The county commissioners on Wednesday:

Approved hiring former county assessor Chris Savage as an independent contractor to run the county assessment office until a new assessor can be found. Mark Gordon, county director of economic development and planning, said Savage will oversee and manage the assessment department for no more than one year. Savage retired in August 2019 after 33 years as the county assessor. Amy Francis was hired to replace Savage at that time. Gordon said she left the county’s employ in March to pursue other interests.

Approved the replacement of three elevators in the County Government Center for $825,000. The 30-year-old elevators, which were original to the building, have been repeatedly repaired and were often out of commission during repairs. John Campbell, county director of maintenance and facilities, said the cars will be replaced one at a time. He said work is expected to begin in about four months. Industrial/Commercial Elevators, of Cecil, was the lowest bidder for the project.

Approved action requested by Gordon that will move forward the county brownfield project. Gordon received a $600,000 federal grant for assessment of abandoned and possibly contaminated industrial sites around the county in the interest of rehabilitating them to be sold to new owners so jobs can be created and the properties can once again be an asset to the county. Gordon said 17 brownfield assessments have been completed in the county, which involves determining whether the properties’ soil or water are contaminated by acids, metallics or other industrial uses. Gordon said some properties have already been sold, and county residents have been hired to work in the new industries.

Approved action to move forward with engineering and right-of-way acquisitions in the $48.3 million Gateway 228 project. The project includes an upgrade at the highway’s intersection with Three Degree Road, widening and improvements on Route 228 in Middlesex Township and improvements to Freedom Road in Cranberry Township. Gordon expects right-of-way acquisitions to be complete by Sept. 30, 2022 and the entire project to be complete by Sept. 30, 2027.