Dear Friends,
These have been two very difficult weeks for our community. Frustration with this once-in-a-century “snowcrete” event was a major headache for residents in Montgomery County and across the region.
Our County’s weather expert, Matt Miziorko, from the Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, testified before the County Council this week that if this storm had been entirely snow, we would have likely gotten over 20 inches. But if this were just snow, even over 20 inches, our job of clearing the roads would have been a lot easier. Instead, we got a layer of ice 3 to 4 inches thick, which changed the nature of our response and proved a frustrating challenge.
That much sustained sleet changed the whole nature of this storm. I have never seen the weather do this before, and I have lived here my entire life. Regular snow shovels didn't work on this mess. I’ve had people text me pics of mangled snow shovels caused by using them to try to break the ice.
The County treated this storm as a serious problem from the start. We pre-treated all the streets the day before the storm, knowing the potential for ice and the forecasted temperatures. We mobilized every resource we had and could access.
On the first pass, plow drivers pushed the snow to the side. That snow then turned to ice, and people couldn't shovel their way out. If it hadn't iced, people would have shoveled and been fine. But the theory of plowing one side so people can dig out and move their cars to the other side failed because people couldn't dig themselves out, so we couldn't plow the other side of the street.
We were paralyzed, not by lack of planning or lack of effort, but because we are not equipped for storms like this. Why would we be? This was a historic freeze that affected our entire region. It is unreasonable to expect us to keep heavy-duty ice-removal trucks standing by for years in the event of something like this. It would cost tens of millions of dollars to have had the front-end loaders, dump trucks, and small bulldozers, not to mention probably another 500 employees ready to deal with this ice storm.
Not only did our equipment struggle, but so did our residents. Our sidewalks were not shoveled when required, and we extended the deadline because we recognized the challenges people faced with the ice. I was also reluctant to expect people to shovel in single-digit temperatures with wind chills below zero. I was very concerned about the potential health impacts or risks we might be subjecting people to. Some patience on our part, I felt, was necessary. I wish everyone could see and appreciate the way our transportation crews continue working through the difficulties to get us all moving again.
This week, we resumed our responsibility in holding property owners responsible for sidewalks. Inspectors checked nearly 400 complaints in the first two days and gave home and property owners proper notice to clear their sidewalks within 24 hours. I’m glad those notices weren’t given when temperatures were closer to zero because that would have put more of our residents at risk of serious injury. Still, clearing sidewalks is essential to making it safer for kids and adults to get to school and work.
I want to thank our employees and contractors who worked tirelessly in the days after the storm to re-open our transportation network and County facilities, moving and lifting tons of snow and ice to get our community back to normal as quickly as we could, and in close communication with the State, municipalities, and private properties to target areas needed for children to safely get to school.
I don’t think people understand what a tough job this work is in the best of conditions, and these last 10 days have really put our incredible professionals to the test. Things will continue to improve the longer we go without snow and with warmer temperatures, because crews are still working on moving ice out of the way.
Listening to Residents About Data Centers
I want to thank everyone who participated in our community forum about data centers on Tuesday. I was joined by Council President Natali Fani-González, Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe, and Councilmember Will Jawando. You can watch the entire presentation and the questions raised on the County’s YouTube page.
This meeting drew more than 100 people to the Leggett Executive Office Building (photos), and others joined online. We want to ensure that lessons learned from previous studies and openings elsewhere are applied here. So, my team and I developed a list of considerations and recommendations, which is available on the County’s website. We’ve also shared these recommendations with Council and stakeholders to gather feedback that can inform legislation as it's being formed. It was a pretty long list, but it’s not everything. It’s a good starting point, but it shouldn’t be treated as covering everything.
I hope there’s a serious effort in the legislation to ensure that we do this right. Data centers, I believe, can be done right. It’s possible to deal with emissions. It’s possible to deal with water.
I expect the County will lay down some ground rules by the end of spring to prepare for the next step. Even if it’s not 100% comprehensive, I do think that if the Council does not feel they can get all this done in a reasonably short period of time, then we need to put a moratorium on data centers—one as short as six months, possibly a little bit less, is feasible.
But that requires putting together comprehensive, effective legislation. I don’t want to see legislation passing quickly, with a few easy-to-agree-on items that leave larger issues untouched. If the Council can work on that while we’re in the budget process, that would be good.
It’s worth the effort to get this right. In fact, we must get it right.
There is already a lot of good data available, and I don’t feel a task force to gather more is necessary. Multiple jurisdictions have hashed through the issues, and there’s nothing unique about locating in Montgomery County. We already know the risks, like the threat to our power grid if we don't require companies to help provide more electricity supply. I was intrigued by a project in Pennsylvania using small natural gas turbines that they say can address power supply and emissions questions. Once I get the data and the substance of their proposal, I will share it. That example shows that companies are beginning to consider how to address public concerns, further underscoring the point that there is no need for a task force to work for a year or more on this. Also, learning about which counties have regulated the centers would be informative, since they’re tackling the same problem.
There are some must-haves that I think are important, and other things we all need to think about:
- Data centers should be required to bring their own power. This may be one of the most important things we can do, if not the most important. If they don’t bring their own power, they will put a massive strain on the grid and continue to fuel already exploding energy prices. The supply problem needs to be fixed, but not with coal or diesel.
- Ensure data centers are only built in areas intended for industrial use.
- There should be significant buffers between any residential and community uses.
- First preference for backup power should be batteries, because they minimize the need for backups.
- After that, if that’s not feasible, prefer the use of natural gas generators over diesel generators, require strict emission controls, especially carbon capture and capturing unburned gases, and limit their use to emergencies.
- Preference for closed-loop cooling systems that don’t use water.
- Develop stormwater management plans for data centers for the large impervious surfaces created.
- Require that water usage results in the water being returned to the environment clean and at the temperature at which it was withdrawn from the water source.
- Require buffer zones for noise. And revisit the noise ordinance to ensure data centers comply with the acceptable limits.
Here's another important component: no tax breaks. There is no reason for us to subsidize data centers if the whole point of bringing them here is to make them central revenue generators.
I still believe there’s a way to do this, but I am glad I heard so many legitimate concerns from our public. Residents can also provide written comments by emailing climate@montgomerycountymd.gov. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Council does with my recommendations.
County Council Bond Limit Vote
I am really disappointed by Tuesday’s decision by a majority of the County Council not to adopt my recommendation to raise the debt limit ceiling for capital expenditures (CIP) soon. I will continue to argue for restoring the County's purchasing power that was lost following the 2009 recession.
Our school system is finally being honest about its needs, and this is the best way to support the improvements the community has been waiting for. We received a record-high request from the Board of Education totaling $2.8 billion, which is more than $1 billion above the last CIP.
The County’s ability to address its infrastructure needs has been severely hampered by the fact that General Obligation (GO) bond limits have not kept pace with inflation, as you can see from the chart above. Issuances have been capped at just $280 million annually for the past four years. To sustain the same purchasing power as the $300 million spent before the recession, it would need to issue more than $550 million annually today.
There is no way that school repairs and construction match the prices of 2009. We will probably do half the work for the same price. It happened because they were never honest about their needs and only asked for what could be done within the parameters of our GO bond limits. They focused on expansion, but now the far greater need is in repairs.
While the Council recently voted to raise the guideline to $300 million, it is insufficient to sustain even existing projects, such as road resurfacing and building system replacements, let alone new initiatives.
We have done this to ourselves through chronic underinvestment, forcing the County to use older infrastructure longer, which increases long-term maintenance costs. A higher debt limit is also fiscally viable due to years of restraint. The argument is aided by the fact that we continue to see revenue growth even as our economic growth lags.
I’ve recommended issuing $340 million in bonds in FY27 and increasing that amount by $10 million each year to $390 million in FY32. This would keep debt service at a modest 10.3% over the six years, well below the County's average over the last decade.
This is the first time in 15 years that the County's debt service-to-General Fund revenues ratio has fallen near the self-imposed 10% policy guideline. In other words, we have sufficient cushion to make this investment now.
The state has raised its revenue outlook, driven by personal income tax collections, since our December estimates were released. The same pattern will hold. If the council insists on the $300 million bond limit, County facilities will go another year without critical improvements totaling $390 million over the six years. I wish the County Council could see this as the opportunity that it is to increase the debt limit without compromising the County’s AAA credit rating.
Our regional competitiveness relies on a stellar education system. We have a crown jewel of a school system, but it is aging. It’s time to consider how much we stand to lose if we fail to make the necessary financial commitment to education in our County.
Black History Month Kick-Off Event
I want to thank everyone who turned out for this week’s kick-off to Black History Month, put on by the African American Advisory Group.
Those who attended were in the audience for a live podcast taping with former County Executive Ike Leggett. We also presented our inaugural Good Trouble Awards for outstanding community involvement.
The Legacy in Leadership Award went to Dr. Winston Anderson, a scholar, community pillar, and founder of the Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery. Because of his work, African American history, culture, and global influence are preserved and will be interpreted and honored for generations to come. He was also instrumental in the restoration of Odd Fellows Lodge, a sacred space that shows resilience and is a source of pride. His work embodies sustained commitment, trusted leadership, and a belief that knowing our history is essential to shaping our future.
The Advocate for Justice Award honored those who refuse to stand still in the face of injustice. We proudly recognized LaTisha Gasaway-Paul, Teresa Gasaway-Gleaton, and LaTrice Gasaway-Johnson: the Gasaway Sisters. Their work to elevate the Scotland neighborhood and launch the annual Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival helps all of us understand the hardships Black families went through throughout most of the 20th century.
The Freedom Forward Award was shared with Nigel Duberry. Nigel has committed his life to uplifting young people and helping them see the possibility in themselves. Besides his work as a mentor, the Montgomery County native launched the 480club to help provide guidance and support for students navigating challenges both in and out of the classroom. Some of his greatest strengths are honesty, compassion, and accountability, and he is an asset to the community.
This event was a big success thanks to the people who showed up and supported this important cause. Now more than ever it is important to uplift each other and inspire our youth to take the lessons of the past to create a better tomorrow.
Point in Time Count and Homelessness
I want to thank our County employees and community partners who were out Wednesday night and early Thursday morning conducting the annual homeless Point-In-Time Count.
This is a legal requirement to qualify for federal funding for programs that work to end homelessness and serve those who are currently unhoused. And on that note, I want to thank Congress for extending the Continuum of Care funding for another year. The money is essential to our permanent supportive housing programs, which help keep hundreds of people housed and provide essential support services. The PIT Count is also an opportunity to better understand how homelessness affects residents across Montgomery County.
After a week's delay due to bitterly cold temperatures, volunteers were out across the County, both counting the people they found living outside and conducting a brief survey. This face-to-face interaction allows us to share essentials with them and connect people experiencing homelessness with resources that could help them regain stability in their lives.
During the recent winter storm, we made overflow shelter space available for individuals and families through our Services to End and Prevent Homelessness program. We served 500 people with space indoors and out of the elements. That’s on top of more than 400 beds we usually have open. Our community partners, like the Coalition for the Homeless, Interfaith Works, Rainbow Place, and the Salvation Army, were essential in helping us keep everyone fed. Thanks to the American Red Cross for providing cots and our shelter partners like Interfaith Works for showing immense patience during trying times.
If we are genuinely going to treat everyone in our County equally, then we must show compassion and be there for everyone. Some people criticize this approach, but in Montgomery County, everyone is treated with respect. The government will continue to help individuals and families make homelessness a brief, one-time occurrence through strong social network support
Finally, I encourage everyone to check out the many events around the County to commemorate Black History Month. There are active efforts right now to erase or rewrite the history of Black and Brown people. Black History Month exists because people had to fight to be recognized as full contributors to our society.
There is a national movement to eliminate Black History Month, but that will not happen in Montgomery County. Montgomery County will continue to recognize, celebrate and support the contributions of the Black community.
As always, my appreciation for all of you,
Marc Elrich
County Executive
