Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will hold a community meeting tonight to solicit public input on Phase 2 of his Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will host a ribbon cutting to open the new Howard House on May 2nd at 11:30 AM. The new Howard House will be a 16-bed treatment facility for substance use disorders, including opioid addiction.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will recognize May 1st as “Zaching Day” in Howard County. Zachary Lederer started the Zaching Against Cancer Foundation (ZACF) before he passed away of brain cancer at the age of 20 in March of 2014. Zachary's birthday is May 1st and this day will be used to raise awareness and funds for cancer patients and their caregivers.

Hosted by the Howard County Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC) with County Executive Calvin Ball, the 2nd annual State of Early Childhood in Howard County event will be held this evening, Wednesday, May 1 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Elkridge Branch of the Howard County Library System. Featured speakers include Superintendent Michael J. Martirano and Lisa Davis of the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS); and Frank Kros of The Upside Down Organization.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced Holly Harden, Recreation Services Supervisor for the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks, was elected President of the Maryland Recreation & Parks Association.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has approved 36 grant recipients for flood mitigation projects through his Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan. The grant program was designed to enhance public safety by assisting residents with flood mitigation projects for their structures.

Today, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced the county has again received the highest possible credit rating, AAA, from all three bond rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investor Services and Standard & Poor’s. Among more than 3,000 counties in the nation, Howard is one of only 43 counties to receive a AAA rating from all agencies. The rating affirms Howard County’s ability to pay its debts and gives taxpayers the lowest possible interest when repaying bonds sold by the county.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today welcomed Bruce Gartner, a 20-year veteran of the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), as the county Office of Transportation’s new Administrator.

A Howard County construction project to mill and repave Little Patuxent Parkway between Columbia Road and Broken Land Parkway in Columbia is expected to begin on or about Sunday evening, April 28. To minimize traffic disruptions, work will take place Sunday through Thursday, from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by late June. 

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball today announced that the Howard County Department of Public Works (DPW) will reopen Ellicott Mills Drive on Friday, April 26, in time for SpringFest this weekend in Ellicott City.  “This important project has made Ellicott City more flood resistant and a safer place to visit, and the timing could not be better,” said Ball.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is seeking an environmental health professional to serve on the County’s Board of Health. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 24, 2019.

The Maryland Board of Public Works approved the purchase of state property that will be used to construct a Waterloo Fire Station, the first new fire station in the eastern part of the county since 1994. The agreement reached between County Executive Ball and Governor Hogan culminates nearly six years of negotiations and will allow for construction to begin. The state only charged the county one dollar for the land, so that $3.5 million in cost savings could be used to fund flood mitigation projects in Ellicott City. 

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball to host a “Bring Your Child to Work Day” kick-off event for county employees and their children, ages 5 and up, that will feature interactive stations related to the fire department, animal shelter, energy conservation, native birds, county parks and other children’s programs.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and the Howard County Economic Development Authority will celebrate Howard County’s 2019 Business Appreciation Week from April 22-26. Ball and his team of more than 70 ambassadors plan to visit over 150 businesses during the week.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball secured amendments to the Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA) that limit exemptions from new laws for the Mission Road property that will be the site of Howard County’s new, 13th high school. The amendments to the DRRA will ensure that management of the property keeps pace with development and other related policies as they are revised on a county-wide basis.

A Howard County project to convert the intersection of Broken Land Parkway at Mall Ring Road in Columbia to a multi-way traffic stop is scheduled to take place on or about Tuesday, April 30.

A Howard County project to convert the intersection of Gorman Road and Skylark Boulevard in Laurel to a multi-way traffic stop is scheduled to take place on or about Tuesday, April 30.

The Howard County Commission on Disabilities presented Howard County Executive Calvin Ball with its “2019 Report on the Status of People with Disabilities in Howard County.” Available online at www.howardcountymd.gov/ADA, the report outlines the Commission’s findings and recommends actions the county should take to improve its response to issues that concern people with disabilities.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball released his Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) Operating Budget for Howard County Government. Projected General Fund revenue growth is modest, partly due to uncertainty around a potential economic downturn. Despite this challenge, the budget fully supports the community’s priorities, including the most funding ever provided to the Howard County Public School System, stronger public safety, improved health, a cleaner environment, reliable infrastructure, prosperous businesses, and an innovative, efficient government.

Howard County’s Department of Recreation & Parks is seeking independent contractors to instruct adult educational and recreational classes and programs in a variety of disciplines. Deadline to apply is Monday, May 13, 2019. 

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced Phase 2 of his Ellicott City ‘Safe and Sound Plan’ during a press conference on Main Street. This phase will include public input on five, potential flood mitigation options, before a final decision is made in May. Each of the proposed plans would prioritize public safety and, based on the model runs, keep more water off Main Street than the previous 5-year plan.

The County’s Department of Public Works will hold a public meeting on Thursday, May 2, to present plans for a Wood Creek stream stabilization project. Like many streams in the area, this stream has been impacted by stormwater and has eroded. Construction is scheduled to begin in winter 2019.  

A Howard County construction project to install a roundabout at the intersection of Columbia Road, Kingscup Court and Hemlock Cone Way in Columbia is scheduled to begin on or about Monday, April 22. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by early June.

On Wednesday, April 17th, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will announce Phase 2 of his Ellicott City ‘Safe and Sound Plan.’