Howard County Executive Calvin Ball updated progress in the first phase of his Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan at a news conference in Historic Ellicott City. Ball unveiled the new Safe and Sound website, launched the Flood Mitigation Assistance Pilot Program application, announced an upgraded emergency alert plan and introduced the members of an exploratory committee to examine the potential for creating a Community Development Corporation (CDC) for Ellicott City. 

Statement from Howard County Executive Calvin Ball in Response to the President’s State of the Union Address

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will hold a news conference to report on progress in the first phase of his Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan. A new Safe and Sound website will be unveiled and previewed. Ball will also announce an upgraded emergency alert plan and an exploratory committee to examine the potential for creating a Community Development Corporation (CDC) for Ellicott City.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced that the Howard County Health Department has received a State Opioid Response Grant in the amount of $1,094,655 from the Maryland Department of Health to establish 24-hour crisis services at the Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center for substance abuse, with an emphasis on opioids.

A Howard County construction project to loop two public water mains along Shaker Drive in Columbia is scheduled to begin on or about Monday, February 11. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by late April.

ELLICOTT CITY – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will hold a news conference to announce a significant grant has been awarded to the County to establish 24-hour crisis services to combat the opioid epidemic. WHO: Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive Dr. Maura Rossman, Howard County Health Officer Ayesha Holmes, Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center, Executive Director Chief Lisa Myers, Howard County Police Department Chief Christine Uhlhorn, Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services WHAT: Announcement of State Opioid Response Grant awarded to Howard County WHEN: February 5, 2019, 11:30 a.m. WHERE: Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center 6700 Freetown Road, Columbia, MD 21044 WHY: Howard County is not immune from the tragedy that the opioid crisis is inflicting on the nation. During 2018 in Howard County, there were 187 non-fatal overdoses and 41 deaths, 31 of which were opioid related. Already this year, there have been 12 non-fatal overdoses and 3 deaths, 2 of which were opioid related. This grant will help the County improve its outreach efforts and will continue to build on the successes that the Health, Police, and Fire departments have achieved recently.

County Executive Calvin Ball’s Public Calendar for February 5-9, 2019

Howard County Government offices, courts, 50+ centers and animal shelter will be closed in observance of the Presidents’ Day holiday on Monday, February 18. However, regular trash, recycling and food scrap services will be in effect and the Alpha Ridge Landfill will be open.

Howard County’s Department of Public Works will hold a community outreach meeting on Thursday, February 21 at 6:00 p.m. at Howard High School in Ellicott City, to share plans for the new Howard County Circuit Courthouse project.

Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks announces creation of a new Assistant Natural Resource Manager position with the Department’s Natural Resources Division, who will direct the field operations of natural resource conservation and management, trail maintenance and construction, volunteer programming, and other duties within the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area in Clarksville.

Media tip sheet showcasing Howard County Government happenings for the month of February 2019.

The Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks has announced the creation of a new Assistant Natural Resource Manager position with the Department’s Natural Resources Division

Howard County's Commission on Disabilities will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, February 13 at the Bain 50+ Center in Columbia to discuss the “Draft Report on the Status of People with Disabilities in Howard County.”

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will host a Lunar New Year Celebration at The Mall in Columbia. The celebration features more than a dozen music and dance performances and cultural demonstrations.

A Howard County project to conduct test pitting of existing underground water, sewer, gas and communication utility lines near the intersection of Main Street and Klein Avenue in Ellicott City is expected to begin on or about Wednesday, February 6. Weather permitting, the testing is expected to take one week to complete.   

A Howard County construction project to restore and stabilize a heavily eroded storm drain outfall channel near 11840 Bright Passage in the Village of Hickory Ridge in Columbia is expected to begin on or about Monday, February 4. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by mid-March 2019.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball and Congressman John Sarbanes heard from nearly 30 federal contractors who described the impact of the recent historic 35-day government shutdown. The roundtable, held at the offices of Sparksoft in Columbia, was hosted in partnership with the Howard County Economic Development Authority and the Howard County Chamber of Commerce.

The County's Bureau of Environmental Services is now accepting nominations for its annual “Business Recycling and Waste Reduction” and “Green Community Leadership” awards.

The Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks has announced its winter schedule for managing deer populations through sharpshooting. This program is held to help maintain a stable, balanced, white-tailed deer population on county park lands where deer browsing has been shown to reduce biodiversity.  

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball released a statement regarding Governor Hogan’s State of the State address, saying "Governor Hogan delivered a speech that highlighted many of our successes as a state built on bi-partisanship, compromise, and willingness to work together as Marylanders to solve problems."

With Howard County in the midst of an arctic blast, the County’s Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Utilities is offering residents tips on how to keep pipes from freezing and potentially bursting. 

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will host a roundtable discussion with more than 30 federal contractors to assess the impact of the recent history-making federal government shutdown.

As federal employees head back to work following a history-making 35-day government shutdown, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has directed county departments to continue the special programs and services put into place to assist them.

The Transition Team appointed by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball delivered its transition report today. The 67-page document, prepared by more than 100 talented and forward-thinking leaders, studied and evaluated areas of county government with a focus on innovative opportunities to move the County forward.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will be presented with the report prepared by his Transition Team, which was chaired by Sen. Guy Guzzone and included former County Executive Ken Ulman on its steering committee.