Ellicott City Flood Mitigation Proposals Pass Howard Co. Council

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — The Howard County Council approved two measures Monday night to fund plans designed to make Ellicott City safer from flooding. The flood mitigation proposal calls for expanding the stream channel and flood plain around Main Street.

"This plan will save lives and protect the future of Ellicott City," Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman said in a statement Monday night. Kittleman, a Republican, thanked the council for passing the funding measures.

When flash flooding inundated the historic district in May, a man died as he was swept up in the flood waters trying to help someone else. Main Street also experienced a deadly flood in 2016.

The legislation that passed Monday in the council outlined how the county plans to pay for some of the projects in the flood mitigation plan (see the full text at the bottom of the article):

• An order transfers more than $16 million from various capital projects in the FY 2019 capital budget toward flood mitigation in Ellicott City: $15,759,000 to Capital Project C0337, Ellicott City Improvements and Enhancements and $1 million to Capital Project D1175, Valley Mede/Chatham Flood Mitigation.
• A bill authorizes Howard County to borrow money in an aggregate principal amount of up to $15,775,000 on its full faith and credit.

The money being diverted to the flood mitigation plan is coming from two capital projects in particular in the county budget — the Route 1 fire station and East Columbia Library athletic field and site improvements — "because the county is still in negotiations to acquire some or all of the land necessary for those projects," the fund transfer act states.

Two members of the five-person council reportedly voted against the proposals: Councilwoman Jen Terrasa and Councilman Calvin Ball.

Terrasa, a Democrat who represents parts of Columbia, Laurel, Jessup and Savage — said she was concerned the mitigation plan would reduce floodwaters from 6 feet to 4 feet, and possibilities other than demolition of buildings could be more effective, according to WBAL.

Ball — the Democratic candidate for county executive whose district includes parts of Jessup, Elkridge, Columbia and Ellicott City — said he wanted to "keep the money that we have" for "saving lives," such as funding for the Route 1 firehouse.

• Ellicott City Mitigation Plan Met With Flood Of Opinions
• To Save Ellicott City, Tear Down Buildings: Officials
• Ellicott City Flood Plans To Be Announced

The council reportedly did not pass an act making emergency appropriations for FY 2019; that failed because it required four votes, according to the Howard County Times.

Several residents expressed their support at the council meeting for the flood mitigation plan.

One controversial element of the plan was the demolition or removal of more than a dozen buildings, including 10 on lower Main Street in FY 2019, which ends June 30, 2019.

Ellicott City residents show their support for the proposed flood mitigation plan at the County Council Legislative Session @CNSmd pic.twitter.com/hEIhxecs0Q
— Howard R. Fletcher (@fletchDC) October 1, 2018

TAO1-FY19 (1) Fund Transfer by elizabeth on Scribd

CB62 2018 Transfer by elizabeth on Scribd

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Photo by Elizabeth Janney.