Howard County updates council on Ellicott City ‘Safe & Sound’ flood-mitigation work; members press for project-level cost accounting

County public-works officials updated the Howard County Council on the Ellicott City Safe & Sound flood-mitigation program (project code C0337), describing completed work, projects under construction and elements still in design or seeking funding.

What officials reported Department of Public Works staff and project managers (Mark DeLuca, Mark Richmond and Zach Hollenbeck) presented status photos and construction updates. Hollenbeck described work at the Papillon Drive site where “we are in the process of mining the granite for the mining shaft… We're approximately 30 feet down there, and preparing for the next blast,” and showed progress photos of an under-construction pond (H4) and other sites. Public works said North Tunnel design was complete, permitting and funding were in place for some elements and construction was underway, though a small number of acquisitions remained open.

Officials also described work on Maryland Avenue culverts (advanced design stage), NC3 (schematic design), T1 (preliminary design) and other smaller elements such as channel-constriction removal, building demolitions that have been completed, and interim uses of cleared areas such as an expanded Tiber Park.

Council questions and concerns Council members pressed project staff for a consolidated “all-in” accounting for each major component, including acquisitions, design, soft costs, construction contracts, change orders and ongoing operating needs. Multiple council members said they routinely receive purchase-order-level lists that do not roll up into a single project total; Council Member Youngman said, “Put it down on a piece of paper … and then be back here,” and pressed for a simple table showing what has been spent and what remains for each of the seven major projects in the program.

Staff responses Public works said they track expenditures by individual purchase order and can produce totals by project, and that they would provide the council with aggregated totals. Project managers described the North Tunnel procurement approach: the county used a construction-manager-at-risk delivery method to mature design and scope with the contractor in advance, aiming to reduce the risk of later change orders. Project staff said there have been no change orders to the primary tunnel construction contractor to date; they also described a risk register and peer-review processes intended to limit unforeseen change-order risk.

Funding and timing Officials and finance staff said the administration's highest priority is completing the North Tunnel and that funding strategies for FY26 emphasize that work, including a mix of awarded state grants and loans. Staff noted the county has pursued low-interest state water-quality loans with interest below market rates for municipal borrowing, and indicated some construction activity will continue into 2027 for major elements such as the tunnel.

Ending and next steps Council members asked staff to return with a clear, consolidated “sources-and-uses” or “all-in” table for each major project showing acquisitions, design and construction totals and funding sources. Public works indicated they could provide those totals within days for council review and requested a follow-up work session to review the detailed rollups.