West End Asks Ulman for Flood Prevention Money

County Executive Ken Ulman held his first public budget hearing to solicit funding requests for Fiscal Year 2015 and advocates for Ellicott City's West End were on hand to ask for money to prevent flooding.

Michele Bickley, whose upper Main Street home was ravaged by flooding from Tropical Storm Lee the same week she moved in in 2011, said it's important for the county to find a solution to the flood problem.

"The flood devastated our town, especially the West End District," said Bickley. "We need to allocate some money toward flood projects."

Mark Richmond, the county's acting division chief of the stormwater management division, said at a community meeting in November that the county is examining the feasibility of building three stormwater ponds near the clover interchange of Route 29 and Route 40 to alleviate flooding on Main Street caused by the Tiber-Hudson watershed overflowing.

He said the ponds would cost an estimated $6 to $8 million to build and that it's unclear if that amount of money is available in the budget, or if the ponds would work effectively to stop flooding. He said the ponds would reduce stormwater by about 15 to 20 percent.

Ulman said Thursday the cost wasn't the issue. He said the county needs to determine what flood solutions will actually work in a big storm.

Tom Coale, an Ellicott City resident who is running for the delegate seat in District 9B, also asked Ulman to find a solution.

"I ask that you consider making a comprehensive strategic plan for solving flooding in the West End," said Coale.

He asked Ulman to make sure the county distinguishes between stormwater projects that are designed to improve water quality and those that handle water quantity.

"I'm going to get our team together and figure out the best way to engage everybody," said Ulman. "My feeling is that we are making progress, but it appears we have a disconnect.

"We have the wherewithal to solve this problem," added Ulman.

A second budget hearing is scheduled for March 2014, after which Ulman will submit his FY15 budget to the County Council for approval.

Additional Ellicott City Requests


ECHDP asks for money to hire full-time director:

• Andrew Hall, the president of the Ellicott City Historic District Partnership, asked for $75,000 to hire an executive director for the Partnership who would be responsible for promoting Main Street. Hiring a full-time employee is also one of the steps to being accepted into the Maryland Main Street program, which will allow the Historic District to apply for state and federal grants only accessible to member cities and towns.

Center for Watershed Protection asks the county to provide additional funds for stormwater issues:

• Lori Lilly, of the Center for Watershed Protection, which has offices on Main Street, asked that the county fund stormwater projects and "complete necessary education and outreach" on stormwater issues. This will help to provide leverage for the organization to obtain additional federal and state grants, said Lilly.

Ulman says he'd like to create "a real place" where old Roger Carter Center sits:

• Bill Withers, a Fels Lane resident, asked that the county to renovate the old Roger Carter Center building near Main Street. Ulman responded that he already rejected a couple plans to build more Burgess Mill-style apartments in that area, which he described as "too intense." He said he wanted development plans "scaled down dramatically" in order to create "a real place there", which he said could be home to famers' markets and outdoor concerts.

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Editor's note: We've clarified that the Center for Watershed Protection asked the county to fund stormwater projects and education, rather than provide it with funds.