District 5 Newsletter 6 July 2020

ISSUE NUMBER SIX • July 2020

Project Updates for District 5
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COVID-19 Information

Accurate COVID-19 information is critical to the community. For the most current and accurate information about the situation, please refer to the following:

State of Maryland                                                    Governor Hogan's Executive Orders
Carroll County Health Department (CCHD)
Maryland Department of Health (MDH)              Centers for Disease Control (CDC)                        Carroll County Government COVID-19                     

Carroll Rebound

Carroll Rebound - Grants to Small Businesses and Nonprofits

Carroll Rebound provides grants to eligible businesses and nonprofits to assist in their COVID-19 recovery efforts.  The Carroll County Coronavirus Relief Fund Plan (CRF Plan) provides $4 million dollars for Carroll County to assist small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Carroll Rebound application portal will close on Wednesday, July 15th at 5:00 pm. Grant applications will be reviewed by an internal team with awards based on need and the pandemic’s impact on the business or nonprofit operations, until funding is exhausted. Grants will be awarded up to $2,500 for sole proprietors (with two FT employees), up to $5,000 for nonprofits, and up to $5,000 (2-10 full-time equivalent employees), and up to $8,000 (11-50 FTE employees) for small businesses.  Also, businesses must be located in a Carroll County commercial or industrial zone.

Eligibility for businesses and nonprofits is different but both must apply online at https://carrollbiz.org/carrollrebound/.

Please go here for more information. 

COB

Carroll County Government Office Open by Appointment Only

Beginning Friday, June 12, 2020, some county facilities opened for in-person meetings by appointment only. Visitors and staff are required to follow safety guidelines to ensure physical distancing and other protections. Please read the county press release for more information. 

Anyone wishing to make an appointment should contact the individual department or the main county office at 410-386-2400.  A directory of departments with phone numbers is available on the county website. Each department will explain the appointment process and availability for their area and schedule an acceptable time.  

Due to the nature of the work, the Collections Office is unable to accept appointments. The Collections Office will continue current operations with citizens paying bills on-line, via mail, or dropping their payments in the drop box and staff mailing receipts. 

county grown

Carroll County Farmers' Markets Status

Carroll County is proud to have seven formal farmers’ markets, distributed throughout the county. Although the COVID-19 situation is affecting the markets, many are still open and providing home-grown products to our residents.  The county is providing the website 2020 COVID-19 Farmers Market Update with information about the markets.  Market information incudes Mount Airy, Taneytown, Sykesville, Hampstead, Downtown Westminster, Carroll Hospital and Carroll County Ag Center.

Virtual Possibilities Available at BERC

If you need job search or training information, help is available online at www.carrollworks.com. Citizens fill out a request form and will be contacted by staff to answer questions and get connected to services. Follow job leads on Twitter @carroll_works and workforce happenings on Facebook – facebook.com/CCBERC.

Businesses who are looking for workers simply fill out a job order form which will be shared with candidates on Twitter and during the weekly virtual Job Club.

1623

New Businesses Reopen

1623 Brewing Company found creative ways to launch their business during the pandemic. From patio seating to online ordering and curbside pick-up, customers are anxious to experience Carroll’s newest brewery.

Stratosphere Social Bowling, arcade, virtual reality, bar and restaurant are all now OPEN! Dodgeball and XD Theater will be opening in the coming weeks. Current hours: Sunday-Thursday 11am-8pm, Friday & Saturday 11am-10pm. Follow on Facebook for the most up to date announcements!

Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD)

Long term success for Carroll County will always come from within.   It is our neighbors and community that know best.  The Community Organization Against Disasters or COAD was formed to meet these type of needs by providing a hand up and not just a hand out.  We established the county COAD a few months ago and primarily focused on pop up pantries around the county.  Personally speaking, it is sad to have families in our community that rely on these type of hand ups; however, it is a blessing that we have a community that steps up and serves.  The COAD began through a conversation I had with State Senator Katie Hester and quickly transformed and transitioned into action!  The small group of ladies from the Freedom District established a strong network and social media presence that now serves 2-300 families a week.

Reach out to me if you want more information. 

sykesville

Sykesville - Best Main Street in America

A shoutout to Sykesville for winning the title of Best Main Street of America. In early June, Independent We Stand announced Sykesville Main Street  as the $25,000 winner of its 2020 “America’s Main Streets” contest. Sykesville is also a state and nationally dedicated Main Street Community.

Upgrade to Development Review Maps

The Bureau of Development Review has created a Developments in Process GIS map layer to provide information on commercial and residential projects that are currently in the review process.  Additionally, a drawing of the proposed development can be viewed.  The link to review this information is

https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/services/gis-maps/gis-interactive-maps/

Comprehensive Rezoning Project

The Department of Planning is happy to announce that the Comprehensive Rezoning effort is resuming virtually. The by-request follow-up stage of the Commercial/Industrial/Employment Campus rezoning process will be introduced to the Planning and Zoning Commission on July 8th. The focus is to introduce the Planning and Zoning Commission to the applicant properties and to outline the process moving forward. 

The upcoming timeline, staff reports, and maps can be found at carrollrezoning.org.

Read the Department of Planning newsletter here

South Carroll Dog Park Update

The South Carroll Dog Park recently received donations to support the purchase of multiple park benches and a new storage shed.  The park currently has over 160 members with over 200 dogs.

Recreation & Parks Summer Activity Guide

Recreation & Parks recently released the 2020 Summer Activity Guide with programs, at home activities and suggestions for family fun!  Visit ccrecpark.org and view online.

See Click Report

See Click Report Available to Residents

See Click Report, a mobile app and web compatible tool giving citizens real time access to report issues with county roads, parks and landscaping, is now available to residents. Interested citizens can download the app from the app store or from the Carroll County Government website.

The new app allows citizens to request county services and report issues in county-maintained areas with the opportunity to include location, pictures, videos and specific descriptions of problems such as potholes, downed power lines, and roadkill. See Click Report provides the county with a centralized issue management system and allows residents to track the status of the reported issue.  Download the app today!

Land and Resource Management Project Updates

Elderwood Village – The project is complete along Monroe Avenue.  The two surface sand filters combined treat over 200 acres of area, of which over 88 acres are impervious buildings and roadways.  The project was constructed to assist the County with meeting our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit by removing pollutants from the stream.  The bottoms of the filters are made of a special sand/soil mixture to filter out the pollutants.  It will take a growing season or two for the grass to fully establish on the bottom.  A substantial portion of the project was funded by the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board – Transportation Alternatives Program.  The project was designed by CLSI and constructed by Kibler Construction. 

Central Maryland 2 – This project was just completed adjacent to Klees Mill Road in the Central Maryland Service and Distribution Center.  The county worked cooperatively with the property owner to upgrade the facility and provide water quality treatment for the 53 acre drainage area, of which, 31 acres are impervious buildings and roadways.  Similar to the Elderwood Village project, this facility has a surface sand filter on the bottom that will eventually develop grass vegetation.  The project was designed by CLSI and constructed by Stambaughs Incorporated.

Benjamins Claim – A small facility in the Benjamins Claim subdivision off of Jacobs Court was just renovated to address maintenance issues and to convert it to provide water quality treatment.  The new facility will be a submerged gravel wetland that will grow up with native plants.  Approximately 7 acres drain to the small facility.

census

Its Not Too Late to Complete the 2020 Census

Completing the 2020 Census is critical to Carroll County. Every Carroll County resident not counted costs the county over $18,000 over the next 10 years. The census is important, easy and safe! COVID-19 has extended the time frame for completeing the census. Complete it today at https://my2020census.gov or 844-330-2020.

Carroll County is leading the state in census response rate. Help us beat 2010 numbers and complete your census today!

Carroll County Commissioners
225 N. Center Street, Westminster, MD 21157 
410.386.2043 
carrollcountymd.gov

 

commissioner corner

It has been a very long 3 months since my last newsletter, and a lot has happened. I hope this finds you and your family well and coping successfully with these unprecedented times. I am so proud to represent District 5. Our community pulled together during this crisis to provide invaluable services to our family, friends and neighbors. As we see some light at the end of this tunnel, please stay vigilant by following Governor Hogan and our health leaders and continuing preventative measures. Together we will help and support each other and maintain our strong community.

Thank you for your efforts and support.

Very Respectfully,

Ed Rothstein Signature

erothstein@carrollcountymd.gov

 

ISSUE 6

  • COVID-19 Information
  • Carroll Rebound
  • Government Building Appointments
  • Farmers' Market Status
  • Virtual Possibilities at BERC
  • New Businesses Reopen 
  • COAD
  • Sykesville Main Street
  • Upgrade Development Review Maps
  • Comprehensive Rezoning
  • South Carroll Dog Park
  • Recreation & Parks Summer Guide
  • See Click Fix
  • Land Resource Management
  • Census
District 5