Denise Beaver

Key discussions and actions during this session included the renewal of the contract with Bolton for health and welfare consulting services, approval of which was adopted unanimously. The commissioners addressed the sale of the former New Windsor Middle School, noting that the lease with option to purchase was exercised, finalizing the sale for $4,250,000. A motion was adopted to direct staff to advertise the request for a public hearing regarding the preliminary funding for the FY27 Annual Transportation Plan. Further actions included approving the sale of two unused county-owned properties (640 Raywell Avenue and 1011 Chapel Road). A contract award for janitorial services for multiple county buildings was granted to Community Bridge, Inc. for $242,817.58 annually. Approval was also granted for the purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 PPV for the Department of Fire & Emergency Medical Services. Contracts were awarded for commissioning services for the State's Attorney's Office construction ($54,600 to KCI Technologies) and construction services for the synthetic turf field at Carroll Community College ($4,354,854 to Tarkett Sports/Field Turf), along with lighting installation at the same field ($519,000 to Musco Sports Lighting, LLC). An engineering services contract for a Water Appropriations Evaluation of the Freedom District Wells was awarded to CDM Smith ($99,500). The session included a briefing and discussion on Forest Conservation Mitigation, leading to a motion to draft a resolution establishing a fee-in-lieu payment structure. Additionally, the submission of the FY27 Rural Legacy Program grant application was approved, and the option to purchase a conservation easement on the Stewart Wisner Jr. and Helen Wisner property was exercised.

The meeting included a Public Hearing regarding the 2025 Fall Amendment to the Carroll County Water and Sewer Master Plan, addressing updates to service area maps and projected demand tables for Taneytown and Mount Airy, and sewer demands for Taneytown, Mount Airy, and Freedom. A proposed Ordinance for a temporary deferral of eight months on the acceptance and processing of applications for Data Processing Centers in Carroll County was scheduled for a public hearing. Contracts were awarded for the Mowing of Carroll County Parks for both the North Region ($110,924.58 to BrightView Landscapes LLC) and the South Region ($167,136.06 to BrightView Landscapes LLC). The Board discussed, deliberated, and adopted revisions to Carroll County Code Chapter 50, Solid Waste. A briefing and discussion was held regarding Decommissioning Requirements for Solar Energy Generation Systems, focusing on state requirements and county enforcement processes.

The Open Session covered several significant actions. The Board accepted funding from the MD 9-1-1 Board totaling $589,700 to support the renewal of the County's protocol maintenance agreement with Priority Dispatch Corporation for five years, covering EMD, EFD, and EPD systems. Concurrently, the Board approved the purchase of five years of licenses, service, and support for the 9-1-1 Dispatch System from Priority Dispatch Corp. for a total cost of $589,700, which is fully reimbursed by the MD 9-1-1 Board. Regarding capital planning, the Commissioners approved a bond authorization of $27,000,000 for FY27, which is part of the preliminary recommended six-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP). An informational briefing was provided regarding the Agricultural Preservation Program. During the Administrative Session, the Board approved requests to ask the delegation to include proposed legislation for the Carroll County Health Department Board of Health authority, to draft enabling legislation for a second planning and zoning commission, and to direct staff to write a deferral for data centers. The session concluded with a recess.

The session included a briefing and discussion concerning Self Storage Facilities and guidance for a Text Amendment. The session concluded with a unanimous motion to adjourn.

Key discussions and actions included a public hearing regarding revisions to Chapter 50 (Solid Waste), where the decision was made to close the hearing but keep the public comment period open for 10 days. The Board approved a contract award of $715,811.76 to Graybar for the replacement of electrical switch gear at the County Office Building. Another contract was awarded to Stambaugh's Inc. for $86,690 to remove and replace a failed 30" pipe on Piney Ridge Parkway. Approval was granted for an additional cost of $231,867.50 to Manns Woodward Studios, Inc. for parking lot design services related to the new Sheriff's Office project. The Board awarded a contract totaling $71,560 to HTI Contractors for replacing water valve bolts and blow-off valve assemblies in the Freedom District service area. A contract for engineering services totaling $64,630 was awarded to George, Miles and Buhr, LLC for the 2026 Biological Assessment Study for the Hampstead Wastewater Treatment Plant. The purchase of Cardiac Monitors & Accessories for the Department of Fire and EMS was approved at a cost of $71,788.23, with partial reimbursement from a grant. The Board also approved the display of the Annual Plan for the Carroll County Bureau of Housing for public review and scheduled a Public Hearing for March 12, 2026, concerning its submission to HUD. Finally, the Commissioners authorized proceeding to a Public Hearing regarding potential options for a Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) for participants in the Carroll County Public Safety Pension Plan.