Three new Luzerne County government contracts have been awarded to Wilkes-Barre-based Panzitta Enterprises Inc., according to new postings on the county manager’s page at www.luzernecounty.org.
Panzitta was selected through a public bidding process, the contracts say.
The top dollar contract is $295,000 to complete control panel work inside the county correctional facility on Water Street in Wilkes-Barre.
An existing panel that controls doors, locks and gates is outdated, said county Correctional Services Division Head Mark Rockovich. The work must be completed 180 days after the county issues notice to proceed, the contract says.
The second $64,000 contract involves work to obtain a required state Department of Transportation permit for the courthouse River Street entrance and exit and the North Street exit. The contract says no permit previously existed.
Finally, Panzitta will be paid $41,000 to complete drainage improvements needed to prevent storm water from entering the northwest corner of the county’s new record storage facility in Hanover Township.
Completion of the courthouse permit and record building drainage projects is scheduled for Oct. 26.
A change order also was posted for Panzitta’s contract to construct a modular addition at the county’s central court on Water Street. The company provided a $5,000 credit due to project alterations, reducing the contract to $313,350.
Blight meeting
The county’s Blighted Property Review Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the county courthouse on River Street in Wilkes-Barre before a 6 p.m. workshop for interested officials in boroughs and townships struggling to address abandoned eyesore properties.
The committee is compiling a database of blighted properties. Once the database is completed, the county Redevelopment Authority may consider taking action to remediate problems.
The workshop will focus on the types of structures eligible for the database and the application process for municipalities to seek inclusion of properties.
Council meeting
Council will hold an on-the-road meeting and work session at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Educational Conference Center at Luzerne County Community College, 1333 S. Prospect St. in Nanticoke.
A presentation about the college, which is financially supported by the county, is scheduled during the work session, along with an introduction of community college Board of Trustees members appointed by council.
Council also will declare a vacancy on the Board of Trustees because member Francis Curry has resigned due to his relocation, the agenda says.
The vacant seat will be filled at a future council meeting. The board is among the most popular, with 10 volunteers currently on an eligibility list if openings arise.
County human services
A free “Luzerne County Cares Community Expo 2018” will be held from 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Woodlands Inn & Resort, 1073 Highway 315 in Plains Township.
In an attempt to connect to more residents, organizers have scheduled numerous educational sessions and guest speakers, including former Major League Baseball star Darryl Strawberry. The sessions will include presentations on eating disorders, trauma, gender identity, parenting school-aged children, opioids, the dark web and how to take care of the mind.
The event also includes free food and door prizes. Information is available at www.lwsoc.org/expo2018/.
