Today, County Executive Calvin Ball signed an Executive Order that extends the deadline for licenses, permits, registrations, and other authorizations issued by Howard County. Deadlines are extended for 30 days after the Maryland State of Emergency by the Governor is terminated.

The Howard County Health Department announced three new confirmed cases of coronavirus this afternoon. A man in his 40s who is on dialysis in the hospital, a woman in her 70s who is now self-isolating at home and another man in his 50s with underlying health conditions who is also self-isolating at home. This brings the total cases in Howard County to four.

The Howard County Health Department (HCHD) today announced the first confirmed case of COVID-19 commonly referred to as coronavirus in Howard County. The patient is a woman in her 80s who has underlying health conditions and is currently in the hospital. County Executive Calvin Ball held a news conference today, where he declared a State of Emergency. Ball directed the Mall in Columbia to close for at least the next seven days effective midnight tonight. This includes all businesses with the exception of restaurants with external access. Ball also instructed the Shops at Savage Mill and two movie theaters, Regal Snowden Square and AMC Columbia to close effective at midnight. Video can be found here.

Today, County Executive Calvin Ball gathered County officials and community stakeholders to announce new measures in response to the coronavirus.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has announced that the Residents’ Budget Hearing, previously planned for Thursday, March 12th, will now be hosted virtually on March 30th at 6 pm.  The hearing will be livestreamed online for those interested in watching remotely.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has announced new guidance that will limit Howard County Government meetings and events for the next 45 days.

A County Department of Recreation & Parks project to improve the parking lot, sidewalks and stormwater management controls at South Branch Park in Sykesville, is expected to begin Monday, March 16. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by early July.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, in coordination with the Howard County Department of Health, has canceled the Resident’s Budget Hearing that was planned for Thursday, March 12th.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced today the decision to cancel all official out-of-state travel for County employees for the next 45 days to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in Maryland.

A Howard County construction project to improve a stormwater management pond near 8409 Sweet Cherry Lane in Laurel is scheduled to begin on or about Monday, March 16. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by late October. 

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is seeking adult and student applicants to serve on the Human Rights Commission. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, March 31, 2020.

Howard County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a public meeting on Monday evening, where the Army Corps presented their review of the County’s flood mitigation plan for Ellicott City.

Howard County’s Department of Public Works will hold a public meeting on Thursday, March 12 to discuss plans to stabilize an unnamed tributary to the Little Patuxent River at a site behind 3951-3959 Ducks Foot Lane. The project is expected to begin early September 2020.

Today, County Executive Calvin Ball gathered top officials from the County, the Howard County Health Department, and the Howard County General Hospital to address Howard County’s coronavirus prevention and preparedness efforts. There are currently no confirmed coronavirus cases in Howard County or the state of Maryland.

NULL

County Executive Calvin Ball will host a press conference on Wednesday, March 4th at 11:30 a.m. at the George Howard Building to address Howard County’s coronavirus prevention and preparedness efforts. There are currently no confirmed coronavirus cases in Howard County or the state of Maryland.

Howard County residents Barbara Allen, Evelyn Darden, Lori Fuchs, Terri Hill and Tracey Williams are the newest inductees into the County’s Women’s Hall of Fame. 

Today, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball released the Spending Affordability Advisory Committee’s Report for the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21).

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will attend the grand opening of The African Art Museum of Maryland on February 29, 2002 at its new location in Long Reach Village Center in Columbia.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced plans today to provide free lunch and snacks to students during the week of spring break, April 6-9th, in partnership with the Howard County Public School System, the Department of Community Resources and Services, Howard County Library System and Roving Radish.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will award eight innovation grants to local organizations throughout the first week of March. Ball announced the $225,000 Innovation Fund last year to stimulate unique and creative ideas within Howard County.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is currently seeking a student applicant who is interested in serving on the Recreation & Parks Advisory Board. Comprised of eight members, including one student, the Board provides recommendations relating to plans, policies and programs for public recreation, and reviews plans for and holds hearings on the acquisition and development of land for public recreation and open space. The student board member will serve a one-year term from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball will hold his second Residents’ Budget Hearing for the FY2021 budget cycle on Thursday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball delivered the inaugural Howard County “State of Business” address at the Turf Valley Resort on Tuesday. Ball highlighted Howard County’s record low unemployment rate of 2.5 percent, a highly educated workforce, and the excellent quality of life in Howard County. He noted that despite the good economy, Howard County is looking at an “age of opportunity” to stay competitive in the region and the nation.

The Governor’s Office on Crime Control and Prevention has recently awarded the Howard County Department of Corrections, the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Howard County Sheriff’s Office more than $233,000 for sixteen programs that offer inmate reentry, attorney training, police recruitment and retention, and other critical support.