Community Message From the Health Department
It’s that time of year when people come together to celebrate, share a meal, and often exchange gifts. Unfortunately, when we’re indoors and close together, we also often exchange viruses.
This year, we are seeing high rates of flu, RSV, and related hospitalizations. COVID is still causing illness as well, though new COVID variants don’t yet seem to be causing a large increase in serious illness.
The good news is that we can all take steps to protect ourselves and our family and friends:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Wash your hands often.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Clean frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, counters, and bathroom surfaces.
- Get enough physical activity and sleep, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat healthy food.
- Get everyone in your family aged 6 months and up vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19.
- Mask when you are symptomatic, exposed, or around people at higher-risk. Consider masking in crowded indoor spaces.
- Have a plan if someone in your family gets sick. People who are sick should stay home and isolate from others as much as possible.
Of course, these steps are even more important if you or your loved ones are at higher risk for serious illness, such as babies and young children, older adults, and people with other health conditions.
For more information and warning signs of more serious illness, visit https://cchd.maryland.gov/respiratory-illnesses/
62nd Board of Commissioners Sworn In
On December 5, 2022, the 62nd Board of Commissioners were sworn in to office in front of family, friends and staff. The board representatives by district are:
District 1 - Joseph A. Vigliotti
District 2 - Kenneth A. Kiler
District 3 - Tom Gordon III
District 4 - Michael R. Guerin
District 5 - Edward C. Rothstein (COL, Ret.)
Check out the new commissioners bios on the county website. Communication can be emailed to all commissioners at commissioners@carrollcountymd.gov or see each commissioner's individual page for a specific email.
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Holiday Lighting Ceremony
The county held its annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony on Tuesday, December 6th, outside the main County Office Building on Center Street in Westminster. Drive by during December to see the wonderful tree, donated by Zepp Tree farm and the beautifully lighted building. The commissioners wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy holiday season and new year!
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The annual State of the County address is scheduled for Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the Carroll County Arts Center on Main Street in Westminster, The event, sponsored by the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, will feature the five commissioners speaking on the state of Carroll County.
For more information visit the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce website or contact them at 410-848-9050 or info@CarrollCountyChamber.org.
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Winter Preparedness
The Carroll County Department of Public Works Bureau of Roads Operations (ROADS) is busy planning and preparing for the management of winter operations to ensure the excellent service level that customers expect from Carroll County.
ROADS is ready to treat county roads with 80 pieces of snow and ice equipment, a stockpile of 13,000 tons of salt, and the 31,000 gallons of liquid salt brine. Salt brine is a water solution of 23% salt sprayed before a storm, if conditions warrant. It prevents snow from bonding to pavement, reduces the overall amount of material needed to treat county roads, and aids overall snow removal operations. Salt brine is produced in-house by ROADS at a substantial cost savings.
A friendly reminder to everyone to please not clear driveways into the roadways. If you must go out, please remember to drive safely as some plowed roads are narrow and have low visibility with snow piled on either side, especially at intersections. Watch out for pedestrians walking along the roadways and children enjoying the snow.
If your mailbox is damaged during the plowing operations, please call ROADS at 410-386-6717 or submit a request to See Click Report on the county’s website to request repair/replacement of the mailbox.
The county thanks all our customers for their patience and understanding as crews work our way through this year’s events.
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2023 Winter MACo Priorities
Every year the commissioners participate in Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) summer and winter conferences. This is a very effective event as it gives us access and opportunity to meet with State of Maryland elected officials and senior staff. These meetings are very productive for the county as we network with other jurisdictions and staff to help move the county's projects forward.
The winter conference in January 2023 is an opportunity to meet newly elected officials from all over Maryland as well as to meet with with Maryland's Departments of Transportation, Veterans Affairs and Commerce to further our priority initiatives.
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Springfield Avenue (MD 851) in Sykesville
MDOT SHA is assisting Carroll County with a sewer and waterline improvement project on Springfield Avenue (MD 851) between Spout Hill Road and Walnut Avenue in Sykesville.
Starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, November 28, the county’s contractor will close one lane of Springfield Avenue. The lane closure is necessary for crews to safely install a new sewer manhole and pipes underneath Springfield Avenue. A flagging operation will be used to maintain traffic.
The work schedule is Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. MDOT SHA expects the work to be complete this spring.
This work is part of a larger project to replace the aging waterline and improve drainage on Springfield Avenue in Sykesville. MDOT SHA has a $2.5 million project to replace the existing storm drain between Main Street and Vantage Point Drive. The storm drain network will also be extended to Central Avenue to improve performance. Sidewalk and driveways impacted by construction will be replaced. New sidewalk, curb and gutter will be installed north of Central Avenue to improve pedestrian safety.
MDOT SHA is closely coordinating with the County’s schedule and expects to start the storm drain construction after the County’s project is complete in spring 2023.
Looking Ahead
MD 32 (Sykesville Road) near Bollinger Mill Road to north of Lemans Court in Finksburg
MDOT SHA will apply a surface abrasion treatment to this section of roadway to improve safety. The work is scheduled to start next month and take one day to complete. The treatment gives vehicles a better grip on the roadway and helps prevent skidding.
This location is one of nearly 40 in Carroll, Frederick and Howard Counties scheduled for surface abrasion treatment.
Construction Projects
Stone Manor Stormwater Project
Construction is complete on the Stone Manor Stormwater Management Facility retrofit. This facility was converted to a submerged gravel wetland which will treat stormwater for the 19.4 acre drainage area of which 5.6 acres are impervious.
Patapsco Valley Overlook Project
Maintenance on the Patapsco Valley Overlook Stormwater Management Facility is complete. This project included the installation of a surface sand filter to improve water quality to the receiving stream.
First County Environmental Symposium Held
The county’s 1st Environmental Symposium was held on Saturday, November 12th at Carroll Community College. The event featured meet-and-greet opportunities with at least eighteen Carroll County community groups focused on environmental stewardship plus a recycled art contest for high school students. Over 150 votes were cast for the sculpture contest!
Watch for more information and events on the Carroll Environment Facebook page or at the Carroll County Land & Resource Management website at https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/government/directory/land-resource-management/, or contact Kelly Martin at krmartin@carrollcountymd.gov or 410-386-2566.
Zabel Property Update
Harvest Creek, P-22-0042
A subdivision plan for the Zabel property, titled Harvest Creek, was initially submitted to the county for review on June 6, 2022. The plan was reviewed at the public meeting of the Technical Review Committee on July 25, 2022. There have been no re-submittals to date.
The plan may be viewed online on the Developments in Process GIS map: https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/services/gis-maps/gis-interactive-maps/
For more information, contact the Bureau of Development Review at 410.386.2722 or DevelopmentCoordinators@carrollcountymd.gov
Beaty Property Update
Georgetown Boulevard Extension, GRO-22-0011
A plan submittal for development of the Georgetown Boulevard extension on the Beaty property was initially submitted to the county for review on October 3, 2022. This plan is specific and limited to the road. It is in the technical review process.
The plan may be viewed online on the Developments in Process GIS map: https://www.carrollcountymd.gov/services/gis-maps/gis-interactive-maps/
For more information, contact the Bureau of Development Review at 410.386.2722 or DevelopmentCoordinators@carrollcountymd.gov
Carroll Highlands Self-Storage, S-22-0033
There is a site plan in the concept phase of the plan review process for a 5-story (50-foot tall) self-storage building with 725 units. Located on the south side of MD Route 26 between Carroll Highlands Road and Panorama Drive. No access permitted to MD Route 26, per State Highway Administration’s review. Access is proposed from Carroll Highlands Road. A Traffic Impact Study is not required by code. The planned major street (Ridenour Way) which traverses the site will be addressed by the developer by grading, not construction. This road will be constructed by the County when the attainable and construction funding is available in the Community Investment Plan (CIP). The road is not currently in the 6-year CIP.
Development Review Updates
December 2022 – Focus on Residential Development
Residential developments in the plan review process (not including age-restricted):
- Hoby Wolf property at Oklahoma Road, 103 residential lots
- Byron Hills at Oklahoma Road, 4 residential lots
- Yousef Estates at Oklahoma Road, 5 residential lots
- Gerstmyer Property at Snowdens Run Road, 2 residential lots
- Mineral Hill Property at Oklahoma Road, 14 residential lots
- Bradley’s Overlook at Cherry Tree Lane, 5 residential lots
- Harvest Creek at Ridge Road, 143 residential lots
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
Piney Run Park Season Passes for Sale
Beginning December 1, Piney Run Park 2023 Season Passes will be available for sale online at ccrecpark.org. These passes make an excellent holiday gift and are sold online at a discounted price ($10 off) their regular in person costs of $75 for county and $100 for non-county residents. For more information, please call Piney Run Park at 410-795-5165
New Pickleball Courts on the Way!
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States and has becoming incredibly popular with Carroll County residents. To better meet this growing need, plans are underway to convert two tennis courts at Piney Run Park into eight dedicated pickleball courts. The existing courts will be repaved and striped with related site improvements in 2023. These will be the county’s first outdoor pickleball courts in South Carroll and add to the County’s outdoor facilities that currently support pickleball including Sandymount Park, Deer Park and Charles Carroll Park. Pickleball is also played year round at the South Carroll Senior & Community Center and the Robert Moton Center and will be coming soon at the new Charles Carroll Community Center in 2023.
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Santa Calling
On Thursday, December 8, three hundred (300) children received a phone call from Santa through Recreation & Parks’ annual Santa Calling program. Volunteers (including Commissioner Ed Rothstein) get in the holiday spirit by helping to connect Santa Claus with children and spread holiday joy.
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Freedom Park Donation Match Challenge
Currently over $150k has been donated to the Carroll County Park Legacy Fund for new obstacle course fitness themed play equipment at Freedom Park. Funds have been donated from the project’s original anonymous donor as well as the Nathan Chris Baker Foundation with more planned donations scheduled in early 2023. If you would like to help support this or other projects with a year-end tax deductible donation, please visit https://ccrec.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1034
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Helping Hands Keep Parks Green
Recreation & Parks’ Helping Hands program has completed its 2022 season. Thanks to the following groups who sponsored regular park clean up days throughout 2022:
- Carroll County Democratic Central Committee
- Deer Park Lions Cub
- Ecowarriors of Maryland
- Freedom District Lions Club
- Girl Scout Brownie Troop 2343
- Pipe the Side Brewing Company
- Spectrum Support
- Westminster Aktion Club
Organizations who wish to take advantage of this volunteer opportunity in 2023 may find more information and apply online at ccrecpark.org with service beginning in March of 2023.
 Free Online Job Postings
A free online Job Opportunity form allows businesses to post current job openings. All job postings are listed on the carrollworks.com website, shared with our job-seeking customers, and posted on the Carroll County Workforce Development (CCWD) social media pages: Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. The job posting will be also forwarded to Carroll Workforce staff and CCWD community partners (https://carrollworks.com/partners/). Please contact Business Consultant Scott Singleton at 410-386-2521 or email ssingleton@carrollcountymd.gov for more information.
Carroll Events Online
If you are looking for something fun to do locally, most Carroll County special community events are listed on the Carroll County Tourism calendar.
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Free Online Business Courses
Many free online courses are available from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – from HR insights to web analytics and digital advertising, these short sessions help you to stay abreast of the latest trends. Sign up online and then follow-up with a no-cost counseling session with local SBDC Assistant Regional Director and Consultant Darren Peyton (dpeyton@carrollcc.edu) if you need further assistance.
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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.
The bureau will run a pilot for three months, beginning December 1, 2022, that will enable older adults and adults with disabilities to purchase an increased number of transportation booklets. Eligible individuals will be able to get two booklets at a donation and up to eight (8) booklets at half price.
New Older Adult Emergency Fund
The Bureau of Aging & Disabilities received a grant from the Kahlert Foundation to support older adults with emergency needs. Eligible individuals may be able to receive emergency financial assistance with rent, security deposits, downsizing/moving expenses, pest management, minor home repairs, medical related needs and snow removal. For more information, contact the Bureau at 410-386-3800.
Carroll County Commissioners
225 N. Center Street, Westminster, MD 21157
410.386.2043
www.carrollcountymd.gov
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