February 27, 2019
Media Contact:
Scott L. Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412
ELLICOTT CITY – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball delivered his first-ever State of The County Address this afternoon before the Howard County Chamber of Commerce at Turf Valley Resort. The theme of the speech, “Our Time Is Now,” reflected his sense of urgency in improving Howard County and his commitment to building a truly equitable and inclusive community. The full text of the speech can be found at https://bit.ly/2NBEtw8. Video of the event can be found at https://youtu.be/M_CyiCoALX0. Photos from the event can be found at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmB7D59g
“We are listening to concerns, finding solutions and utilizing innovative practices for every part of Howard County,” said Ball, “and accepting all the challenges before us, without delay.”
Ball structured his address according to the challenges highlighted in his community listening sessions and transition team report. “To fully understand the concerns of our residents, we did something that sometimes politicians are not well known for – we listened,” said Ball. “During our first 60 days, we also hosted nine listening sessions around our County and through social media. Over 800 residents participated and we received nearly 600 comments.”
On economic issues, Ball urged fiscal caution and highlighted the maintenance of Howard County’s AAA Bond Rating as a top priority. On community development, Ball talked about finding “a balance between continuing to invest in new development and preserving the quality of our communities, integrity of our infrastructure, and natural beauty of our county.” Ball also called Howard County’s school system our county’s “calling card,” and pledged action to improve outcomes and fight overcrowding.
The address featured a strong commitment to environmental protection and climate action, with a focus on addressing the devastating flooding of Ellicott City. The Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan “is a multi-phase plan built around the need for public safety, supporting business, and creating a more community-driven process for decisions regarding Ellicott City’s future.” To emphasize his commitment to all Howard County residents, Ball’s address featured his policies to address poverty, mental health challenges, and addiction. He also called attention to the impact of the federal government shutdown on Howard County families.
The speech wove together a pragmatic picture of governance, with vision for a better future. “Despite the challenges we face, the State of Howard County is strong,” said Ball, “and we are only going to grow stronger.”