May closed out the FY2024 budget process with the Council's unanimous approval. The meeting calendar will continue to be extremely busy over the summer months as we head into General Plan with a final vote scheduled for October. It is an aggressive timeframe, but necessary in order to stay on track following delays last year. A schedule of upcoming regular legislative meetings, as well as special hearings and work sessions for the General Plan, are included in this newsletter.
Don't miss our special newsletter sections that highlight a county agency and a community service partner. The Howard County Department of Public Works Bureau of Utilities has been hard at work repairing aging infrastructure around the county. Rebuilding Together Howard County is a great program that assists elderly, low income, veterans, and others with the costs and work necessary to complete much needed repairs to their homes.
I hope that you will share our newsletter and will encourage others to sign up so they can stay apprised of what is happening around the community and in county government. Be sure to like the District Five Facebook Page to keep current on news and announcements.
|
|
David Yungmann
Howard County Council, District 5
|
|
Check Out The New
Council Website
|
The County Council website has been redesigned! Check out our new look if you have not already. All features are still available, but the layout makes it easier to find information. |
|
|
Follow the links below for easy navigation directly to the information you need. |
|
You will be hearing a lot about the General Plan over the coming months. Work sessions that started right before the budget process have already picked back up.
The public draft of the plan can be viewed on the HoCo By Design website.
Stay engaged and have your voice heard on issues that may be of importance to you.
|
|
Parties, Celebrations & Fireworks |
|
Who doesn't love a good fireworks display? They have become a time-honored tradition for major holidays, particularly July 4th. And while we may "ooh & ahh" over the show, our four-legged friends are not always as welcoming. We get calls regularly about fireworks and the impact on many pets, especially the horses that all seem to react negatively when we are celebrating.
Private fireworks displays must be permitted through the Office of the State Fire Marshal as well as a local Howard County Office of the Fire Marshal. Permitted shows will be posted on the Department of Fire & Rescue Services Facebook page, so we recommend that you follow that page for updates. They also have a non-emergency phone line that is staffed 24/7, so you can also call them at 410-313-2200 if in doubt about fireworks near you. They have a full listing of permits that have been issued. And, as always, if there is an emergency, you can call 911.
|
|
District 5 Pre-submission Meetings |
|
The Howard County Department of Public Works Bureau of Utilities administers and maintains Howard County’s public water and wastewater systems. Serving more than 85% of the County’s population with an average demand of over 22 million gallons of water each day, the Bureau provides County homes with the most comprehensive public water and sewer related services available.
The past two fiscal years have seen refocused efforts by Howard County DPW on aging infrastructure that is in need of repair or replacement. DPW’s proactive efforts are evident in the number of upgrades and repairs to critical water and sewer assets being done around the county, particularly in some of our older neighborhoods. The goal is to improve the reliability and resiliency of the core services provided to the community.
a link to opt in for email notifications of water main repairs, sanitary sewer overflows, shared septic interest and more! We have heard from residents about work being done in their neighborhood and the planned outages that were not well communicated. We encourage everyone to sign up for these alerts and to bookmark the page of scheduled repairs if your neighborhood is undergoing improvements. If you have questions or a specific water/sewer concern, the Bureau of Utilities may be contacted 24/7 at 410-313-4900, menu option 5.
|
|
Rebuilding Together Howard County (RTHC), formerly known as Christmas in April, was formed in 1992 when a group of committed Howard County Residents and businesses joined together to mobilize volunteers and provide free home repairs to low-income families in Howard County. For many of these homeowners, these repairs were truly a gift. The group continues to support low income homeowners, but also provides assistance to residents aging in their homes and veterans who live in the county.
Starting with a $40,000 annual budget 31 years ago, the organization now has funding that tops $1,000,000. In addition to the obvious support of RTHC in the community, the group has also grown in numbers of volunteers and professional contractors to help with the over 100 repair projects completed annually. Whether the need is simply a handyman repair or a more complex project, including plumbing and electrical, carpentry, HVAC systems, new roofs or home modifications, RTHC is the go to source for emergency assistance.
If you or someone you know has a repair need, call the committed RTHC staff and volunteers at 410-381-3338. Applications are accepted year round and repair jobs are completed as soon as possible.
For more information or to volunteer with Rebuilding Howard County, visit their website for homeowner testimonials, applications and much more.
|
|
Did You Know?
The Traffic Enforcement Section of HCPD has an online reporting for traffic complaints. This tool is for non-emergency issues, complaints and/or requests for new or increased traffic enforcement. No account is necessary to complete the submission online.
|
|
|
HCPD Youth Advisory Council |
|
|
|
HCPD's Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is designed to provide youth with a safe and engaging environment to interact with local law enforcement.
This is a great opportunity to not only earn service hours, but to take a leadership role for your
|
|
peers, share youth concerns with the police department and to learn exceptional life skills in the process.
|
|
The planned replacement of the bridge deck on MD 94 (Woodbine Road) over I-70 in Lisbon is underway. The above link to the project will provide additional details as this project progresses.
|
|
|
For all updates on major state roadways projects, check the Maryland State Highways Administration website. For county projects in District 5, check our website.
|
|
Agriculture Corner
Howard County farms are in prime growing season, with many offering pick-your-own produce or farm markets at their locations. Check out the Farm Connect website for a complete listing of Howard County farms and links to their websites for more information.
Want to learn more about agriculture in Howard County? Visit the Farm Bureau website for news or to become a member.
|
|
Want To Be More Involved
In Howard County?
Howard County Boards and Commissions play an important role in fostering citizen involvement in our government. Opportunities cover a wide variety of topics ranging from the environment, fire and rescue services and cable, just to name a few. A listing of the different boards and commissions can be found on the County website.
Interested residents should send a resume and a brief letter explaining why they want to serve on the Board to: Howard County Government, Office of the County Executive, Attn: Paul Thompson, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043.
|
|
Food Truck Tuesdays AND Fridays! |
|
There are two different locations for weekly food truck gatherings in Western Howard County this summer and into the fall. The Farm Museum hosts on Tuesdays and the Lisbon VFD hosts on Fridays. Both locations will have trucks weekly from 4-8 pm. These events are weather dependent, so check the Farm Museum Facebook Page or Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department Facebook Page for more details and updates.
|
|
Get Your Roving Radish Meal Kits
Meal kits are comprised of locally and regionally grown foods straight from the farm to your table. They are available to anyone who works, plays, or lives in Howard County and are offered at a discounted price to those in need. Check out the weekly menus here.
|
|
Looking For Things To Do In Howard County? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
