Brooke County Commission adopts $16.45 million budget, lowers levy and approves ARPA pump project

The Brooke County Commission on April 16 approved the county's FY 2024–2025 budget totaling $16,449,158 and adopted a lower levy rate of 13.63 per $100, the meeting record shows.

Commissioner Thomas R. Diserio moved to approve the budget, and Commissioner Stacey Wise seconded; the minutes record the motion as passed. The commission also approved the Order for FY 2024'2025 Laying of the Levy after voting to lower the levy from 14.30 to 13.63 per $100.

During the same session the commission voted to authorize ARPA draws for local infrastructure projects. Commissioners approved ARPA Project #4 Draw #1, a $82,691 draw for the Washington Pike Pump Replacement Project, and ARPA Project #1 Draw #3, a $500 draw for Beech Bottom Sewer Plant upgrades. Both motions were moved by Commissioner Thomas R. Diserio and seconded by Commissioner Stacey Wise and recorded as approved.

The commission approved a request to revise the previously approved budget, increasing the Sheriff's line by $4,858.00; that motion was also recorded as approved.

The commission approved an order to close the estate of Percy Huggins after amending the appraisement. The minutes record that Commissioner Stacey Wise moved the action, Commissioner Thomas R. Diserio seconded, and that Commissioner Andrew J. Thomas abstained and left the room during the matter; the minutes also contain language describing the item as "unanimously passed," a contradiction noted in the record.

A reimbursement request from Colliers Volunteer Fire Department for $7,938.34 from the Fire Protection Fund was tabled by motion of Commissioner Stacey Wise, seconded by Commissioner Thomas R. Diserio.

The commission acknowledged National Telecommunicators Week and thanked Director White and staff; the record states Director White said she was "very proud" of her department. The commission also announced that public testing of early voting equipment will take place April 26, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

Invoices, vouchers and checks across multiple county funds were approved and ordered written, with specific check ranges and amounts entered in the meeting record. The meeting adjourned on a motion by Commissioner Stacey Wise; the minutes were attested by President Andrew J. Thomas and Clerk Kimberly M. Barbetta.