Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Monday, January 21, 2008

20080110 Other Highlights from the Carroll County Board of Commissioners’ January 10, 2007 Carroll County State of the County Speech


Other Highlights from the Carroll County Board of Commissioners’ January 10, 2007 Carroll County State of the County Speech

“Our goal with the Pathways Plan is to have a draft presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission next month. After that we will hold both a public workshop and public hearing before final adoption this spring.”

“Both Ebb Valley Elementary and the Finksburg Library will boast geothermal systems to heat and cool the buildings.”

Other Highlights from 2007

Bond Rating

Each year the county sells bonds to pay for a portion of the costs of capital expenses such as schools, roads, parks, and government buildings. The bonds are rated on the county’s credit-worthiness and ability to repay the investors who purchase the bonds. Again this year, Carroll earned excellent ratings from all three rating agencies. Fitch gave the county a rating of AA+, Standard and Poor’s a rating of AA, and Moody’s Aa2. As a result, the county’s interest rate was 3.94 percent on the $37,105,000 in bonds it issued November 13, 2007. The lower the interest rate, the less money the county must pay back over the life of the bonds.

To gain the high ratings, the Departments of the Comptroller, Economic Development, and Management and Budget presented information to the rating agencies about the county’s finances, management, economy, and demographics.

In their analysis Fitch commented on Carroll’s financial health that:

“The 'AA+' rating reflects Carroll County’s strong financial position, continued adherence to prudent fiscal policies, comprehensive long-term planning, steadily growing tax base, and low to moderate debt levels.”

The impartial judging panel said Carroll’s annual report met high standards, including demonstrating a “spirit of full disclosure” to communicate clearly the county’s financial story.

Citizen Services

The “Get Connected” Family Resource Center opened in August providing information, referral and family navigation services for families of children with intensive needs in Carroll County. Granite House Inc. operates the center at 225 Clifton Boulevard in Westminster.

As an alternative to out-of-home placement, the Adventure Diversion Program served 30 juveniles who violated court orders. This program is a partnership with the Local Management Board, Department of Juvenile Services, and Carroll County Youth Service Bureau.

During the second year of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Prescription Drug Discount Card Program, Carroll County residents filled 18,481 prescriptions and saved more than $260,000.

In December, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Long-Term Treatment Facility, which will open this year to help people with addictions. The idea for such a center was conceived after 10 heroin overdoses occurred in the county from 1997-2000. A partnership between Carroll County Government and the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene led to plans for this 15,000-square-foot facility located on the Springfield Hospital campus.

The opening of the cold weather shelter addition at Safe Haven expanded the facility to service approximately 25 additional men and women with day rooms, sleeping space for men and women, kitchen and laundry facilities, restrooms and showers, and additional storage space.

Comptroller

For the 22nd consecutive year, Carroll County was awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. This prestigious national award recognizes conformance with the highest standards for the preparation of state and local government financial reports. In order to be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, the County published an easily readable and efficiently organized annual financial report.

In July a newly designed annual real estate tax bill was introduced. The new tax bill is a single-sheet, self-sealing form with no envelope. An automated system cuts preparation time by using a machine that does the folding and sealing.

Economic Development

The Department of Economic Development won three NACo 2007 Achievement Awards for the following programs that promote quality and effectiveness: 1) Fresh Start Farmers' Market, a partnership with the Department of Health that provides Women, Infants & Children (WIC) recipients their own market to purchase locally grown produce with vouchers provided by WIC; 2) Four Partners One Purpose, a small business education program delivered by Carroll Community College, the Small Business Development Center and Start-up Carroll and underwritten by Economic Development; and 3) Partnership for Technology Driven Economic Development, a dynamic partnership with the Carroll Technology Council that enhances technology cluster development through a supportive business climate and provides educational programs and business development resources for existing technology companies.

Eldersburg was named No. 56 of the “Top 100 Places to Live” by CNN’s Money Magazine. The top 466 places were ranked based on factors such as: purchasing power, property taxes, education, job growth, availability of leisure and cultural activities, weather, and health.

Human Resources

Carroll County Government job classifications and pay scales are available on the County’s web site (http://ccgovernment.carr.org) and residents may also apply for job vacancies online. The online application submissions account for more than 70 percent of the applications processed.

Information Technology Services

The first phase of an Integrated Land Management System was completed. When the next phase is completed early this year, the system will provide a centralized database that allows departments to track and manage building and planning activities, including: permitting, inspections, workflow, contractor licenses, zoning, development plan review, and other critical functions.

To improve services for residents, Carroll County Government is undertaking a data collection project. Spatial Systems Associates of Columbia has been contracted to gather information on street centerlines and attributes, building locations, addresses, access roads and driveways. The project is expected to be completed in October and will enhance the ability of Planning, Public Safety and other government agencies to improve the quality of life in Carroll County while keeping it one of the safest counties in Maryland.

We are one year into a three- to four-year project to provide high-speed voice and data connections to all County Government facilities. The Carroll County Public Network (CCPN) is a partnership between County Government, Carroll County Public Schools, Carroll County Public Library, and Carroll Community College. When completed, this project will save more than $900,000 a year. The vision of CCPN is to create a community network to improve communication with citizens, attract economic development to the region, improve the services and general quality of life, and prepare students and the community for success.

A document management and records retention program has begun that will create backup copies of all necessary paper documents onto a computer-based system. This system will allow staff to search the entire database for information and will fit in with the County’s continuity of operations plan. Implementation will eliminate the need for approximately 600 filing cabinets.

Recreation and Parks

Improvements were made to a number of facilities, including a new walking trail at Deer Park and a new climbing rock at Freedom Park. A sampling of other projects includes installation of a 15-car parking lot and new docks at Piney Run Park, landscaping at Double Pipe Creek Park, and maintenance of equestrian trails at Union Mills and Spiegel Hill.

The Department was faced with a major challenge when the rifle range at the Hap Baker Firearms Facility burned down in February. While the pistol range was undamaged and remained open, significant effort went into the reconstruction of the rifle range, which reopened in October in time for the 2007 hunting season.

Our Community Recreation Programs expanded to more than 300 offerings last year.

Hashawha

Hashawha Environmental Center celebrated its 30th Anniversary in 2007, marking 30 years of environmental awareness in Carroll County.

Outdoor School hosted the “Wild School Grounds” workshop at Hashawha, where 30 teachers helped to install a bird garden including 150 native trees, plants and shrubs.

Piney Run

Added six new rowboats for rentals to replace aging fleet

Completed a larger fishing area on the Lake Trail consisting of decking, benches and picnic area.

Added three new piers at lakefront to replace aging piers

Eagle Scout projects included the installation of new bridge on Equestrian Trail, the installation of new steps on Inlet Trail to enhance quality of trail, and the continued use of fish habitat structures to improving angling

2008 Recreation and Parks projects:

Krimgold Park – a new active regional park on 100 plus acres in the South Carroll area. The park will include ball fields, multi-purpose fields, pavilions, a playground, and a parking area with 200 spaces. The park will also offer opportunities for fishing, hiking, and walking activities.

Leister Park – a new 100-acre multi-purpose park to serve the Hampstead and Manchester communities. The park will include pavilions, a playground, bike paths, trails, baseball and softball fields, and a multi-purpose field. An indoor recreational facility is also planned to provide opportunities for additional recreational activities.

Public Safety

During drought conditions, firefighters cannot rely upon ponds and small streams to battle blazes. That is why the Commissioners launched an initiative to establish regional underground fire protection tanks for the county’s volunteer fire companies to use. Carroll’s latest regional fire protection tank was dedicated in August. Firefighters from the Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Co. and surrounding departments can utilize the 30,000-gallon fiberglass tank on Cherrytown Road to battle blazes in and around Silver Run.

In August, the Board of County Commissioners presented the Carroll County Volunteer Emergency Services Association with funds totaling $418,415 for two reserve units. Both vehicles will replace aging equipment used extensively by all 14 volunteer companies in Carroll County. Reserve units fill in when fire companies’ own units are out of service.

As of September, residents and business in Carroll County whose primary telephone is cellular or Internet-based can register to have their phone numbers included in the emergency notification system. The system, often referred to as Reverse 911®, is managed by the County’s Office of Public Safety Support Services. It is used to contact people in the event of an emergency, such as evacuations, natural disasters, water contamination, or alerts for missing people. All traditional telephone lines are automatically included in the service.

In October, Carroll County’s 911 center announced plans to implement new protocols to follow when callers report a fire.

The county is testing a 40-acre parcel of Lehigh Cement Co. property along McKinstrys Mill Road as a potential location for a new public safety training center. The parcel lies between Shepherds Mill Road and McKinstrys Mill Road, south of Maryland Route 75.

Miscellaneous

Freedom District Water Treatment Plant Groundbreaking – A new water treatment plant along Liberty Reservoir will allow Carroll County to more than double the amount of water the system can provide, from the current 3 million gallons a day to a total of 7 million gallons a day.

Carroll County Builders for the Bay brings together the Home Builders Association of Maryland, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, the Center for Watershed Protection, and Carroll County Government to evaluate existing development practices. A kick-off roundtable in September launched a yearlong process to find ways to more effectively protect natural resources through innovative and cost-effective site design and land planning techniques.

Carroll County Public Library’s sixth branch will be a 15,000-square-foot “green” building on more than 10 acres in Finksburg. With a geothermal energy system and other sustainable design features, the eco-friendly structure will provide a central gathering place for the Finksburg community. Ground was broken last August, with its opening planned for later this year.

20080110 Other Highlights from the Carroll County Board of Commissioners’ January 10, 2007 Carroll CountyState of the County Speech


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