Commissioners approve several grants, contracts and purchases including EMS training grant, bridge design, and debt-accounting software

Carroll County commissioners voted on multiple grants, contracts and purchases during their April 3 meeting. The board approved a set of county-run and grant-funded items that county staff said are within the FY25 budget and are necessary for operations, planning and capital work.

Key votes and approvals at a glance (text below lists each item, the board outcome, and key details):

- Advanced Life Support (ALS) training grant: The board approved submission and acceptance of a FY25 ALS funding grant that will reimburse continuing-education costs for approximately 100 county paramedics. County staff described the grant as 100% funded with no local match. Vote: approved by voice vote.

- Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) grant: The board approved acceptance of a $5,000 BOLD grant (through the Maryland Department of Health and CDC program channels) and execution of a contract with the Carroll County Health Department. County staff said $3,500 is planned for marketing and $1,500 for programming and training; the award is intended to increase cognitive-health screening and community awareness. Vote: approved by voice vote.

- Community asset map, assessment and strategic-community plan (Enough Act / local-management-board work): The board approved an award to Due East Partners LLC (listed in procurement documents as "Due East Partners"), not to exceed $52,800. One commissioner abstained from that vote citing a direct relationship with the firm; the remaining votes approved the award. Vote: approved, 4–0 with 1 abstention.

- Debt accounting software-as-a-service (Debtbook): The board approved purchase of Debtbook, a cloud-based debt and lease accounting platform, in an annual amount of $138,000. County staff described the system as necessary to meet GASB lease and subscription accounting standards and to centralize contracts and liabilities. Vote: approved by voice vote.

- Engineering design and construction-related services for Hawks Hill Road bridge replacement: The board awarded a contract to Wallace Montgomery for design and construction-phase services in an amount not to exceed $310,655. The structure is about 13 feet long and has a current weight restriction; county staff said the bridge shows some deterioration and will be replaced with county funds (not federal, because it is under 20 feet). Vote: approved by voice vote.

- Stamped-concrete installation at the Farm Museum pavilion: The board approved a purchase order to HDI Contractors for stamped concrete installation not to exceed $84,950; county staff said the installation is part of the pavilion project and remains within the project budget. Vote: approved by voice vote.

Items referred for further information: The board heard a sole-source procurement request to fund the Maryland Small Business Development Center (Northern Region) counseling services at $75,000 for calendar year 2025. Several commissioners asked staff for additional details about the matching funds and federal/state funding shifts before making a final decision; staff agreed to return with additional information and the item was not finalized at this meeting.

Why it matters: The approvals fund training, planning, software that affects accounting compliance, and design for a short-span bridge replacement. Several votes used FY25 budget authority; the community-asset contract is grant-funded under the Governor's Enough Act/local-management-board program, and the bridge and software purchases were described as within the adopted FY25 budget.

Ending: County staff will proceed with grant submissions and contract execution where approvals were given, and will return with requested additional information on small-business counseling funding.