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BELLEFONTE -- The Centre County Board of Commissioners considered bids for renovations to the Centre County Probation Department office, recognized two awareness campaigns and reviewed contracts during its meeting Tuesday.
The commissioners met at the Willowbank Office Building in Bellefonte.
The board approved proclamations recognizing October as Down Syndrome Awareness Month and Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Centre County.
"It's a big passion of ours to promote inclusivity and a great sense of community for everyone, in every avenue that we pursue," Executive Director Eric Ulsh of Centre Region Down Syndrome Society said.
Ulsh continued on to discuss events happening in the coming months, including the annual Buddy Walk.
"I believe you assist hundreds of residents in the community and hundreds outside," Commissioner Chair Mark Higgins said.
The commissioners also reviewed bids for renovations to the Centre County Probation Office. Four companies submitted bids for general construction, ranging from $424,000 from Massaro Corp. to $622,208 from GM McCrossin.
For mechanical and plumbing construction, bids included $274,000 from SP McCarl and $427,900 from GM McCrossin. Six companies submitted bids for electrical construction, ranging from $172,925 from Hallstrom Clark Electric to $237,000 from GM McCrossin.
The commissioners moved to approve entering contract negotiations with the lowest qualified bidder for each of the three prime contracts.
"I know we had some positive experiences with some of these bidders before," Higgins said.
The board also approved several contracts related to county services.
The commissioners reviewed a $19,000 contract with Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Co. to provide pension participant record keeping, an online benefit calculator and online retirement benefit forms. The contract covered the period from Nov. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027, and was to be paid through administrative services from the Retirement Fund.
The board also approved an agreement with Penn State University to use its Technology Support Building as a polling location for Precinct 89 during the Nov. 3 general election.
Among the human services items was a $260,000 contract with Adelphoi Village Inc. for foster care and residential services for dependent and delinquent youth, which the commissioners moved to next week's consent agenda. The contract was funded with $208,000 from the state and $52,000 from the county.
The commissioners also moved a $127,736 contract with the Centre County Youth Service Bureau to next week's consent agenda. The contract would fund mental health services, including respite services for children and adolescents, community mental health services and family group decision-making.
Other items included appointments to the Agricultural Land Preservation Board and the Children and Youth Services Advisory Committee, as well as the county administrator's third-quarter report for 2026.
"We are still looking for more applicants to the Children and Youth Services Advisory Committee and if you're interested in issues related to vulnerable kids in our community, or have any experience in this area, we'd love to have you," Vice-Chair Amber Concepcion said.
The commissioners also received a voter registration report and noted upcoming deadlines for the Nov. 3 general election. The deadline to register to vote was Oct. 19 at 5 p.m., and the deadline to request a mail-in ballot was Oct. 27 at 5 p.m.
The board's Nov. 3 meeting was canceled.