Behind-the-Scenes 'Mechanics' Keep County Services Running
The County Department of Technology Services
Supports Efficient, Effective Government
When you turn the ignition in your car you expect it to start right up. If it doesn't start, the calls for help begin. The need for workplace technology to run as smoothly as your car is critical and the "mechanic" for Calvert County Government is the Department of Technology Services (TS).
The department is charged with building, maintaining and securing an outstanding technology environment for county government and agencies. Through network and application development, web services, financial and emergency systems and new technology, TS works to provide the most efficient services to county employees and the public.
According to Joe Klausner, Director of Technology Services, the top three priorities for the department are:
- providing public safety support 24 hours a day, seven days a week;
- supporting more than 1,000 work stations, 700+ phones, 170+ servers and 300+ cell phones and mobile devices on a daily basis; and
- managing cyber security protection to maintain the integrity of the county government's network.
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MyCalvertMaps, left, and the video-on-demand system featuring commissioners meetings, are just two of the features managed by Technology Services. |
The department's current primary public safety focus is working with Sheriff's Office staff on the implementation of field reporting for sheriff's deputies. This new module is part of the enterprise public safety system used by the Calvert County Sheriff's Office, the Detention Center and the Department of Public Safety which includes Computer-Aided Dispatch (911), the Emergency Operations Center and our all-volunteer fire/rescue/EMS service. It will enable deputies in the field to write reports directly into the system, reducing redundant data entry. The system will also allow officers to spend more time on the road assisting the public, reduce re-key errors and free records staff to focus on managing the merge process and verifying accuracy of data. Once implemented, the system will support reporting for criminal investigations, incidents, arrests and charging documents.
TS also recently completed an upgrade of the interactive, online geographic information system (GIS) maps available to county staff and to the public. The upgraded system is branded MyCalvertMap and features a more intuitive interface, support for mobile devices and the ability to print maps to a custom scale. Using MyCalvertMap, citizens can access a variety of content including aerial photos, historic maps and property maps. County employees use MyCalvertMap every day for planning, emergency response, public works and other activities.
Another area of improvement in county technology is video on demand (VOD). At the request of the Board of County Commissioners, TS deployed this system making BOCC meetings available online for the public. Viewers can watch commissioners' meetings live through online streaming or view archived videos at any time. Meetings and other videos can be found at the online Media Center. Topics available on VOD include public meetings such as the recent charrette for the Prince Frederick Town Center master plan, county employee service awards, ribbon cuttings and more.
Looking forward, TS will set up the network infrastructure to help with the Department of Finance and Budget's relocation, roll out an enhanced version of the county website to allow electronic public comment, plus work with the Department of Community Planning and Building to create a shoreline development guide to help the public understand complex regulations. For more information, please visit www.co.cal.md.us or contact the Department of Technology Services at 410-535-1600, ext. 2511.
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Community Volunteers Honored
as Calvert's 'Beautiful' People
Annual Calvert Your Are Beautiful Awards Lauds 13 Nominees
Each year the Board of County Commissioners hosts the Calvert You Are Beautiful awards, a celebration of those who make Calvert County a great community. It is an honor for us to recognize the volunteers who work in a wide variety of ways in support of their neighbors.
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Calvert County Volunteer of the Year
Betty Jane Reynolds |
The 2014 ceremony, held Sept. 16, honored 13 nominees. From these outstanding volunteers, Betty Jane Reynolds of Prince Frederick was named the 2014 Volunteer of the Year.
Reynolds, a retired former teacher who worked with children with disabilities, was nominated by Brenda Wallace. She is described as a generous, kind-hearted person who volunteers with women's shelters, the hospital gift shop, Calvert Pines Senior Center and at polling sites during elections. A breast cancer survivor of 15 years, Reynolds is also active in Relay for Life activities. We offer her our sincere gratitude for her service to our community.
We also applaud the 12 Calvert You Are Beautiful nominees who have given freely of their talents to serve Calvert County:
- Janet Addiss
- Grace Mary Brady
- Jeannie Cousineau-Stone
- Rhonda Crawley
- Laurence "Larry" Donnelly
- Mary B. Hollinger
- Marian Johnson
- MaSara Myers
- Patricia A. "Mitzi " Poole
- Barbara Scanlan
- Teena M. Umphries
- James "Jim" Wilson
Thanks to those who nominated these deserving volunteers and to the judges who worked to select the Volunteer of the Year:
- Diane Burr, Chesapeake Current
- Sandra O. Martin, Bay Weekly
- Dave "Spiggy" Spigler, 2013 Calvert You Are Beautiful Winner
- Margit Miller, Calvert Live
- Rob Perry, The Calvert Recorder
- Marianne Bivens, The Baynet
Visit online for photos and profiles of all the Calvert You Are Beautiful nominees. |
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Dowell Road Widening Project
Kicks Off with Groundbreaking
The Board of County Commissioners celebrated the groundbreaking for the Dowell Road widening project Sept. 9, with Dowell Road neighbors, county staff, elected officials and others involved in the project.
The three-phase project will feature extra room for bicyclists, new sidewalks, curbs, gutters and stormwater management facilities, plus a two-way center lane for motorists along the section from HG Trueman Road up to Annmarie Garden.
A project page online will feature regular updates as construction progresses. For more information, contact Frank Schlotter, Deputy Director, Engineering, Department of Public Works, at 410-535-2204, ext. 2568.
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Public Meeting Scheduled
for New Dunkirk Park Master Plan
The Calvert County Division of Parks and Recreation and Division of Natural Resources are hosting a public meeting Thursday, Oct. 2, 7 p.m., at the Northeast Community Center in Chesapeake Beach to present the final draft of the master plan for a new park to be located on Ward Road in Dunkirk.
 The Master Plan Steering Committee will present the draft park master plan which has been developed based on the identified needs of the county and the input provided during a June 2014 public meeting. The Oct. 2 meeting will be the final opportunity for citizens to view the plan and provide input toward its refinement.
Parks and Recreation and Natural Resources are developing a master plan for the 209-acre property, which was purchased by the county in Fiscal Year 2013. The purchase was funded by the Calvert County Youth Recreational Opportunities Fund, a state grant administered by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
For more information, call the Division of Parks and Recreation at 410-535-1600, ext. 2649. Like the division on Facebook or visit online. For information on the Calvert County Division of Natural Resources, call 410-535-5327 or visit online.
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Prescription Medication "Take-Back" Day
Saturday, Sept. 27
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Remove unused and expired medications from your home and keep prescription medications from being abused - no questions asked. Drop off medications at the following locations:
Calvert County Sheriff's Office,
Prince Frederick
Maryland State Police, Barrack U, Prince Frederick
Mt. Hope Community Center, Sunderland
Northeast Community Center, Chesapeake Beach
Southern Community Center, Lusby
This event is sponsored by the Prescription Drug Abuse Abatement Council in partnership with the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse, Inc. For more information, call 410-535-3733.
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List Job Openings on County's Free
Classifieds Page
Calvert County-based businesses seeking a fresh and free way to find employees are invited to try the Calvert County Department of Economic Development's online employment classified ads.
The free service allows Calvert County business owners to submit their employment listings at any time for inclusion on the site by filling out a form containing information on the business and the available position.
The service is available only to companies with physical locations in Calvert County.
To access the classifieds, visit online at www.ecalvert.com and click on "Employment Classifieds" on the left menu.
For more information on the Department of Economic Development and the many services the county offers the business community, call 410-535-4583 or 301-855-1880; email info@ecalvert.com; or visit online at www.ecalvert.com.
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Congratulations to New and Expanded Businesses
The Board of County Commissioners welcomes and congratulates the following new, relocated and expanded businesses. Visit them and help support your local economy.
New Businesses
Univest Insurance
9120 Chesapeake Ave., Suite 300, North Beach
301-952-0046
First Home Mortgage
2810 Laurian Lane, Dunkirk
240-965-8107
Byrd & Byrd, LLC
30 Industry Lane, Prince Frederick
301-464-7448
Charles Street Brasserie Restaurant
120 Charles St., Solomons
443-404-5332
Find us on Facebook
Island Hideaway Restaurant
14556 Solomons Island Road, Solomons
410-449-6382
Find us on Facebook
C2 Computer Information Systems
55 Stoakley Road, Prince Frederick
443-486-5277
Scorpion Brewery
929 Skinners Turn Road, Suite 100, Owings
410-279-9700
Sally's Beauty Supply Store
825 Solomons Island Road North, Prince Frederick
410-535-2123
North Beach Business Center
9120 Chesapeake Ave., Suite 101, North Beach
301-870-5841
Find us on Facebook
Relocations/Expansions
Barefoot Wellness
445 Main Street, Prince Frederick
443-968-2960
For a full listing of all Calvert County businesses, please visit online.
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Save the Date:
Calvert County
Farm Festival
Mark your calendars now for the annual Calvert County Farm Festival to be held
Saturday-Sunday,
Oct. 18-19
11 a.m.-5 p.m.
This family-friendly event, held rain or shine, will let you get to know the county's rural community by spending the day on three working farms:
Spider Hall Farm, Prince Frederick
Horsmon Farm, St. Leonard
Perigeaux Vineyards and Winery,
St. Leonard
Call 410-535-4583 or visit www.calvertag.com for details.
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