Carroll County commissioners approve wide range of contracts, purchases and proclamations

The Carroll County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of contracts, purchases and proclamations during its open session on June 12 in Westminster.

The board voted to submit and accept a federal child-support reimbursement award, approved purchases for public-safety and public-works equipment, and awarded several construction and service contracts that county staff said are budgeted in the fiscal 2025 county budget.

The actions affect a range of county operations: the detention center’s medical and medication programs, Department of Recreation and Parks facilities and events, utility and road maintenance equipment, fleet replacements, and construction of a new State’s Attorney’s office in Westminster.

Most items were moved and approved without extended debate. County staff briefed the board on funding sources, timelines and contract procurement methods before commissioners took voice votes. In several cases staff noted the purchases were within the adopted FY25 budget or covered by dedicated grants.

Key approvals

- Child-support grant: The board authorized submission and acceptance of the FY26 Child Support Administration Cooperative Reimbursement Agreement, a federal pass-through administered through the Maryland Department of Human Services. County staff said the award funds salaries and operating expenses related to child-support work at the circuit court and requires a county match already budgeted in FY25. (Action: approved.)

- Detention-centre medical costs and MAT medication: The commissioners approved two items for the Carroll County Detention Center. They authorized spending of up to $52,738.36 to Prime Care Medical Inc. to cover catastrophic inmate medical billing through April 2025 (approved), and approved an additional $116,454 to cover SUBLOCADE medication for the jail’s medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program, to be paid from the opioid restitution settlement grant (approved).

- Parks and recreation proclamations and events: The board issued a proclamation naming July 2025 Park and Recreation Month in Carroll County and a proclamation recognizing June 12, 2025 as Carroll County Equestrian Center Day. Commissioners and Recreation and Parks staff highlighted upcoming summer events, the county’s Park Pursuit challenge and the Farm Museum car show (proclamations and remarks: adopted/announced).

- Recreation facility repairs: The county approved the purchase of replacement flooring for the Hashawha Environmental Center from DeLuca Contractors Inc. for $49,706; staff said the work addresses original kitchen and cafeteria floors and will improve cleanliness and maintenance ahead of summer camps (approved).

- Humane Society air conditioning: The board awarded a contract for installation of air conditioning for the kennels at the Carroll County Humane Society to Mechanical Engineering and Construction Corporation for $57,900; staff said the project will improve animal welfare and volunteer/staff working conditions (approved).

- Fire and EMS uniforms and equipment: Commissioners approved purchases of uniform shirts and pants ($64,015), cold-weather parkas ($71,010) and external ballistic vests and helmets ($82,079) for Fire & EMS personnel. Staff said the uniform and equipment purchases are in the FY25 budget and intended to ensure inventory and safety standards for the service (approved).

- Public-works and roads contracts: The board awarded multiple public-works contracts, including: pool demolition at a county property near the regional airport to Bob Andrews Construction ($45,160); culvert repairs and replacements to Stanballs Inc. ($698,853) covering 18 roadways and 30 sites; two-layer chip-seal surface treatment to American Paving Fabrics ($472,943.50); and pneumatic shotcrete invert lining on three pipes on South Cleas Mill Road to ProShot Concrete ($109,786.46). Staff gave schedules and explained the road and drainage repairs in advance of pavement preservation work (approved).

- Utilities equipment and facility work: The board approved the purchase and installation of a pole-barn (48x50x16) at the Hodges facility to Pole Buildings Plus for $98,000 to provide enclosed workspace and storage for wastewater pump repair; and approved purchase of valve-insertion and line-tapping equipment to Ferguson Enterprises for $138,651.76, which staff said will reduce contractor costs when upgrading and inserting valves on live mains (approved).

- Fleet and equipment purchases: The board approved multiple fleet replacements: a 2025 Ford F550 cattle truck ($87,029), three 2026 Freightliner single-axle and one tandem dump truck ($1,068,450 total) and related fleet items. For a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox the briefing paper listed $229,602; the subsequent motion transcribing that item showed $29,602. The transcript contains that inconsistency; the county briefing said the replacement cost is budgeted and the current vehicle will be sold at auction (purchase: approved; amount discrepancy noted below).

- State’s Attorney’s office construction: Commissioners awarded a construction contract for a new Carroll County State’s Attorney’s office in Westminster to Dustin Construction Inc. for $18,887,000. Staff said the three-story facility is roughly 41,000 square feet, the bids came in under budget, and construction was presented as within the adopted budget (approved).

- Board of Elections infrastructure and security: The board approved AV installation for the Board of Elections training spaces to Quad AV ($38,184), network infrastructure work to Skyline Technology Solutions ($347,970.47), and physical security cameras and access-control doors for a family shelter project to Marathon Technology Solutions ($47,476.15). Staff said the work supports the elections move and shelter security (approved).

Votes at a glance

(Each item below was presented to and approved by the board by voice vote unless otherwise noted.) - FY26 Child Support reimbursement agreement — approved - Prime Care Medical catastrophic billing ($52,738.36) — approved - SUBLOCADE MAT additional funding ($116,454) — approved (opioid settlement grant) - Hashawha Environmental Center flooring ($49,706) — approved - Infrastructure & Investments Fund transfer to IDA ($80,000) — approved - Uniform shirts/pants (Whitman Public Safety) ($64,015) — approved - Cold-weather parkas (Whitmer/Whitman Public Safety) ($71,010) — approved - Ballistic vests and helmets (Whitmer/Whitman Public Safety) ($82,079) — approved - Pool demolition (Bob Andrews Construction) ($45,160) — approved - 2025 pipe culvert repair/replacement (Stanballs Inc.) ($698,853) — approved - New State’s Attorney’s office construction (Dustin Construction Inc.) ($18,887,000) — approved - Humane Society kennel air conditioning ($57,900) — approved - Chip-seal surface treatment (American Paving Fabrics) ($472,943.50) — approved - Shotcrete lining services (ProShot Concrete) ($109,786.46) — approved - 2026 Chevrolet Equinox (Hertrich Fleet Services) — approved; briefing paper listed $229,602; transcript motion shows $29,602 (discrepancy noted below) - 2025 Ford F550 cattle truck (Hertrich Fleet Services) ($87,029) — approved - Freightliner dump trucks (National Auto Fleet Group) ($1,068,450) — approved - Pole barn at Hodges facility (Pole Buildings Plus) ($98,000) — approved - Valve insertion and line-tapping equipment (Ferguson Enterprises) ($138,651.76) — approved - Board of Elections AV (Quad AV) ($38,184) — approved - Board of Elections network (Skyline Technology Solutions) ($347,970.47) — approved - Physical security cameras/doors (Marathon Technology Solutions) ($47,476.15) — approved - Motion to adjourn — approved

What commissioners and staff said

Commissioners and staff repeatedly emphasized that most purchases were within the county’s FY25 budget or paid from identified grants. Denise Beaver, director of economic development, said the $80,000 transfer was for longer-term infrastructure readiness projects, including work at the North Carroll Business Park. County procurement staff and department heads described competitive procurements, cooperative contracts and, for several items, use of other counties’ competitively bid contracts to purchase equipment.

Clarifications and outstanding items

- Funding sources cited in the meeting included the opioid restitution settlement grant (for MAT medications), the county’s FY25 budget (many items), and federal pass-through funds for child-support services via the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Maryland Department of Human Services. - The agenda and staff briefings repeatedly said amounts were budgeted in FY25; in most cases staff indicated the purchase or award is covered by that budget or a specified grant. - In one procurement item the briefing paper listed the replacement vehicle at $229,602 while the transcribed motion shows $29,602. The transcript contains that inconsistency; the article lists both figures and treats the briefing-paper amount as the documented procurement figure while noting the discrepancy for later verification.

The meeting closed after the scheduled agenda items and a short administrative announcements segment.