Celebrating Veterans Day on November 11th
Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11th, is a tribute to military veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Originating in 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson marked a year since the end of the First World War, the day coincides with other days of remembrance around the world including Armistice Day in the United Kingdom and Remembrance Day across the Commonwealth of Nations. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
Memorial Day honors those who died while in service, Veterans Day honors all military veterans, including the living.
 South Carroll Senior Center Anniversary
The South Carroll Senior & Community Center (5928 Mineral Hill Rd., Eldersburg, MD) will celebrate its 10 Year Anniversary with an event hosted by the Center Site Council, on November 14th beginning at 12:30pm. Citizen are invited to the event to walk down memory lane as we remember the original South Carroll Senior Activities Center, opening in 1976, that was a converted four-room school house. Now attendees revel in the beauty and functionality of the “new” South Carroll Senior & Community Center which opened its doors to citizens in 2009. The innovative facility is a combination senior center and recreation and parks center. Tours of the center will be offered during the event and are also available by request at the center during operating hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-4:00pm). Enjoy the music of The Retro Rockets, a 40s, 50s, and 60s band, followed by refreshments and desserts. We hope you can help us celebrate! RSVP to 410-386-3700 by 11/8.
Commissioner Town Hall
Commissioner Rothstein held two town halls in August. Topics included: traffic, congestion, zoning, and the increase in area thefts. County staff and sheriff's office personnel were on hand to answer questions. Town halls are opportunities for the commissioner to brief citizens and for citizens to ask questions and share concerns, thoughts, and ideas.
Commissioner Rothstein's next Town Hall meetings are scheduled for Monday, December 9, 2019 at 10:00 am and 6:30 pm at the South Carroll Senior Center.Topics will include safety and security, Carroll County Public School redistricting, business and residential development within the Freedom Designated Growth Area (DGA) and comprehensive rezoning.
County's Highest Credit is Reaffirmed
Carroll County was recently reaffimed with three triple A ratings from the three major financial rating agencies. These ratings are the highest possible and resulted in the county receiving a historically low interest rate during its recent bond sale. The low interest rate will save approximately $5 million in gross savings over ten years.
The importance of the top credit rating by the three national credit rating companies can not be understated. The highest level of credit worthiness translates to lower borrowing costs for the county.
Bennett Road Circle
Bureau of Roads Operations personnel performed maintenance on the roundabout. To assist with maintaining this area, the Department of Public Works will bring forward an "adopt-a-roundabout" proposal for the Board of Commissioners to consider in the near future. If approved, this should help to address this issue. Any community members that wish to help keep Carroll beautiful are encouraged to adopt one of our roads as other service organizations have done and are doing. Additional information on this program can be found at https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/media/1910/clean-car.pdf.
South Carroll Dog Park Breaks Ground
On Saturday, October 12, 2019, Carroll County Department of Recreation and Parks and the Friends of South Carroll Dog Park held a ceremonial groundbreaking for a new dog park at the South Carroll Senior & Community Center .
Friends of South Carroll Dog Park is a group of neighbors and dog lovers planning and fundraising for this new amenity. Park construction has begun; however, additional funds are needed to support the park opening, planned for spring of 2020. If you would like to make a donation to support the park construction, please contact Carroll County Department of Recreation and Parks at ccrec@carrollcountymd.gov or visit https://southcarrolldogpark.wordpress.com. For more information, please email southcarrolldogpark@gmail.com.
SBDC Now in Economic Development
This summer the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) moved into the county's Department of Economic Development suite in the County Office Building.
The department welcomed Steven Colella, Carroll County Small Business Counselor, to the office. Mr. Colella, with the SBDC since 2018, provides free business counseling to all business owners from start-up entrepreneurs to existing small business owners. Business plan development and business financing options are discussed in confidential one-on-one sessions. Entrepreneurs may visit the SBDC office at 225 N. Center Street, Suite 101, phone 443-356-2918 or email scolella@harford.edu.
Big Changes for Stratosphere
Bryan Zuber, owner of Stratosphere Trampoline Park in Eldersburg, reached out to Carroll County Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in July to request assistance with a business renovation/expansion project. Bryan’s vision is to transition his existing indoor trampoline park into a full-fledged family entertainment center. The new concept includes eight bowling lanes, food and bar service, and a high-end arcade augmented by two state-of-the-art virtual reality experiences. Stratosphere closed in October to begin renovations with plans to reopen during Winter 2019/2020 as Stratosphere Social.
Staff from Carroll County Economic Development, Permits & Inspections and SBDC met with Bryan to review his plans and to provide guidance to make the process flow smoothly. SBDC also provided business plan development and financing connections that helped to finalize the deal. Everyone is excited for this new entertainment venue to open next year.
BGE Performing Vegetation Management in 2020
BGE contractors will be performing vegetation management on overhead distribution lines in District 5 during 2020. BGE will continue to communicate with customers using tools such as door hangers, one-on-one conversations, etc. Customers can also go to https://www.bge.com/SafetyCommunity/Safety/Pages/TreeTrimming.aspx to view the tree trimming schedule.
Fraud Hotline Implemented
The county's Fraud, Waste, Abuse and Illegal Activity hotline 410.386.5030 and email fraud@carrollcountymd.gov are now available 24/7/365.
The Department of the County Attorney will receive and evaluate reported concerns regarding fraud, waste, and abuse, and when appropriate, conduct an investigation. Concerns will be referred to management for a decision on any corrective action and/or another agency or law enforcement for potential criminal matters. Callers can remain anonymous.
More details about the new process are available on the county website.
 Shannon Run Update
This project is very near completion. Sufficient vegetation has been established on site to warrant removal of the sediment control devices still remaining in and around the facility. The contractor for the project, W. F. Delauter & Son, will be dewatering the facility to remove the stand pipe and install the trash racks on the low flow pipes. The facility will then be allowed to fill to the normal pool level. The project essentially will be complete within the next couple of weeks. Photo shown was provided by a satisfied homeowner. Compliments have been received on this retrofit project.
Elderwood Village/Luers Lane Project
This project is a win-win for the private and public entities involved. Excess dirt from the Elderwood Village Stormwater Management Retrofit project on Monroe Avenue is being used at the Luers Lane project location. The county is saving over half a million dollars by not having to dispose of excess soil while Luers Lane benefits from having extra soil to level their site.
The project will be substantially complete by Thanksgiving; however, we will keep the contract open with Kibler Construction, our contractor on this retrofit project, until the spring to ensure a good stand of grass is established on the areas disturbed during construction. The last storm drains are being constructed in the facility and the need to remove some rock pinnacles is being addressed. When those tasks are completed, installation of the filter media will proceed. Silt fence may need to be installed around the filter area to protect it from sediment laden runoff and help vegetated stabilization on the slopes.
Education Partnership
Carroll County Commissioners enjoy a strong partnership with Carroll County Board of Education and Carroll County Public Schools. To review some of the CCPS initiatives, check out their 2020-2021 Citizens Guide to the Carroll County Public Schools Budget Process and the Carroll County Public Schools Strategic Plan 2018-2023.
Comprehensive Rezoning Update
Carroll County is in the process of updating its zoning code. The Board of Commissioners is currently working to update the county's Commercial, Industrial and Employment Campus districts. The proposed amendments are also available on the county website, www.carrollcountymd.gov as well as the Department of Planning’s website, www.carrollrezoning.org.
Two Public Hearings to receive citizen feedback on proposed new zoning codes and maps for the project were held on Thursday, October 3, 2019. Since the public comment period ended on October 13th, the commissioners are reviewing all comments and will hold further discussions in the coming weeks. A vote on the adoption of the new text and maps is expected soon after.
Warfield Update
The “Warfield” complex, located in the Town of Sykesville is intended to consist of a mix of residential and commercial uses.
Alderson Loop LLC, a consulting and staffing company for technical and creative talent, is relocating and expanding its office footprint at 6933 Warfield Avenue – part of Warfield at Historic Sykesville. The company joins Nexion Health and ZeteoTech on the campus.
Nearby, Lennar is offering a townhome community at Parkside at Warfield which features two popular townhome designs with 2-car garages 3-5 Bedrooms, 2.5-4.5 bathrooms, and three stories (with optional fourth floor lofts and terraces). Homeowners are walking distance from Downtown Sykesville and Main Street.
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Hobie Wolf Property
The concept plan for 103 residential single family lots is currently under review.
Freedom Readiness Center
The new Freedom Readiness Center in Sykesville, a $24.5 million project, broke ground in October 2018. The project is slated for completion in October 2020.
Adams Paradise - Oklahoma Road
Adams Paradise is a 109 unit age-restricted facility currently under construction.
Eldersburg Station Project
This is the plan for a hotel and restaurant proposed at Londontown Blvd. and Bevard Road. The final plan package for the Eldersburg Station site development plan is in the review stage. Possible Planning Commission review on November 19th.
Friends of Liberty Reservoir
The group is concerned about seven fire roads in the Liberty Reservoir which were decommissioned by Baltimore City. Commissioner Rothstein met with the group in September to learn more about the issue and agreed to help reach an amicable solution with the Baltimore City Department of Public Works.
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Census is Coming
The Census is Important, Easy and Safe! This is the message of the Carroll County Complete Count Committee, meeting monthly to plan for the promotion of Census 2020. The group is working with many local stakeholders to achieve a complete count of Carroll County residents. Census data is very important as it helps determine more than $675 billion in federal funding.
The 2020 Census will be the first online census in U.S. history.
Census Day is April 1, 2020. Visit the Carroll County Census 2020 webpage for more details.
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Celebrating America
In October, Celebrating America partners including the Carroll County Commissioners Office, Carroll County Public Library (CCPL), Union Mills Homestead, and Carroll Technology Council (CTC) concluded the 2019 Celebrating America Summer Adventures program with their annual Celebrating America Ice Cream Social and grand prize drawing at the Union Mills Homestead. Over 100 citizens attended the event.
Celebrating America is a history initiative created by the Board of County Commissioners to promote a greater understanding of American history and historically significant people, events and places; particularly those within Carroll County.
Rt 26 & Rt 32 Development
1. WAWA
Commissioner Rothstein attended the ribbon cutting for the new Eldersburg WAWA on September 26th.
Carroll County Commissioners
225 N. Center Street
Westminster, MD 21157
410.386.2043
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