Happy Wednesday. I hope that you were able to have a relaxing Labor Day weekend with friends and family. 

For many people in the County, the long weekend was spent cleaning up debris and otherwise starting the process of recovering from last week’s tornadoes. I want to thank everyone that has given a helping hand to a neighbor as part of this recovery effort. The outpouring of community support has truly been inspiring.

I also want to thank all of our first responders. The County’s response to the storm was coordinated, swift, and effective. Many county employees across multiple departments worked tirelessly to get our infrastructure back up and provide services to those in need.  Last year, after a similar severe weather event, the Pittman administration identified the need to provide a resource to help haul away the debris left behind by the storm. It was because of the proactiveness of the administration that this year, as soon as the storm was over, the team at DPW already had multiple dumpsters strategically placed throughout the neighborhood. 

Another response strategy included launching an online portal where residents can report damage and curating a disaster resource list for residents to access helpful services and information to assist with recovery. If you or anyone you know was impacted by the storm and is still in need of services, please reach out to the Office of Emergency Management at 410-222-0600. 

This Saturday marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11. County Executive Pittman will commemorate the day and thank all of our first responders. Friday morning at Fort Meade and Saturday morning at the Anne Arundel County September 11th Memorial. 

As we continue to recover from the storm and as we mark 20 years since the events of September 11, 2001, I encourage you to think of ways that you can give back to the community around you.

Sincerely,

Join County Executive Steuart Pittman, Police Chief Amal Awad, Assistant Fire Chief Larry Schultz, and members of the county fire and police departments on Saturday to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

The wreath-laying ceremony will occur on September 11, 2021, at 9:30 a.m. at the Anne Arundel County September 11th Memorial (8495 Veterans Highway, Millersville).

Yesterday, County Executive Steuart Pittman introduced Anne Arundel County's first prevailing wage legislation. With a strong belief that a hard day's work should provide a worker with a fair wage, the legislation will set the minimum hourly and fringe benefit rate for the construction trades working on county contracts and include a local hire clause. 

The legislation is modeled after State law and laws in other Maryland counties. It will increase wages and benefits for the construction trades, increase the market share for Anne Arundel County construction contractors, and provide more opportunities for employment on county public works projects to county residents. 

Read the FAQ sheet for more information on this legislation and submit any questions you have to [email protected]. 

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman announced the appointment of Mark Wedemeyer as the Director of the Department of Inspections and Permits.

“Mark Wedemeyer has already made improvements in the Department of Inspections and Permits in the three short months he has been the acting director,” County Executive Steuart Pittman said. “Mark has significantly reduced the inspections and permitting backlog and understands customer service. He knows how to get the job done without sacrificing public safety or the environment.”

Read the full press release.

In Anne Arundel County, suicides account for nearly two-thirds of all gun fatalities. As a percentage, gun suicides in the county are more prevalent than in Maryland and the United States as a whole. Guns are the most common means in suicide deaths and the fifth most common means in suicide attempts.

To observe Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, help educate the public about gun-related suicides, and reduce suicides in the county, the Anne Arundel County Department of Health’s Gun Violence Intervention Team has released its online Suicide Prevention Toolkit.

Read the full press release.

In recognition of Hunger Action Month this September, the Lifeline 100 will donate 30% of all registration fees collected September 1-12 to the Anne Arundel County Food Bank (AACFB). So if you've been waiting to register for this year's event, now is a great time to register and help end hunger in Anne Arundel County. This year's October 3rd event will feature 15 and 30-mile paved trail rides and 65 and 100-mile scenic tours, including historic Annapolis, Chesapeake Bay, and more! Click here to learn more.

Residents can view a calendar of upcoming meetings in their area, review site plans and other documents, attend virtual meetings, watch previously recorded meetings, and provide public comments directly to the Office of Planning and Zoning - all through the new Community Meetings website. See a partial list of upcoming meetings below and click here for more details and to view the full calendar.

For media inquiries, please contact Jeff Amoros at [email protected]