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Court authorizes application for state-local cybersecurity grant; Otis designated financial officer
Summary
Howard County commissioners approved a resolution to apply for the next state/local cybersecurity grant cycle and designated Otis as the county's financial officer for the application in the absence of an auditor; the judge noted federal certifications require certain cooperation on immigration detainers.
The commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing staff to apply for the upcoming state and local cybersecurity grant cycle and named Otis as the county's designated financial officer for the application while an auditor position remains vacant. Commissioner Wagner moved the resolution and Commissioner Ray seconded; the court approved it by voice vote.
County officials said grant timelines and requirements have shifted and that staff must upload specific documents under the new rules. Otis described recent changes in the grant schedule and application requirements and urged careful document submission to match the revised deadlines. The judge told the court that federal grant certifications include a clause requiring cooperation with immigration detainers: "...it basically says we will cooperate on our end with ICE," he said, adding that the sheriff and he had signed the required sheet for past grants. The court instructed staff to complete certifications and to include the auditor's name on future resolutions when that official is in place.
The resolution instructs staff to proceed with application work and to monitor grant timelines and document uploads; commissioners emphasized the need for improved grant tracking and possible staff adjustments to manage future grant administration.
