“It’s a fabulous opportunity,” Martina Chwastiak, director of human resources, said Wednesday.
The county commissioners approved the expansion of the program at a work session Wednesday. Capitol Blue Cross will reimburse all expenses incurred by the county for the program.
“They recognize the importance of keeping people healthy while bringing down the cost of a claim,” Chwastiak said.
Chwastiak said the county had a walking program that involved about 265 employees, but this is the first time the county will have a budget for the wellness program. Chwastiak said a program schedule is still being finalized. It will include activities such as walking groups, wellness fairs and other stress management events.
On a related matter, the county commissioners authorized an amendment with M&T Bank to reduce the minimum required security for workers’ compensation claims. The security was reduced from $595,421 to $403,063. That money will go back into the county general fund, Mark Scarbinsky, county administrator, said.
Scarbinsky said the security was lowered because of the county’s ability to reduce the number of claims over the last several years. Chwastiak said the number of claims has went down from 700,000 in 2004 to about 200,000 last year.
Chwasktiak said that is the result of managers within all county departments meeting quarterly with the insurance company.
“We discuss every single claim and what action should be taken,” Chwastiak said.
In other news, the board approved an unpaid internship agreement between Lock Haven University and the county adult probation and parole office. It also approved a contract between the office and Vigilnet America LLC for secure continuous remote alcohol monitoring and radio frequency electronic monitoring services. The rate is $9.85 per day when the SCRAM bracelets are being used and $6.50 per unit for the mobile breath alcohol monitoring. The agreement runs for a year starting May 7.
The commissioners approved the purchase of a new vehicle for the district attorney’s office. The 2015 Ford Utility Police Interceptor is being bought from New Hollad Auto Group, New Holland, for $32,090.27. The agreement is a five-year lease with a deferred first-year payment and an annual payment of $7,547.17 after that. Funds for the purchase are coming from the detectives division in department’s 2015 budget.
Bids were received for two county Community Development Block Grant projects.
Four bids were submitted for the demolition and rehabilitation project at 27, 30 and 32 Walnut Street, McAdoo: Steinbacher Enterprises Inc., Williamsport, $41,325; Reilly Mechanical Inc., Minersville, $43,750.00; Dudash Pipeline Co. Inc., $17,744, and Northeast Industrial Services Inc., Shamokin, $14,440.
Two bids were submitted for the Shamokin Street wall repair project in Butler Township: Arthur “Pat” Aungst Inc., Pine Grove, $53,386.65, and Spotts Brothers Inc., Schuylkill Haven, $56,967.30.
Date: May 7, 2015