Carroll County environmental council reviews 2024 work, proposes 2025 outreach and to study transmission-line impacts

The Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council on Wednesday reviewed its 2024 annual report with the Board of County Commissioners and presented a 2025 work plan that emphasizes homeowner outreach on water conservation, food-waste reduction and a new program called "Climate Resilience in Your Own Backyard." Commissioner members also asked the council to analyze potential environmental impacts and mitigation options for a proposed transmission line that could cross county land.

Craig Paskowski, chair of the Carroll County Environmental Advisory Council, summarized the panel's 2024 work and said the group’s outreach materials were aimed at residents. "One of the first things that we did was this public outreach piece on water conservation," Paskowski said, describing materials distributed after the county experienced drought warnings last year.

The nut graf: the EAC told commissioners that most 2024 efforts were educational — printed guides, public-event tables and targeted handouts — while the board pressed the council to apply its expertise to county-scale risks, including a transmission-line review and potential cost-saving changes to park and roadside mowing practices.

The council highlighted three primary 2024 projects: a water-conservation outreach packet aimed at spring and summer household use; a "reduce food waste at home" flyer with tips and local resource links; and outreach to Scout organizations to coordinate cleanups and volunteer efforts. The group also compiled its Environmental Stewardship booklet, which it updates every other year, and ran tours and briefings, including a landfill tour and a briefing from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on regional climate trends.

Craig Paskowski said the food-waste pamphlet lists practical tips and resources but acknowledged the council cannot easily measure direct behavior change. He also noted a 2024 visit from the Maryland Department of the Environment that covered laws and regulations on food waste.

Commissioners praised the council’s outreach and asked the EAC to take on two new, board-requested items. Commissioner Mike Aaron commended the council’s materials and membership: "Everything you've put together is actually fantastic," Aaron said. Several commissioners asked the EAC to examine whether county operations could both save money and reduce environmental impacts — an example repeatedly mentioned was changing mowing frequency or methods on parkland and roadside properties.

Commissioner Garen asked the council to review the projected route of a proposed transmission line and report back with specific environmental concerns. "If you can come back to us and say, it definitely is going to affect an eagle environment, or it is going to rupture the ecosystem that the bog turtle exists in, for example, that is solid information that we can, in turn, take to the Public Service Commission," Garen said. County staff explained that the state Public Service Commission process and federal/local permitting require environmental reviews with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and other agencies; commissioners said they wanted local, council-driven analysis in addition to those reviews.

EAC members described earlier related work: tours of the county landfill, participation at Earth Day and the county environmental symposium, and prior outreach on invasive species such as spotted lanternflies. Craig Paskowski noted residential greywater was discussed but remains in a holding pattern because the state has not produced implementing regulations since 2018.

Brenda (county staff) clarified that the board’s response to the EAC's proposed 2025 projects was informal. "Concurrence. No vote needed. Just general concurrence," she said; commissioners indicated agreement by nod. No formal votes or binding actions on the work plan were recorded at the meeting.

Other operational notes included that the EAC has nine members, that three members serve on any ad hoc appeals panel when needed (the council has handled two appeals in prior years), and that the Environmental Action Awards program provides a student scholarship (past amounts cited by the council included $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place) and other recognitions. The council said it will update the stewardship booklet and continue educational outreach in 2025.

The meeting closed without formal policy votes. Commissioners directed staff and the EAC to explore next steps on the transmission-line assessment and to coordinate with Recreation and Parks on mowing and parkland-management options; the session ended after a motion to adjourn passed.