 COVID-19 Update
Vaccination info
Ed Singer, Carroll County's Health Officer says, "Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the best way to protect yourself, your family and friends, and the community, and to get back to normal this summer - and stay there this fall. If you haven't gotten vaccinated already, talk with your doctor, ask family and friends who have been vaccinated, and learn more about the vaccines from trusted sources. Visit our website for information at cchd.maryland.gov. Have a happy, healthy summer!"
Carroll County Health Department Vaccination Information
State of Maryland Vaccination Information
The state of Maryland regularly updates information on the phase and access to the vaccine. People can visit https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/pages/vaccine#locator or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX for information on other vaccination clinics in pharmacies, larger clinics, and mass vaccination sites. Several pharmacies in Carroll County are now offering the vaccine.
CCHD Clinics
Maryland also has a page dedicated to vaccination FAQs.
The Carroll County Health Department’s COVID-19 call center remains open 8 am – 5 pm, Monday - Friday; the number is 410-876-4848. After hours, callers may leave a message or call 2-1-1. People with emergencies should continue to call 9-1-1.
Commissioner Town Hall
Ed Rothstein, Carroll County Commissioner, District 5, will hold two Town Hall meetings on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at the South Carroll Senior Center. In order to accommodate more citizens, a daytime and an evening meeting are planned. Town Hall meetings provide a great opportunity for commissioners to brief citizens and for citizens to ask questions and share concerns, thoughts, and ideas. All are welcome.
Some topics to be discussed are zoning for residential properties and safety and security.
2 meetings:
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
and
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
South Carroll Senior Center
5928 Mineral Hill Road
Eldersburg, MD
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4th of July Celebration Returns to Farm Museum
The Carroll County Farm Museum is excited to return to its annual 4th of July celebration. Rain date is July 5th. Visit the Farm Museum website.
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Traffic Calming Information
As summer begins and school ends, residents may discover areas of the community where traffic is a concern. Residents concerned by traffic speed and safety on their neighborhood streets can request traffic calming measures. For more information on the Carroll County policy, procedures and traffic calming measures, please visit the designated Traffic Calming webpage for more information.
Route 32 and Johnsville/Bennett Road Project Update
MDOT SHA PROJECT UPDATE
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) expects to finish most of the work on the MD 32 intersection improvement project at Bennett Road and Johnsville Road in June.
MDOT SHA will extend daytime work hours to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. after the current school year ends on June 15 in Carroll County. Roadway paving is scheduled to start the week of June 21 and will take about two weeks to complete.
After striping the roadway, the intersection will be in its final traffic configuration with new left-turn lanes. However, the full benefit of the project will not be realized until the installation of new traffic signals that include left-turn arrows.
Due to a nationwide materials shortage coupled with increased demand, the new traffic signal poles and mast arms are delayed and now scheduled to arrive on-site by August. Once the new traffic signals are installed and operational, the project will be complete.
The project also added new sidewalk, new curbs and a new roadway surface at the MD 32 intersection along with improvements to area drainage. Learn more about this project on MDOT SHA’s website by clicking here.
Construction continues on the project. With good weather, the project may be substantially completed in July.
The stormwater facilities are being retrofitted to filter stormwater runoff while the stream restoration will repair the degraded channel and improve the natural habitat of the stream.
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Community Solar
On May 13, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners adopted an amendment to the Carroll County Zoning Code, Chapter 158, Solar Energy Generating Systems, to allow community solar energy generating systems (CSEGS) on remaining portions of five acres or greater in the Agricultural District. The Carroll County Community Solar Zoning Text Amendment booklet defines community solar, describes the requirements of the amendment, shares intentions for certain requirements, reviews the adoption process, directs the reader to resources for more information, and more. Please see the county webpage for more information.
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Development Review Updates
Commercial developments in the plan review process:
Carroll Station III, 1702 Liberty Road, retail
Carroll Station Professional Office Park, north of Dickenson Road & east of W Hemlock Drive, office & daycare
Buttercup Road Property, 6400 Buttercup Road, warehouse
Ottenberg Bakery, 1413 Progress Way, building addition
Long Reach Farms Lot 20, Planned Commercial Center, commercial 1st floor
The Developments in Process GIS map layer provides information on commercial and residential projects that are currently in the review process. https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/services/gis-maps/gis-interactive-maps/
The Development Review launch page includes Technical Review Committee meeting and Planning and Zoning Commission meeting agenda items with links to an overview plan. https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/development-review
Freedom Area Sewer Survey
During the month of May the Carroll County Planning Department surveyed over 850 properties to identify interest in connecting to the county’s sewer system. This survey was solely for information gathering at this time. Properties surveyed were those in the Freedom Area, currently on private septic, less than 2-acres and built before 1990. Over the survey’s 30-day time frame we had over 375 responses. The information on this survey, a map of properties surveyed, and results can be found at:
https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/freedom-area-sewer-interest-survey/
The Department of Planning continues its work with the Commissioners on Comprehensive Rezoning efforts.
Residential Update
The Carroll County Department of Planning completed its initial review of the draft residential text amendments with the Planning and Zoning Commission. With this completion, the county seeks resident comments and feedback on the proposed draft text prior to sending to the Board of County Commissioners for their review.
Please go to the county’s specific website at: https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/planning/carroll-county-comprehensive-rezoning/comprehensive-rezoning-residential-text/ to review the proposed text, submit comments or sign up to speak at the Planning and Zoning Commission’s June 30th meeting. The June 30th meeting will be dedicated to listening to public comments on the proposed text. This is your time to ask questions of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Residents are also welcome to send written comments to the Department of Planning, 225 North Center Street, Room 106, Westminster, Maryland, 21157 or email ccplanning@carrollcountymd.gov prior to the June 30th meeting. Questions should be addressed to the Department of Planning at ccplanning@carrollcountymd.gov or 410-386-5145.
For more information, please go to: https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/planning/carroll-county-comprehensive-rezoning/comprehensive-rezoning-residential-text/
On May 25th, the Board of Carroll County Commissioners (BCC) voted 4-1 to adopt the FY 2022 budget. In two additional, but separate votes, the BCC voted unanimously to approve the property tax rate, with no increase and also voted unanimously to accept a resolution to increase compensation for members of the Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of License Commissioners.
Commissioner Ed Rothstein, President of the Board of County Commissioners remarked, “I am proud of the way we worked through the budget process; we listened to the public and our partners, learned along the way, and led together to adopt the FY22 Budget and FY23-27 Operating Plan.”
Look for the Carroll County Government FY22 Adopted Budget Summaries on the county’s budget website, most likely by the end of this week with the entire budget book available in the future.
Meetings are available for viewing on the county meeting portal and the county YouTube channel. In addition, all meetings will be replayed on Comcast Channel 24.
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State Veterans Home Project Update
Meetings and plans are moving forward on the new state Veterans Home project in Sykesville. The Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs earmarked funding in its FY22-26 Capital Improvements Plan for a new state Veterans Home project to be built in Sykesville. The project, with expected costs of over $81M, constructs a 120-bed skilled nursing facility to provide additional bed space for Maryland's aging Veteran population at a more centrally located and state-of-the-art establishment. The designated location is at the end of Raincliffe Road in the vicinity of Buttercup Road, currently part of the state police training area. Funding will be 65% federal funds and 35% state GO Bonds. The State of Maryland is actively meeting and working on the project.
Veterans Assistance in Carroll County
The Carroll County Veterans Services Program provides guidance and assistance to Carroll County veterans, their dependents, and survivors with applying for Federal and State benefits. This assistance includes help with an application for veteran’s benefits via the system administered by the State of Maryland and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
If you are a Veteran or know a Veteran, please contact the Veterans Services Program today at:
Phone: 410-386-3800
Email: CarrollVeterans@carrollcountymd.gov
Welcome Mayor Link
Carroll County Government congratulates and welcomes the new Mayor of Sykesville, Mayor Stacy Link! We look forward to working with you. For more information on the town, check out the Town of Sykesville website.
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Summer Safety - Storm Watch
Thunderstorms are a common occurrence in Carroll County, especially throughout the summer months. While they happen most often during the afternoon and evening hours, thunderstorms can occur at any time of the day. Lightning, high winds, hail and flash flooding are all possible during a thunderstorm.
Lightning is a leading cause of injury and death from weather related hazards. If you are close enough to a storm to hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. When thunder roars, go indoors!
For more information about summer weather safety:
Citizens Guide to Emergency Preparedness
https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/public-safety/emergency-management/citizens-guide-to-emergency-preparedness/Ready.gov/thunderstorms-lightning
National Weather Service Severe Thunderstorm Safety Page
https://www.weather.gov/safety/thunderstorm
Ready.gov Thunderstorms and Lightning Page
https://www.ready.gov/thunderstorms-lightning
National Lightning Safety Awareness Week is June 20-26, for more information: http://www.lightningsafetycouncil.org/
 Carroll 101
Carroll County Government is excited to offer Carroll 101, a series of recorded presentations with the county’s 13 directors delivering basic overviews and highlights of county departments and divisions. A new presentation will be released every week. Each session, approximately 15 minutes in length, will provide the ins and outs of the county departments and promotes learning everything citizens want to know about local government but were afraid to ask. The presentations focus on major areas of Carroll County Government including management and budget, fire & emergency services, land and resource management, citizen services, recreation & parks, economic development and public works as well as public safety, human resources, county attorney, comptroller, planning, and technology services.
If you are interested in learning about the ins and outs of your local government, go to carrollcountymd.gov/carroll101 to watch the episodes and check in every week for a new department!
Some Recycling Do's and Don'ts
Recycling is an important process in any community. As recycling processes evolve, they may become more complicated and new rules are frequently put into place. In an effort to communicate more effectively with Carroll County citizens, the Recycling Office prepared a list of dos and don’ts. One of the most effective rules to remember is, WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT. Including non-recyclable material can result in damage to the recycling equipment or contamination thereby causing an entire of batch of recycling to be landfilled rather than recycled.
Please review the following dos and don’ts as they relate to recycling.
Dos:
- Check local recycling requirements
- Recycle plastic bags and wraps separately and deliver to collection areas of local grocery and retail stores
- Try to reuse or donate items that are not recyclable
- Leave lids on containers and caps on bottles
- Crush plastic bottles, milk jugs and milk and juice containers to conserve space in your bin
- Recycle newspapers, magazines, phone books, paperbacks, household papers, junk mail and cardboard
- Recycle all jars and bottles (clear and colored)
- Wash out cans and bottles before putting in bin
Don’ts:
- Bag your recycling – put it loose in your bin
- Recycle food – food is compostable but not recyclable
- Include bags and plastic film materials/cellophane/bubble wrap – (throw this in trash or return to a local retail store)
- Recycle a food contaminated or oily pizza box
- Recycle toxic containers (paint, oil, gas, antifreeze, pesticides, etc.)
- Put yard waste in recycling
- Recycle aluminum foil or foil plates, foam containers or packaging
- Recycle soiled paper or boxes
- Recycle mirrors, glass, lightbulbs, drinking glasses, ceramics or cookware
WHEN IN DOUBT….THROW IT OUT!
For information on Carroll County's Medication Disposal Program, visit here.
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Freedom Park Trail Resurfacing
Recreation and Parks recently completed a paving overlay of the back 2/3 of the walking trail at Freedom Park after the first 1/3 was completed last year. The process helps to extend the life of the county’s trails and is the first overlay at Freedom Park since this trail was first installed. The project was supported by Park Restoration funding provided annually by the County Commissioners to help maintain existing park infrastructure.
South Carroll Dog Park
The South Carroll Dog Park continues to be a busy and popular place for dogs and their owners. One shade structure was recently ordered with installation anticipated later this summer. Efforts remain underway to raise funds to support additional improvements including more shade structures, park benches, trees and a water fountain.
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July is Parks and Recreation Month!
Once again this year, the County Commissioners will issue a proclamation declaring the month of July as Parks & Recreation Month as a part of a nationwide celebration promoted by the National Recreation & Parks Association. This year’s celebration is even more special as Carroll County Department of Recreation and Parks is also celebrating its 50th anniversary with a variety of special events and programs. For more information, please visit ccrecpark.org and follow them on Facebook.
Carroll County Pandemic Relief for Businesses
Carroll’s 4500+ businesses persevered through the extraordinary COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting business closures and disruption with courage, grit, and the steadfast support of Carroll County Government. When business disruption occurred in March 2020, Carroll County government was one of the first jurisdictions in the state to aid businesses by infusing nearly $887,000 of local funding into small businesses under 50 employees through the local Carroll County Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Grant program; community partner BGE contributed $52,000 to this fund. The available funding was dedicated to small business assistance and did not create a burden on the county budget. The program was announced March 31, 2020 with applications accepted beginning April 7, 2020. The $1,250 and $1,000 micro-grants were rapidly awarded and dispersed, some within days of applying, to help 720 businesses pay rent, utilities, and other business expenses in the early days of the pandemic.
Over the past year, subsequent rounds of federal Coronavirus Relief Fund Plan (CRF) funding, Maryland Relief Act funding, and more recently the American Rescue Plan and MD Recovery Now funding provided additional dollars to support business operations and services for Carroll citizens.
Carroll County proudly supported small businesses, sole proprietors, farms, non-profits, and local volunteer fire departments with 2,029 pandemic recovery grants infusing $10.3M in federal, state, and local dollars into the economy. Carroll’s ongoing pandemic support is a wonderful testament to Carroll’s spirit, shared connectedness, and community dedication.
To receive information on economic development in the county, please subscribe to Carroll County Department of Economic Development enews. Sign up here.
 Looking to hire? Complete the BERC Job Opportunity form and submit it. For recruitment assistance contact Scott Singleton at 410-386-2521 or ssingleton@carrollcountymd.gov.
Looking for a job? BERC has many local job openings and will meet you virtually or in the center by appointment. Visit www.carrollworks.com.
1623 Expands
The 1623 microbrewery, operated by Mike McKelvin and Zac Rissmiller, started in 2019. Despite the challenges of this past year which limited in-person business, the owners secured new distribution agreements throughout the Mid-Atlantic and achieved an uptick in popularity for their unique beers. The brewery employs 27 people at their 5975 Exchange Drive - Liberty Exchange location in Eldersburg. They plan to add 10 new employees and expand another 8,000 sq. ft. for a total of 19,000 sq. ft.
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New Level Basketball to Open
Rome Holley, a professional basketball player, has brought his talents back to Eldersburg and is opening an exciting new venture, “New Level Basketball”. The facility will open in late June in the former London Fog building. Featuring amenities such as professional-grade shock absorption floors, official NBA hoops and state-of-the-art audio visual capabilities, the business will offer private trainings, clinics, and summer camps.
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Coming Soon
The Grill at 26 will be opening in Eldersburg. Chef Erick Grijalba, of the Grill at Lisbon, will be serving up a variety of cuisines on the site formerly occupied by the Bullpen. Follow @thegrillat26 on social media.
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Senior Centers Reopen
Senior & Community Centers are now open five days per week from 9am – 3pm. Appointments, masks and wellness checks are not required. Individuals interested in volunteering should call their respective Senior Center. Grab and Go lunches continue to be offered; please call the Assistant Manager at your Senior Center for additional details.
Evening outside user groups at Senior Centers will resume in July.
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Eviction Prevention Assistance Available
If you or someone you know is behind in rental payments due to COVID-19, there may be eviction prevention assistance available. Visit the county's webpage or the Human Services Programs of Carroll County page.
Seniors On the Go Event Planned for September
The 15th Annual Seniors on the Go – An Aging & Disabilities Expo will take place Wednesday, September 15, 2021 from 9am to 2pm in the Shipley Arena of the Carroll County Ag Center in Westminster. Please mark the date on your calendar. More information will be published soon. We hope to see you there!
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Carroll Transit Tickets
Older adults and adults with disabilities who are interested in donation/reduced priced CTS transportation tickets may call the Bureau of Aging & Disabilities at 410-386-3800 or their local Senior Center.
Carroll County Commissioners
225 N. Center Street, Westminster, MD 21157
410.386.2043
www.carrollcountymd.gov
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