Veterans Appreciation Dinner
Maryland Secretary of the Department of Veteran's Affairs George Owings was the key note speaker at the Veteran's Appreciation Dinner hosted by the Freedom Area Lions Club on April 24, 2019. The Secretary acknowledged Carroll County Veterans Services Programs as a model for other jurisdictions to follow.
Carroll Alert
On April 25th, the Carroll County Department of Public Safety briefed the commissioners on the launch of Carroll Alert…Carroll County’s improved opt-in mass notification system. This is an enhanced system, allowing more choice for the public and does not replace previous notification systems. The state-of-the-art emergency system will be used in cases when significant hazards to life and property threaten the community. The Carroll Alert system, powered by Everbridge, provides information to residents about emergency events quickly and through a variety of communication methods. To ensure emergency notices are received efficiently, residents are encouraged to log in to the Carroll County self-registration portal and provide phone numbers for both home and work, including land and cell phone numbers, and email addresses.
Citizens may learn more about the system and register by visiting www.carrollalert.org.
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Veterans Shuttle Update
On April 4, 2019 the Carroll County Board of Commissioners (BOC) reaffirmed its commitment to the Carroll County Veterans Shuttle Program and directed staff to look for opportunities to assist with maintaining and growing the program.
While the commissioners are maintaining the current service as is, they instructed staff to explore solutions to counter the rising costs. Suggested areas to pursue include grant opportunities, state and/or federal reimbursement, alternative funding and regional partnership and possible ride-sharing.
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Town Hall Planned for August
Commissioner Rothstein plans to hold a District 5 Town Hall meeting in August. Specifics will be advertised and shared when details are finalized.
Census 2020 Kickoff Event
The commissioners together with federal, state and local representatives, key advocates and community leaders, highlighted Carroll County’s efforts to ensure the success of Census 2020 by holding a Census Kickoff Event on June 10th. The Complete Count Committee (CCC), comprised of over 20 local leaders from business, government, community-based organizations, educators, and media, was announced. The CCC will advise and assist the county with awareness and promotion of the 2020 Census and also partner with the Census Bureau and the State of Maryland to strive for an accurate count.
Households will begin receiving communications from the U.S. Census Bureau in March, 2020. The Census is required by law and all responses to the Census Bureau are confidential. For more information about the United States 2020 Census, visit www.census.gov.
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Secretary Schulz Spends a Day in Carroll County
On May 9, 2019, Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz visited Carroll County for a Carroll County Collaboration Tour which included meeting with local elected officials and business and community leaders. Secretary Schulz joined Commissioner Ed Rothstein and Economic Development Director Jack Lyburn for a company tour of Nexion Health, Inc. in Eldersburg. Also, Warfield Collaborative representatives presented a company overview and provided a Warfield at Historic Sykesville update.
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Regional Transportation Plan Meeting Held
On June 6, 2019 the Baltimore Metropolitan Council’s (BMC) Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) held a public meeting in Westminster seeking public comment on the regional transportation plan: Maximize2045: A Performance-Based Transportation Plan. Attendees shared thoughts on $15 billion in key transportation projects planned for the region over the next 25 years.
For more information and to view the regional transportation plan, please visit maximize2045.com.
Springfield Hospital Tour
Delegate Susan Krebs and Commissioner Ed Rothstein toured Springfield Hospital Center in Sykesville, with Chief Executive Officer Paula Langmead. Springfield Hospital Center is a regional psychiatric hospital operated by the State of Maryland, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Mental Hygiene Administration. Springfield Hospital Center was first opened in 1896 and continues to serve the mental health needs of the citizens of the State of Maryland.
Senior Community Survey
Commissioner Rothstein attended one of the Carroll County Bureau of Aging & Disabilities community meetings held at the South Carroll Senior and Community Center in Eldersburg.
The bureau recently conducted an Aging & Disabilities Community Survey for the development of the agency’s four-year Area Plan. The Area Plan identifies priority needs, goals, and objectives used by the Bureau of Aging & Disabilities to develop programs and services for older adults and individuals with disabilities.
These community meetings presented information on current services, addressed priority needs identified through the recent survey, and asked for community feedback and recommendations for aging and disability services in the county.
Freedom District Citizens Association (FDCA) Established
Citizens from the Freedom Area formally established an independent board and adopted by-laws for the new Freedom District Citizens Association (FDCA). This group is established to assist Carroll County Government as it seeks to fulfill the implementation steps as outlined on Page 2 of the “Freedom Plan”. Specifically, it is intended that this group fill the role as a citizens advisory group for the area as recommended in that document.
The Board, as currently structured, has five (5) members and is actively looking to expand that to up to nine (9) people.
If you are interested in the association, please contact Katie Gerity at ktgerity@gmail.com.
Comprehensive Rezoning Update
The Board of County Commissioners will resume its work sessions for the Commercial/Industrial/ Employment Campus districts code revisions in July. These sessions are scheduled: July 9th 10-12, July 11th 1-3 and July 18th 1-3. When the commissioners are satisfied with the text revisions and accompanying maps, a public hearing will be scheduled to receive testimony on these changes. For more information, go to Carrollrezoning.org.
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County Office Building Hours Adjusted for July
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners (BOC) voted unanimously to adjust business hours for county buildings during the month of July. In addition to being closed on Thursday, July 4th, county offices will also close on Friday, July 5, 2019. Additionally, the county office buildings will close at 3:00 p.m. on the remaining three Fridays in July. This 3:00 p.m. closure will affect July 12th, 19th and 26th.
The Elderwood SWM Basin #2/Oklahoma Phase IV SWM Facility retrofit is moving along well. The contractor continues to haul excess material to the Luers Lane fill site. The filter diaphragm, located on the downstream side of Monroe Avenue, as well as the cut slopes of the facility, are permanently stabilized. The contractor is currently working on extending the large outfall pipe under Monroe Avenue and constructing the new end wall, along with constructing the new riser structure in the Oklahoma facility. Carroll County Bureau of Resource Management staff recently met with the Oklahoma Estates Homeowners Association to give updates on the project and answer any questions relating to construction of the stormwater management. Construction is anticipated to wrap up in the Fall of 2019.
F. Delauter & Son, Inc. continues to work on the stormwater management retrofit; excavating and hauling materials to the Dulaney fill site on Klees Mill Road, installing storm drain systems, and making modification on the riser and trash rack. When completed, this facility will be a wet pond with a bottom withdraw. This project is progressing on schedule with anticipated completion in fall of 2019.
Rothstein Appointed to Governor's Workforce Development Board
The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) recently appointed Commissioner Ed Rothstein, District 5, to serve on the Governor's Workforce Development Board (GWDB) to represent Maryland counties. Commissioner Rothstein was noted for having "the foresight, skill and experience with workforce and industry that will prove to be invaluable to GWDB."
The GWDB is the governor's chief policy-making body for workforce development.
The GWDB is a business-led board of 53 members who work together to address the challenges of Maryland's workforce needs in the 21st century. Members include the governor, cabinet secretaries, college presidents, the state superintendent of schools, elected officials, business people, labor, and representatives of nonprofit organizations.
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MD 32 – Main St. to MacBeth Way
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is beginning a project in Eldersburg to widen MD 32 and construct an additional northbound lane. The work will occur on MD 32 from Main Street to Macbeth Way and will include drainage and stormwater management improvements, traffic barrier installation, and resurfacing of MD 32.
The project will begin in Spring 2019 and last approximately one year. The project will improve access to the new Maryland National Guard “Freedom Readiness Center”.
- Construction estimated to end by Fall 2020
See Project Newsletter
MD 26 & Fallon Road (Nell's Acres)
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) has been working in conjunction with the Carroll County Department of Planning to streamline previous studies along the MD 26 corridor from the MD 32 intersection to the Liberty Reservoir, analyze current safety and operational needs, and identify practical solutions that can be implemented as funding is available and as growth continues in the corridor.
The intersection of MD 26 at Fallon Road is currently not proposed to be widened or channelized with a median to prohibit left-turns from Fallon Rd onto westbound MD 26. The intersection operates at a Level of Service C and does not warrant signalization based on current traffic volume. MDOT SHA will continue to monitor operations.
To address concerns with the illegal passing eastbound in the right lane, the District 7 Traffic team has completed a review and will arrange to install ‘Right Lane Must Turn Right’ signs as well as Right Arrow Pavement Markings in the turn lane. The work is being scheduled and is expected to be completed this summer.
Our maintenance contractors are currently patching the decks on the MD 26 bridges over the Liberty Reservoir and expect to complete this activity by mid-July. The MDOT SHA Office of Structures is also developing a project to replace the deck on the bridge over Liberty Reservoir. This project is tentatively planned within the next five years.
MD 851 Railroad Crossing
MDOT SHA conducted a study which included a review of crash data, traffic volume data, existing posted speed limits, on-site observations, and assessment of the Federal Railway Administration’s safety evaluation criteria.
Based on the findings from the study, MDOT SHA’s Office of Traffic & Safety has added this location to the master list of projects for the Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Improvement Program (Section 130 Program) for a potential project in 2021, which is the earliest funding available. The scope of the project will include installation of gate arms and upgrades to the signal circuitry.
County Budget Adopted
The commissioners completed their work on the FY2020 budget culminating with adoption of the final budget on May 28, 2019. The Carroll County Government FY20 Adopted Budget Summaries are available on the county’s website. Open Sessions of the entire budget process are available on the county meeting portal and YouTube channel. In addition, all meetings will be replayed on Comcast Channel 24.
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Carroll County Commissioners
225 N. Center Street
Westminster, MD 21157
410.386.2043
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