With the old prison demolished and the site being cleaned up for a parking lot, Wayne County Commissioners have been asked not to forget shade trees.
Gail Tucker and Barbara Lewis, representing the Honesdale Borough Shade Tree Committee, approached the Commissioners, Thursday. The Shade Tree Committee is a branch of the Greater Honesdale Partnership (GHP) and comes under Honesdale Borough government.
Tucker asked that when the County puts in a paved parking lot next to the Courthouse, in place of the jail, that trees be planted as well.  Trees, she said, help prevent storm water runoff, keep parked cars cooler in the summer, and are aesthetically pleasing.
The Commissioners replied that the design has already been done, although the concern will be passed on to the engineer. The bids for the paving project have already been opened, and following review, the Commissioners that day approved the low bid of $96,786.50 from Leeward Construction Inc. The work also includes paving the area in front of the former Work Release Center on 10th Street, which will be the new home for the Job Training Program.
• A three percent salary increase was approved for the Human Services Agency (HSA) employees, who come under Civil Service Commission rules and use the state fiscal year of July 1- June 30. The County had previously approved the same increase for other county employees, effective in January 2009.
Andrea Whyte, HSA Administrator, stated that that they must proceed although the state budget has not been finalized. She said there could be cuts to state funding, but most of their programs are required by the state and will continue. They may have to adjust “units of service” if necessary.
Employees under the Civil Service Scale include those in Children & Youth, Mental Health/Mental Retardation, Drugs & Alcohol Commission, Area Agency on Aging, Management Information System and Early Intervention program.
• A reimbursable agreement was executed with PennDOT for replacement of Axe Factory Bridge on East Tryon Street, Honesdale. Replacing the county-owned bridge will be financed with state funding. The low bid, from Pioneer Construction, was $887,000.  The bridge will be kept open to traffic during the work.
• Bids were opened for flooring replacement in the Earl J. Simons Senior Center. These will be reviewed.
Wayne County Commissioners meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. at the Courthouse.