As I type this, the coronavirus numbers continue to improve locally and nationally. The decline in the number of cases has really been stunning. We have vaccinated over 10% of Frederick County residents and a similar number of Maryland residents. I can’t express to you how overjoyed and uplifted my children were in returning to the classroom (at least 2 days per week). I am extremely hopeful that the worst is behind us. We will have to start changing our mindset into a post-vaccine mindset where we don’t need to fear being around other people.

It appears that March will be a robust vaccination month with the expected approval of a third vaccine and increased production on the two approved vaccines that we have readily available. It does take persistence to find a vaccine, but it pays off as there are many channels now to receive one -- the Frederick Health Department, Giant, CVS, the Frederick Health Hospital, and soon to be four mass vaccination sites with a fifth promised Western Maryland site being announced in March. There has been nothing but positive news on the vaccines which are extremely effective at preventing COVID and perhaps as importantly, keeping vaccinated people from even having to visit a hospital.

In more routine Council matters, in February, the County Council approved an annexation of two properties owned by the Town of Emmittsburg off Creamery Road that include the Town’s Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Town’s solar field totalling 85 acres. The Town may plant 11 acres of trees in the annexed area to improve the pollutant discharge.

The Council also approved creation of an Immigrant Affairs Commission, sponsored by Council Member Fitzwater, that will help the county communicate with immigrant communities. It should be noted that this bill was heavily amended to ensure that the Commission is focused on county level issues and isn’t tempted to wade into the national immigration debates.

Additionally, the Council passed an ordinance to implement Kari’s Law. Kari’s Law is named after a 2013 tragedy where Kari Hunt took her children to meet her estranged husband at a Texas motel where she was assaulted and killed. One of her young daughters attempted to call 911 from the hotel room, but was not able to get an outside line because she failed to dial a 9 first. The Maryland state law requires that multi-line telephone systems have a direct dial for 911 without having to access an outside line first.

We appointed members to the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council to make recommendations to the Council on how to best address this important issue. We also heard an interim report from the Climate Change Commission -- I will be keeping a close eye on their recommendations to make sure that there aren’t negative consequences to the general public from their findings.