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WEBVTT IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN. BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS SEEM TO BE ON BOARD. >> WE CAN OSTENSIBLY HAVE PLANS THAT REMOVE ALL FLOOD WATERS . THAT’S THE KEY. IF WE DON’T DO THAT WE’RE JUST PUTTING A BANDAID ON IT. KIM: RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS IN ELLICOTT CITY HAVE THEIR OWN IDEAS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THE FLOODING ALONG MAIN STREET. THEY SAY PHASE ONE OF THE NEW SAFE AND SOUND PLAN ROLLED OUT BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE THURSDAY COMES PRETTY CLOSE. >> I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE SAFE AND SOUND, BECAUSE SAFETY HAS BEEN THE MAIN PRIORITY, BUT THE SOUNDNESS IS WHAT IMPRESSES ME THE MOST. THAT WE’RE NOT JUST GOING TO JUMP INTO AN IRREVERSIBLE APPROACH TO IT. KIM: PHASE ONE INCLUDES PUBLIC SAFETY MEASURES LIKE DEVELOPING A NEW EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM, CLEARING THE WATERWAYS IN AND AROUND ELLICOTT CITY MORE FREQUENTLY, AND ACQUIRING BUILDINGS ON THE LOWER END, THOUGH THEY’RE NOT SURE WHAT THEY WILL DO WITH THEM. >> I’VE DIRECTED OUR PUBLIC WORKS TO EXPLORE FLOOD MITIGATION OPTIONS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE FULL SCALE DEMOLITION WE MUST MAKE SURE WE’RE NOT USING A SLEDGEHAMMER WHEN ONLY A SCALPEL IS NECESSARY. KIM: THE PLAN ALSO INCLUDES CREATING A PILOT PROGRAM TO OFFER MATCHING GRANTS FOR FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS ON CERTAIN BUILDINGS, INTRODUCING STATE LEGISLATION TO PAY FOR PHASE TWO, AND HAVING A FULL TIME OMBUDSMAN TO WORK ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR MAIN STREET. BUSINESS OWNERS SAY THEY NEED HELP TO BRING CUSTOMERS BACK. >> WE JUST NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT TO PEOPLE THAT ELLICOTT CITY IS SAFE. IF IT RAINS AND YOU HEAR IT ON THE WEATHER FORECAST, DON’T LET IT STOP YOU FROM COMING DOWN TO ELLICOTT CITY. >> IT’S ALWAYS BEEN A CHALLENGE EVER SINCE THE FLOOD IN 2016 , GETTING PEOPLE TO FEEL SAFE AND COME BACK TO TOWN. SO I THINK HIS PLAN REGARDING EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS AND THINGS LIKE THAT SHOULD HELP PUT PEOPLE’S MINDS AT EASE. KIM: STAKEHOLDERS COULD HELP ADVISE THE COUNTY WHERE TO GO FROM HERE. PART OF THE PLAN IS FORMING A COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO CREATING A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO GIVE THOSE FOLKS A VOICE. >> ANYTHING THAT POPS UP THAT DOESN’T SOUND SO HOT, WE’LL SPEAK UP ABOUT IT. BUT WE LIKE WHAT WE HEAR. KIM: THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE PLANS TO ROLLOUT THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PROGRAM IN E

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Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced a flood mitigation and public safety plan for Ellicott City. At a news conference Thursday, Ball introduced the first phase of the administration's plan, known as Safe and Sound. "Safe and Sound is a multiphased plan built around the need for public safety, supporting our businesses and property owners, preparing our county for climate change and creating a more inclusive, community-driven process for decisions regarding the future of Ellicott City," Ball said.The first phase includes public safety measures like developing a new emergency alert system, clearing the waterways in and around Ellicott City more frequently and acquiring buildings on the lower end, but doing more studies to see if the buildings can be salvaged or need to be demolished."I've directed our (Department of) Public Works to explore flood mitigation options that do not require full-scale demolition. We must make sure we're not using a sledgehammer when only a scalpel is necessary," Ball said."I was not in favor of taking down the buildings. He's taking a wait-and-see approach about that. If he can save them, he knows it's part of the charm, I'm all for that," said Brenda Franz, owner of Attic Antiques."I'm glad to see that rather than do that irreversible, untested approach that they're going to have engineers check each building and even extend to other buildings in the neighborhood," said Tony McGuffin, an Ellicott City resident.The plan also includes creating a pilot program to offer matching grants for flood mitigation projects on certain buildings, introducing state legislation to pay for the second phase and having a full-time ombudsman to work on economic development for Main Street."(The ombudsman) will help promote tourism on Main Street and assist business partners with any aspect of their business, including connecting them to available resources at the local, state and federal level," Ball said. Residents and business owners in Ellicott City have their own ideas about what should be done about the flooding along Main Street, and some said the first phase of the new Safe and Sound plan comes pretty close."I like the idea of the Safe and Sound (plan) because safety has been the main priority, but the soundness of it is the thing that really impresses me the most, that we're not just going to jump into an irreversible approach to it," McGuffin said.A final part of the plan creates a committee to look at forming a community development corporation that consists of stakeholders to help advise the county where to go with plans in the future. Some residents said that might be the most important part of the whole plan."(Have the) best and brightest minds coming in and advising the town on what best practices are, what the possibilities are and just giving a little bit more perspective," said Shelley Wygant, an Ellicott City resident. "When we can ostensibly have plans that remove all floodwaters, that's the key. If we don't do that, we're just putting a Band-Aid on it.""We just need to get the word out to people that Ellicott City is safe. If it rains and you hear it on the weather forecast, don't let it stop you from coming down to Ellicott City," Franz said."It has always been a challenge ever since the flood in 2016, getting people to feel safe and come back to town, so I think his plan regarding early warning systems and things like that should help put people's minds at ease," said Nicholas Johnson, owner of Su Casa.​