Latest news with #EllicottCitySafeandSound
CBS News
17-03-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Howard County removes 100,000 pounds of debris from Ellicott City watershed over 6 years
Howard County's Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan allowed for the removal of 100,000 pounds of debris from channels in and around the city since it launched in 2018, County Executive Calvin Ball said Monday. The county launched the plan after Ellicott City was hit by deadly floods in 2011, 2016 and 2018, which destroyed Main Street. County Executive Ball said the county enhanced stream inspection and debris removal following severe windstorms that impacted Maryland in mid-February. "This storm debris, if not removed from our waterways, can create detrimental blockages during our next major rainfall, resulting in flooding of our vulnerable stream channels," Ball said. "These waterway inspections and debris removal efforts are critical elements to ensuring the safety of our Historic Ellicott City residents, business owners, and visitors during severe weather events." Under the flood mitigation plan, debris is removed after any weather event that brings two or more inches of rain within a 24-hour period or after sustained winds of more than 30 mph. Before the Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan, waterways were only inspected on a quarterly or semi-quarterly basis. Under the plan, all vulnerable waterways are inspected within three business days and all debris is removed within 14 days of an inspection. Since launching the plan in 2018, the Howard County Department of Public Works has carried out 26 debris removal events, clearing more than 100,00 pounds of debris. The county broke ground on the latest of seven flood control projects in June 2024. Two retention ponds have already been completed and a third is expected to be operational by fall 2025. The mile-long North Tunnel project will be able to collect and carry 26,000 gallons of stormwater per second, diverting it away from Ellicott City's Main Street. In early February , County Executive Ball said funding was secured for all of the projects that have started, but the tightening of the state budget and the Trump administration's effort to cut federal spending has caused some concern. "We are seeing, through numerous executive orders uncertainty about funding, whether it's to our nonprofits or just federal funding overall," Ball said. Last week, County Executive Ball shared renewed concerns about funding cuts, saying the Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan relies on federal funding. Ball said the plan costs about $250 million with a third of it being supported by federal funds. According to Ball, funding for the flood mitigation plan includes a $75 million WIFIA loan from the Environmental Protection Agency and $20 million in funding from FEMA. As of March 12, at least $20 million in FEMA funds have been frozen. "Uncertainty about federal funding places Howard County in an extremely precarious position, assuming tremendous financial risk," Ball said.
CBS News
13-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Howard County Executive Ball discusses local impact of federal workforce and funding cuts during Senate hearing
During a Senate committee hearing Wednesday, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball discussed the impacts that federal workforce and funding cuts would have on infrastructure and public safety in the county and state. Since taking office in January, President Trump has launched an effort to reduce federal spending and make the government more efficient with the help of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force led by Elon Musk. The task force said it is dedicated to rooting out government waste and fraud, according to CBS News. A recent spike in layoffs has been attributed, in part, to DOGE's federal workforce reduction strategy. CBS News reported that layoffs in February reached their highest levels since 2020. The most recent round of layoffs targeted the Department of Education, leading to a 50% cut in its workforce. DOGE has also directed several funding freezes and cuts, prompting concerns and leading to more workforce cuts for some. Some of these actions have been blocked by federal judges in ongoing legal battles. Howard County impacts During Wednesday's hearing led by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), County Executive Ball testified that DOGE's actions would impact critical infrastructure, public safety and government operations in Howard County. The county executive thanked senators for "...holding Elon Musk and the White House accountable for the drastic actions it's taken in the form of funding freezes, undermining money-saving energy secure projects and eliminating jobs nationwide." According to Ball, if federal aid to Howard County is frozen or cut, the estimated impact could reach more than $150 million. "These actions have very real consequences - many of which will negatively impact Americans' lives and our national and local economy," Ball testified. The county executive explained that the Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan – which launched in 2018 after deadly floods in 2011, 2016 and 2018 destroyed Main Street – relies on federal funding. The funding plan includes a $75 million WIFIA loan from the Environmental Protection Agency and $20 million in funding from FEMA. According to Ball, the Ellicott City Safe and Sound plan costs about $250 million, with ⅓ being supported by federal funding. As of Wednesday, March 12, at least $20 million in FEMA funds have been frozen. "Uncertainty about federal funding places Howard County in an extremely precarious position, assuming tremendous financial risk," Ball said. More than $4 million in funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program was also paused, jeopardizing electric vehicle charging projects that were planned for the county in partnership with the Maryland Department of Transportation, according to Ball. Howard County has tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors, according to Ball. The county receives the second-highest amount of federal contracting dollars in Maryland, which totaled $6.1 billion in 2024. Ball said an estimated 30,000 federal workers in Maryland have been fired, eliminated or resigned. Howard County shares resources for federal workers Since layoffs and workforce cuts began, Howard County has created several initiatives and shared resources for impacted federal workers. In early March, the county expanded workforce development resources by creating job fairs and offering career counseling services. The county also created a business resource expo and launched a helpline for federal workers who need assistance.
