Category: County Government

County Announces 22-Acre Preservation in Perry Hall


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced the purchase of a 22.3-acre parcel of land at the northeast corner of Gerst Road and New Gerst Lane in the eastern Perry Hall area, through Maryland’s Program Open Space (POS).

The site was purchased for $3.07 million and is the latest effort under the Olszewski administration to expand park and recreation opportunities throughout Baltimore County.

“Preserving open space in Baltimore County is a vital way to support a high quality of life for residents of all ages,” Olszewski said. “Our administration’s latest acquisition ensures we are creating another vibrant space for the Perry Hall community to enjoy for years to come.”

“Acquisitions such as these not only preserve precious parkland, but provide opportunities for everyone to play where they live and work right now,” said Recreation and Parks Director Roslyn Johnson. “COVID has reinforced how important the outdoors is for both physical and mental health, and we are happy that this site will provide even more green space for Baltimore County.”

“Acquiring this property means this 22-acre site in eastern Perry Hall will be permanently preserved for open space,” Councilman David Marks said. “The County Executive became personally involved in negotiations last year, a role that helped finalize this sale, and I thank the Olszewski Administration for their support.”

This latest acquisition will add significant acreage to the County’s existing network of parks within the densely populated Honeygo Growth Area.

ABOUT PROGRAM OPEN SPACE
Established under the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in 1969, Program Open Space provides financial and technical assistance to local jurisdictions for the planning, acquisition and development of recreation land or open space areas.

Since 1970, the County has utilized nearly $135 million in POS funding to assist in the acquisition of more than 6,800 acres of parkland, and for the construction, enhancement and renovations of recreational facilities at parks and public school recreation centers. The parkland acquisition program has allowed for the preservation of thousands of acres of woodlands, stream valleys and other sensitive lands.

With the support of POS funding, Baltimore County has secured or expanded a wide range of public parks and recreation sites including Oregon Ridge Park and Nature Center, Cromwell Valley Park, Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, seven regional parks and athletic facilities, and dozens of neighborhood and community parks.

County to Change Solid Waste Regulations


The Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation announced several changes to the Bureau of Solid Waste Management’s regulations, including:

Beginning April 1, 2022, the County will require all separate yard material collection to be placed in paper bags and will no longer accept plastic bags for yard waste. This new rule will allow the County to turn more of the yard waste collected into compost, and will allow for a higher quality of compost material, which is available for free to County residents to use in their landscaping or gardens. This update fulfils a recommendation of the County’s Solid Waste Work Group.

To assist with this transition, the County will provide residents with paper yard material bags at no cost. Paper bags will be available for pick-up at all County trash and recycling drop-off centers, all Baltimore County Public Library branches, all County senior centers. Paper bags will be limited to five per person and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The County will accept larger weight and capacity limits for trash and recycling containers (up to 45 pounds and 45 gallon cans) as well as the ability to use containers compatible with mechanical cart tippers.

The County will introduce a new “sliding” schedule for collection holidays. Starting January 1, 2022, scheduled collection days which falls on or after a holiday will generally “slide” to one day later that week. This “slide” will apply to all types of collections (trash, recycling and yard material), meaning that residents will no longer have to hold recyclables for an extra week after a holiday.

The County will introduce a bulk collection program starting in early 2022. More details will be released in the coming months.

The County will update language to better reflect current programing at the County’s three drop-off centers, including accepted recyclables and the location of the household hazardous waste collection area at the Central Acceptance Facility.

Further details about these changes will be available in December, when the County mails new 2022 program guides to residents.

Specific collection calendars will also be included in this mailing, which will clearly outline the new holiday “slide” collection days.

For more information about Bureau of Solid Waste Management regulations, visit baltimorecountymd.gov/solidwaste.

Gunpowder Elementary Dedicates Playground to Amy Caprio


–photo courtesy of Councilman David Marks-

Fallen Officer Amy Caprio was honored with on a playground at Gunpowder Elementary School on Saturday, Oct. 23 in Perry Hall.

The event was attended by Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, state Senate Kathy Klausmeier, Delegates Harry Bhandari Joe Boteler and Carl Jackson and Councilman David Marks.

“Today, our Perry Hall community celebrated the opening of the new Unity Playground at Gunpowder Elementary School, dedicated to Officer Amy Caprio

“In my remarks, I spoke of the twin values of courage and community – the bravery of Officer Caprio when she was murdered on May 21, 2018, and the generosity of spirit shown by our community in the time afterward. We came together to support one another,” Marks said.

“In all my years as a Councilman, this was one of finest projects and among the best dedication ceremonies I have attended. There are so many to thank, but it begins with Kirsten Roller, Matt Clifford and their families from Linwen Way who sparked this project. Children will play, laugh, and learn here for years to come.

“The rain held off, like someone was watching over us.”

9/11 Events Scheduled all over East County


Here are a list of events to remember the victims of 9/11 in eastern Baltimore County on Saturday.

Baltimore County 9/11 Ceremony
To commemorate the events of the 9/11, Baltimore County Police and Baltimore County Government will hold a a wreath laying ceremony tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 11, to honor first responders and remember the lives lost that fateful day 20 years ago.

The ceremony will be held online at 9:30 a.m.

To watch the ceremony go to, facebook.com/BaltCoGov.

9/11 Memorial at Essex Volunteer Fire Company
The Essex Volunteer Fire Company will unveil a newly constructed memorial to honor the victims of 9/11. The event will be held at 11 a.m. at the Essex Volunteer Fire Company, 1449, Sussex Road in Essex.

9/11 Remembrance Bell Tolling Ceremony

Local firefighters and police officers remember the 345 firefighters and 72 police officers who gave their all on 9/11 at a ceremony at McAvoy’s Sports Bar & Grill between 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.

The event is at 2531 Putty Hill Avenue in Parkville.

9-11 Tribute @ The Watersedge Fall Festival

There will be a 9-11-2001 tribute at the Watersedge Fall Festival on Saturday September 11, 2021 promptly at 5:30 pm at Watersedge Park

The Post 38 Honor Guard will present the colors followed by The Pledge of Allegiance , The National Anthem and a moment of silence to remember those who lost their lives on that horrible day ! A piece of steel from the remnants of the North Tower will be on site at the front of the stage .

This event will be held on the stage of the Watersedge Fall Festival 2021

West Perry Hall Water System to be Upgraded


Councilman David Marks reported that preparations are being made to improve the water system in western Perry Hall, The project calls for restoring a decaying network that has experienced numerous leaks over the past two years.

“Baltimore County will begin replacing 4,000 feet of water line in parts of Seven Courts Drive, Pinedale Drive, Proctor Lane and Gunview Road before the end of this year. Contractors will replace 4- and 16-inch diameter pre-stressed concrete pipe with ductile-iron pipe in a project which is anticipated to take between three and six months to compete and cost $1.5 million,” Marks explained.

The councilman added there has been a delay in this projects because of supply issues and added that residents in the area will receive updates about temporary water shutoffs and parking changes that will be needed to facilitate progress. Driving lanes disturbed by construction will be resurfaced at the end of the job.

“This project was a big priority for me in the last budget, along with the four-mile resurfacing of Joppa Road. While it may be inconvenient, improvements must be made to end the chronic leaks that are disrupting everyday life,” Marks said.

For more information, contact the Department of Public Works and Transportation at engineering@baltimorecountymd.gov.

County Opens New Senior Fitness Center in Dundalk


–photo courtesy of Baltimore County Facebook-

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski joined the Fleming Senior Center in Dundalk and the Baltimore County Department of Aging for the grand opening of their new fitness studio on Friday, Aug. 27.

“Physical health is such an important part of our well-being, and we’re excited to provide our seniors with the resources they need to thrive,” Olszewski said.

County to Give Grants to Local Organizations


Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced that Baltimore County and the Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) have awarded more than $2.47 million in grants to over 50 local community-based organizations to support their recovery and enhance efforts to strengthen neighborhood resiliency.

“Baltimore County is home to so many dedicated community organizations working every day to create opportunities for our residents and supporting our diverse neighborhoods,” Olszewski said. “Thanks to these new grants, we are proud to provide millions to support the recovery of these organizations, allowing them to continue providing services on behalf of our residents for years to come.”

Announced in May 2021, the Baltimore County COVID-19 Nonprofit Recovery Grant Fund offered grants of $10,000 to $100,000 to Baltimore County community-based organizations to support residents amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Funds will be used to support a diverse range of community efforts, such as emergency shelter and advocacy services for victims of domestic violence, support for food pantry expansions, installation of ADA compliant bathroom upgrades, mobile vaccination efforts, community financial counseling programs, and much more. Additionally, funds will help cover revenue reductions or operating expense increases that have occurred due to the pandemic.

The Baltimore County COVID-19 Nonprofit Recovery Grant Fund is supported by Baltimore County’s allocation of Maryland Recovery Now funding and is administered through a partnership with BCF.

“Baltimore County’s community organizations have exemplified time and again their ability to respond, innovate and support families’ survival and quality of life needs,” said Shanaysha Sauls, BCF President & CEO. “It was both natural and seamless to partner with County Executive Olszewski’s administration to steward these funds, achieve the program’s goals and do our part to help our region and its residents emerge from this pandemic safely and more resilient.”

Here is a list of some of the Baltimore County Emergency Response Fund awardees in eastern Baltimore County:

  • Baltimore County Sailing Center
  • Bowley’s Quarters Improvement Association, Inc
  • Dundalk Renaissance Corporation
  • Family Crisis Center of Baltimore County, Inc
  • Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library
  • Glenn L. Martin Maryland Aviation Museum
  • Harford Park Community Association
  • Holy Trinity Episcopal
  • Middlesex Health Center
  • Sparrows Point North Point Historical Society
  • Sussex Community Association Inc

The COVID-19 Nonprofit Recovery Fund is the latest in a series of partnerships between Baltimore County and BCF. In March 2020, the County and BCF launched the Baltimore County COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, which provided 50 local community-based organizations grants totaling $400,000 to enhance the County’s response to the COVID-19 crisis last summer.

In June 2021, the County and BCF established a fund to support the Baltimore County Summer Youth Jobs Program, providing skills training, coaching and paid work experience at public and private sector organizations for 300 Baltimore County youth.

Baltimore County Renews State of Emergency

One Councilman Questions Purpose of the Announcement

As jurisdictions across Maryland and nationwide continue to experience rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases amid the contagious Delta variant, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski  declared a local state of emergency to expand Baltimore County’s ability to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Olszewski previously declared a local state of emergency on March 13, 2020, which remained in effect until July 9, 2021.

“Government has an obligation to do all we can to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our residents. While we’ve made undeniable progress in our fight against this deadly virus, the rapid emergence of the Delta variant has made it clear that we need access to every tool in our toolbox to be able to respond to it,” Olszewski said.

“We remain committed to doing whatever is necessary to keep our residents as safe as possible and to ensure that when our children go back to school next week they can remain where they belong: inside the classroom.”

Baltimore County has been a leader in efficiently and effectively delivering vaccines to residents, with 74 percent of County residents aged 12 and older having received at least one dose.

However, since July 30, 2021, the 7-day case rate in Baltimore County has increased 376 percent, pushing Baltimore County within the CDC’s “substantial” transmission zone (50-99 cases per 100,000 residents) as vaccination rates vary from community to community.

The new local State of Emergency issued today will give Baltimore County the ability to quickly adopt emergency public health measures to protect the safety and wellbeing of residents, assist the County in requesting additional resources from the state and federal governments to support response and recovery efforts, and quickly procure materials and supply necessary for protecting public health.

The Baltimore County Council will hold a vote to consider continuation of the County’s state of emergency beyond August 31 in the coming days.

“Despite our best efforts to combat COVID-19 and vaccinate our residents, the continued spread of the Delta variant is deeply concerning and I applaud the County Executive’s leadership in declaring this local state of emergency,” Council Chairman Julian Jones said.

“I am certain my colleagues will agree that we must take every step to protect our residents by ensuring our government has all the tools to protect the public’s health, and I will convene an emergency council meeting to extend the local state of emergency within the next week.”

Seventh Councilman Todd Crandell said not all members of the Baltimore County Council were consulted on the decision to renew Baltimore County’s State of Emergency and he questions the significations of the decision.

“It appears that only certain Council members were made aware of the County Executive’s announcement of a new Local State of Emergency. I was not one of them, so currently I am not able to explain the reasoning behind the announcement. I now will have to ask the same questions I asked in the past, as the Local State of Emergency gives the County Executive powers to control aspects of commerce, public gatherings, and transportation. That’s it,” Crandell wrote on social media.

“There is no language in anything we researched, nor has the Administration proven to us, that a Local State of Emergency is necessary to procure state and federal aid to respond to the pandemic. In fact, the County has been operating without a State of Emergency with no slowing of its response for the last six weeks.”

Masks Required Again on Baltimore County Facilities


As jurisdictions across Maryland and throughout the country continue to experience increasing COVID-19 cases amid the Delta variant, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski today announced that County employees and the general public will be required to wear masks inside all County offices and facilities, effective Friday, August 13.

“This commonsense step will help limit the spread of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of our workforce and visitors to our buildings and facilities,” said Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski. “I thank our dedicated employees for helping us keep each other, our loved ones, and our community safe. We continue to closely monitor key metrics and the advice of scientific experts and remain committed to taking whatever steps are necessary to protect public health.”

This action aligns with recently updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recommends that individuals, regardless of vaccination status, should wear masks indoors in areas with “substantial” or “high” community transmission. Baltimore County’s COVID-19 case rate is now within the CDC’s substantial transmission zone (50-99 cases per 100,000 residents).  
 
“We must use all the tools in our arsenal to defeat this deadly virus,” said Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch. “We are working to get the vaccine into the arms of all of our eligible residents. Until that is accomplished, wearing masks inside County facilities will go a long way toward decreasing the spread.”
 
Baltimore County will continue to make efforts to provide vaccinations to the public a top priority in order to slow the spread of the virus and combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Baltimore County has consistently been a leader in efficiently and effectively delivering vaccines to residents, with more than 72 percent of County residents aged 12 and older receiving at least one dose.

Marks to Hold Meeting for Citizens on Patrol Set Up


Baltimore County Councilman David Marks and Eastern Perry Hall Citizens on Patrol will hold an online meeting to discuss how neighborhoods can implement effective Citizens on Patrol programs. The meeting will be held Monday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m.

This meeting is a follow-up to the initial meeting in December 2019 in which neighborhoods in eastern Perry Hall discussed the need for more Citizens on Patrol programs.

“I will be hosting an informational meeting tonight for residents who want to create their own Citizens on Patrol programs. While the primary focus is eastern Perry Hall, anyone may join who is interested in starting one of these units, Mark said about the meeting. For more information, go to the event’s Facebook page.

To attend the meeting go to the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8352699248

Meeting ID: 835 2699 2481
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