The Schuylkill County commissioners bid farewell Wednesday to county administrator Mark Scarbinsky, who is retiring at the end of the week.
Scarbinsky, 67, of Saint Clair, has been county administrator since August 2009. He has been with the county for 17 years, 11 of which were as director of economic development. He thanked the county for the opportunity at his last commissioners’ meeting Wednesday.
“It has been a real challenge, but also a learning experience,” Scarbinsky said. “I can truthfully say that I am working with true professionals. You have a good group management in this community that I am really enthralled about. There is no doubt that Schuylkill County can match up with any community in the state.”
Scarbinsky said the board needs to continue to keep an open line of communication with the row offices and maintain the working relationship.
“You are the glue that has kept everything together,” commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said. “The county administrator position is such an important position and I think the county has been well served and was in really capable hands with that you brought. Not only do you bring the expertise, but you also have the passion. You are one of those people that really care about the community.”
Halcovage said Scarbinsky provided the board with the information to make educated decisions.
Commissioner Frank J. Staudenmeier said he has worked with Scarbinsky at the county for 14 years. He said their relationship actually goes back about 25 years to when he was working at PPL and Scarbinsky was at Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation.
“Mark and I probably go back about 25 to 30 years and I consider him more than a fellow employee,” Staudenmeier said. “I consider him a friend. You know Mark, I wish you nothing but the best.”
Commissioner Gary J. Hess thanked Scarbinsky for his guidance when he joined the board in 2012.
“Coming in here, it was nice to have someone that could help lead us through the process and lay things out on the table,” Hess said. “... Thank you for leading this county through some difficult decisions we had in the last number of years. With your help, it was in the best interest of everyone in the county.”
Paul Buber, county finance director, said he has worked at the county for nearly 30 years and there were about 12 different administrators over that time.
“There is only one or two in my opinion that really rose to the top and really just stand out and Mark was one of those,” Buber said. “He brought a lot to the table and did a lot of nice things, not only from an operations standpoint but from a finance perspective as well. I was so glad to have Mark to lean on when I found myself in a difficult situation. His advice was invaluable and of course I am going to miss him.”
County Controller Christy Joy, Treasurer Linda Marchalk, Human Resources Director Martina Chwastiak and Assistant County Solicitor Glenn Roth also thanked Scarbinsky for his work as administrator.
“It’s not about me, it’s about the team — everyone sitting at the table and the team I have worked with,” Scarbinsky said. “I could not have accomplished what I accomplished without their support. I do appreciate everybody.”
Halcovage said the county is still interviewing candidates to replace Scarbinsky as county administrator.
In other news, the county recently shipped inmates to the Columbia County Prison, Bloomsburg. Halcovage, who also serves as prison board chairman, said there were 221 inmates at the prison Tuesday. The board approved the agreement last week at a rate of $60 a day per inmate.
The county also has housing agreements with George W. Hill Correctional Facility, Thornton and Centre County Correctional Facility, Bellefonte, and are negotiating a similar contract with the Berks County Prison.
The commissioners also approved the final invoice for the new Children & Youth building at 324 N. Centre St. A $60,200 invoice came from WJP Engineers, Pottsville, which designed the building. That brings the entire cost of the project, including the building purchase and renovations, to $3.1 million, Buber said.
Meanwhile, the contents of the building came from the Children & Youth departmental budget and cost about $400,000, Buber said. The county also received a $500,000 state grant that will come in the form of reimbursements.
The county acquired the building in January 2012. Renovations wrapped up in January of this year and employees started to move in from across the street in February. A dedication ceremony was held March 30.