Brooke County Commission approves $200,000 Rails-to-Trails budget revision and multiple personnel actions

The County Commission of Brooke County met in public session on March 31, 2026, at the courthouse and approved a series of routine actions including a $200,000 budget revision for a Rails‑to‑Trails project and multiple personnel changes.

Commissioner Stacey Wise moved to approve the minutes from March 24 and the presented open invoices; President Thomas R. Diserio seconded both motions and the commission voted unanimously to approve them. The commission then approved a Request for Revision to the approved budget, reallocating $200,000 to a Rails‑to‑Trails project for the County Commission. The motion was made by Commissioner Wise and seconded by President Diserio and passed unanimously.

The commission accepted the resignation of Kristen Siranovic from the Sheriff’s Department, effective March 31, 2026, and accepted the retirement letter of David F. Cross, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, effective May 1, 2026. The minutes note that Cross has worked for the county for more than 35 years and that the commission thanked him for his service.

Prosecuting Attorney Allison Cowden requested authorization to hire Hunter Hummel with a start date of May 1, 2026, at a starting salary of $78,000 for the first six months and $80,000 annually thereafter, contingent on drug screening and a background check. After discussion the commission approved the hire with the stipulation that any additional funds required be taken from the prosecutor’s salary line. Cowden also requested, and the commission approved effective March 31, 2026, salary increases for Jennifer Myers to $50,000 annually and for Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Gabriella Taverne to $84,000 annually.

Glenda Brooks of the Circuit Clerk’s Office requested and the commission approved hiring Beth Ann Smith as a full‑time tier 1 employee at $39,520 annually, with a start date of April 16, 2026, pending drug screening and a background check.

The commission received notifications of vendor price increases, including an additional $47.59 per month for Republic Services dumpster service (from $566.17 to $613.76) and small monthly increases from Rose Pest Control across county facilities. A set of departmental minutes and compliance updates were ordered filed.

Invoices, vouchers and checks were approved and ordered written for multiple county funds; the minutes list check ranges and amounts by fund. A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Stacey Wise and passed unanimously, ending the meeting.

Items noted but not acted on during the session included multiple tabled agenda items and a listing of opioid fund requests and ARPA draw information that the minutes record as correspondence or future business rather than approved actions.