County Address

State-of-county talk to be given by Ulman County Executive Ken Ulman will repeat his State of Howard County address at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City. The event is open to county employees and the public. Admission is free. Ulman will deliver his speech for the first time at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the annual luncheon of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, an event for chamber members and guests that requires tickets.

NEWS THAT W. R. Grace & Co. will move its corporate headquarters to Columbia was an exclamation point to the first state of the county address by Howard County Executive James N. Robey.The chemical company's move involves only about 40 jobs. But the decision to leave the Sun Belt mecca of Boca Raton, Fla., is strong commentary on Howard County's attractiveness to businesses looking for a home.Twelve companies made Howard County their corporate headquarters in 1998. The Howard County Economic Development Authority listed 91 new or expanded businesses last year.

Harford County Executive James M. Harkins delivered his first state of the county address last night, sounding the need for careful planning to assure the county's future fiscal health.Harkins, who in November was elected as the county's first Republican executive, told members of the County Council that while the state of the county is strong, officials need to pay close attention to spending in their departments."Today, I am a conservative who has inherited a large capital debt and a small surplus," Harkins said.

Harford County Executive Eileen M. Rehrmann delivered her final state of the county address last night, reflecting on past accomplishments and outlining what residents can expect for the remainder of her term.Rehrmann -- running for governor and nearing the end of her second and final term as executive -- touted her administration as efficient and fiscally conservative in a speech to the County Council."I pledged that we would, as a government, always live within our means, operate in the black, be accountable for what we do, maintain a fund balance and provide for our county's future," Rehrmann said.

In a speech that looked back more than ahead, Howard County Executive Charles I. Ecker yesterday trumpeted seven years of accomplishments and vowed to keep the trash tax in his final State of the County address.Ecker, a Republican who must step down when his second term ends in December, did not talk about his campaign for governor, other than a vague reference to changing his address so he could "take up water sports."But for an official who often seems uneasy making speeches, Ecker was relaxed and folksy in what amounted to a valedictory address to the Howard County Chamber of Commerce -- among his most loyal supporters.

In his annual State of the County Address, Howard County Executive Charles I. Ecker vowed to keep county parks free of entrance fees, reform its personnel system and freeze income and property taxes for the final two years of his administration.Ecker also teased the audience, nearly 200 county business and political leaders gathered for a Chamber of Commerce luncheon in Columbia, about his plans to possibly run for governor in 1998."Some people have asked me what I want to be when I grow up. Governor?"

Harford County Executive Eileen M. Rehrmann offered few surprises in her State of the County address last night, pledging to maintain a fiscally conservative budget, as well as commitments to education and responsible development.In a speech during a County Council meeting, Rehrmann reflected on the county's "guiding principles" of fiscal management -- including using one-time revenues for one-time projects. Those principles, she said, must be continued. "We have ended each budget year in the black with no end-of-the-year shortfalls or red ink," she said.

HOWARD COUNTY Executive Charles I. Ecker appears bound and determined to impose some type of tax increase on county residents. If he doesn't go with a property tax hike, it seems he will at least have county residents pay by the bag to have their garbage collected.The garbage fee may not be a bad idea. People would be paying for the type of service they want. Those who load up the trash collectors would pay accordingly, those who don't would pay less. However, the fact that residents, not business, would pay the fee make it a less equitable way to fund general government needs.

Carroll County Commissioner W. Benjamin Brown yesterday urged everyone to dig "deeper in their pockets" next year to help local nonprofit groups, which are likely to bear the brunt of county budget cuts.Commissioner Richard T. Yates asked everyone to call the county's delegation in Annapolis to voice opinions on a proposed referendum on a new tax that would finance farmland preservation and infrastructure improvements.And Commissioner Donald I. Dell urged nothing. That's because Mr. Dell didn't get a chance to address about 180 people -- business owners, professionals, county administrators, educators and others -- who attended the annual State of the County address at Martin's Westminster yesterday.

County Executive John G. Gary got a chance to brag yesterday during his annual State of the County address, touting two years of programs large and small before an audience of old friends and political supporters.The hourlong speech to the Anne Arundel Trade Council, often described as Gary's kitchen cabinet, came the day before his second anniversary in office. And the timing was fortuitous for a pro-business politician addressing a roomful of business people concerned about government costs.

Harford County Executive David R. Craig pushed for long-term investments in education, crime-reduction programs, economic development and land preservation, while stressing the need to safeguard quality of life and maintain an efficient government, in his State of the County address to the County Council last night. Before announcing the initiatives that he is making the cornerstone of his administration, Craig looked back on what he called a year of progress that showed the county's fiscal strength while providing tax relief to its residents.

County Executive Ken Ulman will deliver his State of Howard County address twice Tuesday. Following a practice he started in his first year in office, Ulman will present the address first at the Howard County Chamber of Commerce annual luncheon, which is a ticketed event for chamber members, the business community and guests. Ulman will deliver the same address at 7 p.m. in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive in Ellicott City. The evening presentation will be open to the public and carried live on Gtv, the county's government information station.

Waste disposal, a county police force, water shortages and budget cuts are among the top issues facing Carroll County, the Board of Commissioners said yesterday in the annual State of the County address. Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge, president of the board, delivered the remarks on behalf of all three commissioners at a luncheon in Westminster hosted by the county Chamber of Commerce. In a 20-minute speech to an audience of about 200, Gouge discussed the challenges ahead, and accomplishments in the previous year.

The Howard County Arts Council has announced its 11th Celebration of the Arts in Howard County, to be held from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 26 at Jim Rouse Theatre for the Performing Arts in Columbia. The gala will feature a reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a silent auction of work by local artists, gourmet food from area restaurants and caterers and musical performances on the Main Street Stage. After the reception, guests are invited into the theater for presentation of the Howie Awards and the Rising Star Competition for young performing artists.

Harford County Executive David R. Craig reiterated his pledge to hold the line on county development while offering some insight into his forthcoming budget proposal in his State of the County address last night. Craig, a Republican appointed to fill a vacancy in 2005 and elected to a full term in November, began his remarks to the County Council with a promise to improve communication with citizens through a beefed-up Web site featuring more government documents and information. "I realize limited notices in the local paper are not adequate when it comes to keeping Harford County's diverse and evolving population informed and involved in their local government," he said.

State-of-county talk to be given by Ulman County Executive Ken Ulman will repeat his State of Howard County address at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City. The event is open to county employees and the public. Admission is free. Ulman will deliver his speech for the first time at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the annual luncheon of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, an event for chamber members and guests that requires tickets.

Carroll County's serious water problems must be resolved before economic development and residential growth can continue to flourish in the region, the two incumbent commissioners' said recently. Commissioners Julia Walsh Gouge and Dean L. Minnich focused on groundwater shortages and their impact on future growth during the board's State of the County address in Westminster Thursday. Newly elected Commissioner Michael D. Zimmer went in another direction, discussing the need for road improvements to curb fatal car accidents in the region.

Chamber to host commissioners The Carroll County Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual State of the County luncheon at noon Jan. 11 at Martin's Westminster in 140 Village Shopping Center. The Carroll County commissioners will give their annual State of the County address. Tickets are $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers. Reservations are due Jan. 4. Information: 410-848-9050. David's Jewelers moves to new shop David's Jewelers has moved to its new location at 15 S. Cranberry Road, Westminster.

County Executive James T. Smith Jr. is to scheduled to present his proposed budget for fiscal year 2007 during a special session of the County Council at 10 a.m. today. Smith will also deliver his annual State of the County address during the session, which will be in council chambers on the second floor of the Old Courthouse, 400 Washington Ave., Towson.

Harford County would buck a statewide trend and possibly make political history if it changes the way it elects County Council members as proposed in a bill introduced last week. Council President Robert S. Wagner wants to return to days when council members were elected on an at-large basis as opposed to the current in-district voting. In 2000, Harford voted to switch from at-large to in-district, a move that took effect two years later. The bill seemed to surprise many political observers, some of whom also speculated that the proposal is related to the council's recent handling of the comprehensive rezoning process.