The Carroll County Board of Commissioners held an open session on December 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. in Room 311 of the County Office Building. The meeting began with recognitions of retiring employees and proceeded through a full agenda including routine approvals, a major discussion on zoning code review, and a series of temporary development deferrals in the Freedom Designated Growth Area. After extensive debate, the board voted on four deferral ordinances, approved a public hearing for water and sewer plan amendments (with one exception), and took action on several procurement and contract items.
As always, we will begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. And to the Republic for which she stands, indivisible liberty and justice world. So given that we have quite a uh full agenda today and quite a number of people that we want to honor this morning. Uh the commissioners have all consented to foregoing priority carol, and they've asked me to make sure that I wish everybody a Merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah, and a happy new year, and God bless. And so uh first of all, I'm going to read uh two very brief uh bios of two individuals uh who are going to be retiring who are not able to join us today. And then all my colleagues have proclamations or I'm sorry, certificates for those who are able to join us today. So first of all, for uh Wendy S. Armstrong, who has 20 years as superintendent of wastewater treatment. Uh she was instrumental in Hampstead wastewater treatment plant upgrade completion, and God bless, and the best to you. And then also Timothy S. Petrie, who has 28 years in fleet management, uh shop foreman for 21 years, and uh two-time winner of the regional dump truck rodeos with other counties. So we'll very uh we're very glad uh for that that distinction, and we're certainly going to uh miss having you both around. Uh and then so next we have Karen Brown. And who has Karen? I was it I think that's I believe it's Commissioner Fowler. Oh it's no commissioners. Good morning. Good morning. So we're here this morning to recognize uh one of the permits and inspection staff members. Um each year the Maryland Building Officials Association has their annual business meeting, and at that meeting they uh award excess excellent service awards for uh inspector of the year, uh plans reviewer of the year, and permit technician of the year. This year uh we're honored to uh mention it uh bring to you that Karen Brown uh received the uh permit technician of the year award. Um she's been here four and a half years, she's been a very valuable member of our team. Uh she she brings positive attitude and uh work ethic and collaborative spirit to everything she does. Um we're happy to have her and we're happy to uh let you know she was given this award. Congratulations on that. Thank you. Was it was it difficult to get to that point? Was it difficult to achieve? I had a lot to learn. Um I decided four and a half years ago to do a career change. So the staff in the permit and inspections office is all very helpful. Um they played a key part in me getting to this point. Awesome. I want to thank you too, because often our citizens do this like once in their life. They don't really know what to do. And it's helpful to have somebody help walk walk them through it, make sure they dotted their eyes and crosses across their T's. And I will say one of the reasons I believe she's got this award is because she's taken a lot of initiative to go out on her own and and get more customer service skills. Umor herself up for those skills. Um she brings a lot to the forward facing of the community to for a good experience when they come to our office. And that that's that's very meaningful because it is a difficult sometimes. You go to get a permit to put a set up or you go to put something up and you really don't know what you're doing, and having someone willing to do that, not having to hire someone to draw the line on the map for you to put your it's it's very appreciated to to help our citizens. So thank you. We're here to serve our citizens. Yes. Yeah. Yeah, thank you very much. Any anybody who steps into your office, I mean, just the amount of work going on there, the amount of plans that you're getting from the municipalities and in addition to just people that you know aren't living within the towns, you handle all that. It's a lot of work, so thank you very much. Oh, gentlemen, you want to do a picture? Absolutely.