County News

Queen Anne’s, Talbot Go Purple to Fight Opioid Abuse

Kevin Kinnally County News, Health and Human Services, News You Can Use

The Queen Anne’s County Drug-Free Coalition, in partnership with the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners, the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, and other stakeholders is launching a new campaign to prevent opioid abuse. “QAC Goes Purple” is a substance abuse awareness program that will engage the community and youth to stand against substance abuse.

“Talbot Goes Purple” is an initiative from Talbot County Sheriff’s Office and Tidewater Rotary, in partnership with Talbot County Public Schools and Mid-Shore Community Foundation.

According to a press release:

The project is based upon THP Project Purple, an initiative of The Herren Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation established by former NBA basketball player, Chris Herren, that assists individuals and families struggling with addiction.

The THP Project Purple initiative was launched to break the stigma of addiction, bring awareness to the dangers of substance abuse and encourage positive decision making to navigate life’s challenges.

More information on THP Project Purple is available at www.thpprojectpurple.org.

Let’s Get Crackin’ – #MACoCon Crab Mallets Sponsored by Deep Water Wind

Nicolette Querry County News

DWW Print +Tag Trademarked_2-18MACo thanks Deepwater Wind for sponsoring MACo’s 2018 Summer Conference Crab Feast mallets. The Crab Feast will take place on August 17, 2018, in the parking lot of the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, MD. This ticket-only event features unlimited Maryland fresh crabs, and thanks to Deep Water Wind, a FREE crab mallet souvenir.

0608181603Deepwater Wind is proud to be America’s leading offshore wind developer. The company’s path-breaking Block Island Wind Farm is the first in the nation. Led by a veteran management team with experience in developing complex energy projects worldwide, Deepwater Wind is making offshore wind in America a reality.

Visit Deepwater Wind at booth #432 in Exhibit Hall A/B at MACo ‘s Summer Conference.

Thank you, Deepwater Wind, a Summer Conference Sponsor, for being a County Champion!

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

 

Thanks, AT&T For Sponsoring Our Small Cell Symposium

Nicolette Querry County News

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MACo would like to thank AT&T, a Gold Corporate Partner, for sponsoring MACo’s Small Cell Symposium on June 21, 2018. 

MACo’s annual symposium focuses on a hot topic for county governments. This year, we’re talking about small cell wireless technology. 60+ individuals are expected to attend to connect with peers and explore the challenges and possibilities around small cells

Date: Thursday, June 21, 2018
Time: 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Location: Newton White Mansion
(2708 Enterprise Rd, Mitchellville, MD 20721)

AT&T Inc. helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, business, mobile and high-speed internet services. We offer the nation’s best data network and the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider. We’re one of the world’s largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. Nearly 3.5 million companies, from small to large businesses around the globe, turn to AT&T for our highly secure smart solutions.

Registration is open until Tuesday, June 19, 2018.

  • This symposium is only free for MACo Members (county elected/appointed officials and professionals). REGISTER TODAY
  • Commercial or industry participants must be exhibitors or sponsors to participate.

Stay Tuned – MACo’s Your Source for County Election Coverage & Results

Virginia White County News

Primary elections in Maryland are set for June 26. With early voting numbers already up 53% since 2014, there are sure to be several close elections to cover – MACo will have all the news you need on the county results!

What can you expect from MACo for election coverage?

  • Unbiased, non-partisan coverage of all county, state, and gubernatorial election results
  • County-by-county breakdowns of the Council, Board of Commissioners, and County Executive results
  • Coverage of county elected officials moving to state positions (and vice versa)
  • Podcast episodes discussing interesting and unusual elections and the races to watch
  • Results of any hot topic voter proposals, like changing forms of county government
  • Turnover calculations and an overview sketch of what the county government landscape looks like post-election
  • Announcements of swearing-in ceremonies and transition team appointments

Stay tuned to MACo’s blog and our Conduit Street podcast for unbiased, non-partisan election news, details, and insider tips on what it all means for county government.

Bring Economic Security to Your County with this BPC Workshop

Nicolette Querry County News

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The Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is hosting The Power of Local Innovation: Tackling Economic Insecurity.

WHAT?

BPC has partnered with NACo to address the gamut of problems that can result from economic insecurity.

WHEN?

The event will take place Monday, June 25 from 2 – 4 pm.

WHERE?

The event will be held at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Bipartisan Policy Center
1225 Eye Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005

The presentations will also be broadcast for those unable to make it in person.

WHY ATTEND?

Despite the outward signs of a growing economy, many Americans live on an economic precipice. Stagnant wages, lack of mobility, income volatility, and low savings make it difficult for many individuals and families to gain and sustain economic traction. Although economic insecurity is a national problem, local communities across the nation are developing innovative solutions to tackle its root causes and chronic effects.

Speakers:

Matthew Chase, Executive Director, NACo

Merceria Ludgood, Commissioner, Mobile County, Alabama

Michael Myers, Managing Director, Rockefeller Foundation

Scott Pattison, Executive Director, National Governors Association

Steve Rogers, Sergeant, Lucas County’s Sheriff’s Office, Ohio

Lori Stegmann, Commission, Multnomah County, Oregon

WHAT NOW?

  • Learn more about the program on the event website
  • RSVP to attend or watch the event
  • Join the Twitter conversation with #BPClive

 

Early Voting Numbers Up 53% from 2014

Kevin Kinnally County News, Elections, News You Can Use

June 14th marked the beginning of early voting for Maryland’s primary elections. Maryland voters made a strong showing on the first day of early voting, which will continue through June 21. Primary election day is set for June 26.

According to The Baltimore Sun:

As of 7:30 p.m., more than 31,000 Marylanders have cast ballots on the first day of early voting. This marks a 53 percent increase over 2014, when more than 20,000 Marylanders cast ballots during the first day of early voting.

Only registered voters are eligible to participate in early voting. Anyone not registered may provide proof of residency at their early voting location and register on site.

Read the full article for more information.

Frederick to Sue Opioid Manufacturers, Distributors

Kevin Kinnally County News, Health and Human Services, News You Can Use

Frederick County and The City of Frederick will join many other states, county, and municipal jurisdictions in filing lawsuits against drug manufacturers and distributors for their role in the nationwide crisis. The lawsuits will be filed in the Federal District Court in Baltimore.

According to a press release:

“We need to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for heavily promoting the very prescription drugs that are a key factor in opioid addiction,” said County Executive Jan Gardner. “Frederick County has already devoted a tremendous amount of resources to the opioid crisis. Through this lawsuit we will be better able to help our residents with educational and addiction recovery assistance.”

…

This year there have been 154 opioid-related overdoses handled by law enforcement agencies in Frederick County as of May 31, including 25 fatal overdoses. Frederick County and The City of Frederick retained the law firm Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, which will file the lawsuits on behalf of the jurisdictions.

The firm was also hired by several counties and cities across the United States, including Montgomery and Baltimore Counties. Outside counsel for Anne Arundel, Cecil and Harford have filed similar suits on behalf of their residents, claiming that the pharmaceutical manufacturers intensified the opioid epidemic by minimizing or concealing the risks to doctors and patients about the highly probable addiction associated with its drugs.

The lawsuits will seek restitution for the harm incurred as a result of deceptive and fraudulent marketing practices of several pharmaceutical manufacturers and the failure to report suspicious purchases by certain wholesalers. As a result, these manufacturers and wholesalers have violated federal and state laws.

Read the full article for more information.

Harford Receives Nearly $1M for Waterway Improvement Projects

Kevin Kinnally County News, Environment, State Budget and Fiscal Issues

Harford County was recently awarded $957,250 in state funding to improve waterways in Abingdon and Joppatown. The funding is available for FY19, which begins on July 1, 2018.

According to a press release:

Harford County will manage the following projects and provide matching funds where noted below:

  • Otter Point Creek – Bush River, Abingdon: $750,000 for maintenance dredging
  • Otter Point Creek Boat Launch, Abingdon: $99,000 for repairs to the existing finger piers, boat ramp and adjacent parking lot at Otter Point Creek
  • West Taylors Creek, Joppa: $63,250 plus $63,250 in matching county funding for maintenance dredging of the Taylors Creek channel west of the Mariner Point Park boat ramp
  • Rumsey Island and Taylors Creek Outfall, Joppatowne: $45,000 plus $45,000 in matching county funding for maintenance dredging of the Rumsey Island/Taylors Creek channel to restore access.

“I would like to thank Gov. Hogan and the Maryland General Assembly for their support of these worthy projects,” Harford County Executive Barry Glassman said. “This funding will help us keep boaters safe, promote jobs, and enhance our beautiful waterways for everyone to enjoy.”

Read the full press release for more information.

Cecil Helps Residents Control Noxious Weeds

Kevin Kinnally Agriculture, County News, Environment

Noxious weeds threaten the productive land of farmers and can cause unsightly and unwanted problems in the lawns and gardens of homeowners. As a result of the region experiencing so much rain this Spring, Palmer Amaranth and other noxious weeds are multiplying at an incredible rate.

As a service to County residents, the Cecil County Department of Public Works (DPW), in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Agriculture, operates the weed control program to assist farmers, developers, right-of-way owners, federal, state, and local agencies and other landowners in controlling noxious weeds and certain other invasive species.

According to a press release:

According to the Agriculture Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Thistles, Johnsongrass and Shatter Cane, also known as Wild Cane, have been deemed noxious weeds and are required to be controlled by the county. The state code also defines Rosa Multiflora, or multiflora rose, as a nuisance on land used for agricultural production.

“Noxious and invasive weeds are everyone’s concern. The problem is big and getting bigger,” explained Penhollow. “This year the Thistle is overrunning a lot of areas and I haven’t even made it out of the southern end of the county yet.”

State law requires anyone owning or managing land within the State of Maryland, including public entities, to eradicate or control these noxious weeds on that land. Mowing, cultivating or treating with an approved herbicide are practices that have been approved by the state.

…

The County weed control program, managed by the Roads Division, provides spot and boom spraying of approved herbicides on a fee-for-service basis.

Landowners who opt to utilize the County’s weed control services are billed an hourly rate for labor plus the cost of the herbicides used. Failure to pay for services rendered can result in a lien being placed against the property by the County Finance Department.

Current rates:

  • Farm Land: $55 per hour
  • Non-Farm Land: $100 per hour
  • CRP/CREP Sites: $125 per hour
  • Aquatic Weeds: $150 per hour
  • Invasive Specie: $100 per hour
  • Helper: $25 per hour
  • Minimum Charge: $100

The Weed Control Coordinator provides inspection and noxious weed control services throughout Cecil County from April through November.

Read the full press release for more information.

State Launches “Know Your Zone” Hurricane Preparedness Campaign

Kevin Kinnally County News, Environment, Intergovernmental Relations, News You Can Use

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), in partnership with local emergency managers, is rolling out a new hurricane and severe weather evacuation system designed to ease evacuation in areas subject to tidal floods and storm surge. The evacuation plan is the result of the Maryland hurricane evacuation study, which concluded earlier this year.

According to a press release:

The study identified 3 large areas in Maryland subject to tidal flooding. Know Your Zone aims to bring awareness of the evacuation zones to the forefront of Marylanders’ summer plans and make evacuation notices easier to disseminate.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently released its forecast for the upcoming season and predicted near- to above-normal activity. However, it only takes one storm hitting the mid-Atlantic area to seriously affect Maryland.

The first year of the program will encourage Maryland residents to know the evacuation zone of their residence, business or vacation site. The zones are designated by letters A, B and C.

Zone A areas are the most likely to be impacted by severe flooding in the event of a major storm or hurricane. In future years, the program will focus on refining evacuation routes away from the affected areas. “Proper and timely messaging for evacuations saves lives,” said MEMA Executive Director Russ Strickland. “This new system is designed to make it easier for local emergency managers to evacuate areas by encouraging Marylanders to Know Your Zone before a storm hits.”

The three evacuation zones only affect areas subject to tidal flooding or storm surge – communities at or near the Atlantic Ocean, the Coastal Bays, and the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. That covers 16 Maryland counties along with Annapolis, Baltimore City and Ocean City.

“Hurricane Sandy in 2012 was a wake-up call for the mid-Atlantic region; it could have been Maryland,” said Strickland. “Working with local and federal partners, and using technology that until recently was not available, we studied updated flooding and surge patterns caused by more powerful storms to develop these new evacuation plans.”

If local officials feel an evacuation is needed to protect lives, they will issue the order by zones instead of having to define specific geographic areas. This program is similar to one rolled out last year in neighboring Virginia.

Read the full press release for more information.