(4/2019) It’s been just over 100 days since the new county council and I have been sworn into office. It has been a busy and hectic time and we have already accomplished a lot.

As County Executive, I am committed to making life better for the people who call Frederick County home. I thought I’d share some of the initiatives we have kicked off since Inauguration Day and the accomplishments we have celebrated.

Hope for Recovery/Detox Services:

Like most of our state and country, we have been challenged in Frederick County with overdose and addiction from substance misuse particularly with heroin and opioids. That’s why I am incredibly excited to announce that detox services will soon be available in Frederick County so people can get the help they need.

Last year, I added one time money to the county budget to offer as a start-up grant to encourage a treatment provider to open a medically supervised detox center. I am pleased to announce that the County has awarded a grant to Maryland Treatment Centers to provide medically supervised detox services in two locations. Over the next three months Maryland Treatment Centers will renovate their Mountain Manor site in Emmitsburg adding up to 18 more beds for individuals who need withdrawal and detox services. In addition, the County and Maryland Treatment Centers will be renovating and converting the second floor of the County’s Work Release Center into a separate space with a separate entrance for our new detox center. This location was offered by Sheriff Jenkins to help meet this critical need. This facility will open in 2020 and it will add another 28 beds for detox services.

Together, these two locations will provide 46 new beds for medically supervised detox services in our county. Maryland Treatment Centers was selected, in part because of its experience serving the uninsured, underinsured and indigent, who have a difficult time accessing substance use recovery services.

Medically supervised detox services will allow individuals to safely recover from withdrawal under the supervision of medical providers. The goal is to then find appropriate ongoing substance treatment so individuals and families can move to full recovery. Recovery from addiction is a long and challenging process but there is hope for recovery. We can all be proud that working together, individuals and families will no longer have to leave the county or state to find the services they need. I am so glad that we are able to make this happen for our loved ones who are struggling with addictions.

Good New for Children.

We often hear the adage that our children are our future. When children experience trauma, their ability to learn and grow is impacted. Our community recently launched an innovative program called "Handle with Care." When a child has witnessed a traumatic event, their schools are alerted by first responders. Educators are not provided with details of the incident but are made aware that a student may be coming to school experiencing the impacts of a traumatic event. This will enable our teachers and educators to offer extra support, without knowing details, so the child can better heal with as little long-term impact as possible. It takes a village.

Local Legislation to Address Growth.

Growth is without a doubt a hot topic in Frederick County. My goal is to make sure we managing growth better, learn from our past mistakes, and protect what we love for future generations.

• I proposed legislation to require enhanced public benefits – such as a school or school addition, a regional road improvement, parkland, or other benefit - as part of any new developer agreements. The County Council is currently considering these proposed amendments for Developer Rights and Responsibility Agreements.

• I recently appointed an Adequate Public Facilities committee which has already met to review real time school enrollment, capacity data, and trends and to make recommendations to strengthen our local laws to avoid school overcrowding.

• The Planning Commission held its final public hearing on the Livable Frederick Master Plan which will now go to the County Council for their public process. Livable Frederick is a new innovative approach to comprehensive planning that uses new technology and a policy based approach to ensuring a bright and prosperous future. Livable Frederick puts citizens in charge.

Going Green, Saves Green

Frederick County recently broke ground on a new solar project that will reduce our carbon footprint and support a more sustainable county. The solar project is located on county property near the Ballenger McKinney wastewater treatment plant, where a waste-to-energy facility was once proposed. When we go green, we save green. Stay tuned for an announcement about a second county solar project.

Advocating in Annapolis

During the Maryland General Assembly session, I have been in Annapolis regularly advocating for education and school construction funding, more paratransit for our seniors, Next Generation 9-1-1, and the need for a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to hold down the high price of medications. As Chair of the Maryland Association of Counties' Legislative Committee, I have been asked to testify on several bills that will benefit Frederick County citizens. I expect Frederick County to receive more state dollars for education for our students as well as for school construction. The legislative session ends on Monday, April 8.

Celebrating Our Accomplishments

In these first 100 days, we've had lots to celebrate! I am proud to tell you about the following:

• Frederick County and Fort Detrick officials traveled to the Pentagon to be recognized with one of only seven U.S. Army Community Partnership Awards in the nation, based on our collaborative initiatives for emergency communications dispatch and solid waste management.
• Our business innovation center, ROOT, earned the 2018 Urban County Innovations Award from the Maryland Association of Counties.
• Our Division of Parks & Recreation won three statewide awards: the landscape site award for Point of Rocks Community Commons; best activity guide for the winter Recreater; and best social media campaign for its scavenger hunt, "Weihnachtsgurke in the Woods."
• The Kids Like Us art therapy program at our Health Department earned an Innovation Now Award from the Addiction Policy Forum. The Kids Like Us program works with children from families that have a member suffering with an addiction.
• Our business incubator, The Frederick Innovative Technology Center Inc., also known as FITCI, marked 15 years of successfully helping entrepreneurs bring their big ideas to life adding over 800 full-time jobs to Frederick County.
• We have also celebrated major milestones in our business and volunteer communities. Numerous fire and rescue companies held banquets, including an impressive 125th anniversary for Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company Inc. Frederick Mutual Insurance Company marked an amazing 175 years of doing business in our community!

Budget

On April 15th, I will present my proposed 2020 budget. These past few months have been very busy meeting with county divisions, holding public hearing, and formulating and developing a balanced budget proposal that best balances the needs of our growing community. I have reached out to the public with meetings and an online survey to makes sure the county budget reflects our community's priorities and values. I received thousands of responses to the survey. At public hearings, I heard from many people asking for more funding for the animal shelter, education, seniors, and our libraries. Individuals have also sent letters and emails advocating for their priorities. The list of budget requests and appeals that I have received and have considered is available on the County’s website at www.FrederickCountyMD.gov/budget.

Our budget will be fiscally responsible and will reflect community priorities and value for education, public safety, good roads, parks and libraries and will value our hardworking county employees.

If you have something to share, please contact me at jgardner@FrederickCountyMD.gov or call 301-600-3190