The Board of County Commissioners met on September 17, 2026, for an open session that included recognitions, proclamations, presentations, and votes on several zoning text amendments and purchases. Key actions included approval of a $20 million bond resolution, adoption of subdivision text amendments for cluster subdivisions, accessory dwelling units, and age-restricted communities, and approval of bylaw updates for advisory councils. The meeting also featured presentations on the Aging Your Way Expo and Economic Development Week, as well as recognition of a retiring county painter and proclamations for Literacy Month and Constitution Week.
Open session for the border county commissioners. As we always do what we're beginning with the project and a moment of silent reflection. Invisible with liberty and justice for all. I hope everybody's doing well today, and I cannot believe we're already halfway through September. So first up with Priority Carol today, Commissioner Krebs, I believe you're first. Well, lucky for you, I'm losing my voice. Was that planned? Um in the spirit of that. Yesterday I had a chance to go up to Pineymp Park, and I haven't seen it yet with all the new additions there, and I should have mentioned that to our reckon park director because uh he was just in our meeting. But they have new pickleball courts, and we they have a new um playground, and they have new resurface basketball courts. They're like 50 years old. They needed it. So it was beautiful. It was a beautiful day, and I played with a bunch of senior citizens, about 60, 70 people there had to leave. But um shows you that uh old is the new young. So we appreciate having that opportunity. So that that's what I did. That's all I can remember. Losing my voice. Well, thank you very much, Commissioner. Uh Commissioner Gor Garrin, you didn't have anything, Commissioner Gordon. Okay, thank you very much. Um, I wanted to mention today, September 17th. We celebrate the signing of the U.S. Constitution, which was done in Philadelphia September 17th of 1787. Uh, believe it's an incredibly important to recognize this document that establish the framework of our government, protects individual rights, and and continues to guide our nation. Constitution began with three powerful words, we the people. Those words remind us that our government exists to serve the people and that the responsibility of citizenship are just as important as the rights we enjoy. Constitution is not simply a historic document, but it's a living foundation that calls upon each generation to understand, respect, and uphold the principles of our Republic. That includes civic engagement, informed participation, and a commitment to the rule of law. I encourage everybody to take a few minutes to to read the Constitution and reflect on the freedoms and responsibilities that it represents for all of us. Last week, uh Matt, if you could switch the slide, please. Last week wanted just to uh talk real briefly. Um three of us attended the uh 25th anniversary of the uh 9-11 uh tragedy. Ceremony was a solemn reminder that even after a quarter of a century, the lives lost and the sacrifices made on that day remained deeply etched in our hearts. We remember the nearly 3,000 innocent people who never made it home and honor the firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical professionals, and countless other citizens who were engaged courageously answering the call that day. Twenty-five years ago in the aftermath of that tragic event, our nation came together in a way that transcended political ideology, personal differences, and many things that can divide us. We stood together as one united country bound by compassion, courage, and a shared love for our fellow Americans. That unity is important to remember as part of September eleventh, and we must never lose sight of that. I wanted to mention uh that that was quite a uh touching event last week. I know some of the speakers yourself included, uh Commissioner Vigliati. I truly appreciated your your comments and also the uh comments you made regarding the uh neighbor that you had from childhood. I I really truly appreciated hearing hearing about that. Thank you very much, Commissioner. Thank you. Also, just really quickly, I'm gonna go down a few other things that I attended this uh this week. Earlier this week, the uh Boys and Girls Club of Carroll County celebrated their 20th anniversary. Uh what a testament to have 20 years of the Boys and Girls Club in Carroll County, starting it at an exceptionally small location up the uh street, very close to McDaniel College, outgrowing that, moving to uh Main Street and being the still being the Boys and Girls Club of Westminster, and just a few years ago changing that name to the Boys and Girls Club of Carroll County with now locations both in Westminster, Hampstead, and then also a number of satellite sites. It's just absolutely wonderful to have that level of commitment from not only the people that work there, but the countless volunteers and students from both McDaniel College and the community college and also our community as a whole. And uh, as many people are aware, there's been quite a few of our uh I think it's at least five or six, I know I'm getting the number wrong, of uh the uh Youth of the Year from Carroll County becoming the State Youth of the Year and representing us both in the State and also nationally.