Pregnancy center announces open house in Carroll County

Carroll County commissioners heard plans for an upcoming open house for the Appalachian Hills Pregnancy Parent Center during their April 27 meeting.

Cheri Miller and Rhonda Harris announced the center will hold an open house May 12 from 4-6 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 5:15 p.m. The center, located at the Willow House on Park Avenue, officially opened April 7.

Miller and Harris said the facility will provide support services to pregnant women and families with children up to age 2, including diapers, clothing and parenting education.

“Our goal would be to figure out what their needs are,” Miller said. “But the biggest part is the support, because we know a lot of mothers don’t have the support they need.”

The center is faith-based and aims to connect families with community resources, mentorship and educational opportunities.

Commissioners also approved a road closure request from the county Emergency Management Agency as part of a large-scale training exercise planned for May 9.

EMA Deputy Director Dustin Lucas said the full-scale exercise will involve 17 agencies and simulate an emergency response at multiple locations across the county.

“We believe this is probably going to be our largest full-scale exercise that we’ve done,” Lucas said.

The exercise will take place from 8 a.m. to noon on Cactus Road between Antigua and Arroyo roads in Monroe Township. Officials said the road will be closed during that time for safety reasons.

Lucas said the exercise will test the county’s emergency operations plan and serve as the first full-scale use of the county’s emergency operations center at the annex building.

“We’re pretty excited to see how that’s all going to work out,” he said.

Commissioners also heard a quarterly report from Environmental Services Director Roy Ford, who outlined maintenance and operational work completed between January and March.

Ford said crews cleaned all 12 lift stations, serviced about 2,000 feet of force main and 2,800 feet of gravity sewer lines and responded to multiple service calls, including issues related to power outages.

He said much of the work focuses on preventative maintenance, particularly in areas prone to grease buildup.

“It’s just good maintenance practice,” Ford said.

Ford also reported repairs to pumps, wiring and lift stations, as well as ongoing plant operations and required environmental testing.

“I would say that’s probably the best report we’ve had from the plant in a long, long time,” Commissioner Donald Leggett II said. “I think you’re doing a great job.”

In other business, commissioners:

PAID bills totaling $62,683.70 and approved additional payments without prior authorization.

RECEIVED the weekly report from Dog Warden Merle Long, which showed five dogs impounded, two adopted and two redeemed, with no euthanizations. Two citations were issued for failure to confine or restrain a dog.

APPROVED a right-of-way permit for Spectrum for utility work on Chase Road in Lee Township.

APPROVED a $7,500 grant to the county engineer’s office to help purchase a new large-format printer used by both offices.

APPROVED the purchase of a new three-quarter-ton truck from Huebner Chevrolet at a cost of $48,090, which includes an upgraded snow and ice package and tires. The vehicle will be used by the county maintenance department, with the current truck to be reassigned to the dog pound.

CLARIFIED that Commissioner Chris Modranski missed a recent meeting with Malvern Village Council, stating the absence was his responsibility and not that of the full board. Modranski said he has reached out to reschedule the meeting after a recent article indicated a commissioner did not attend.

“It was my fault. I wasn’t there. That’s on me,” Modranski said. “I’ve reached out to school and village officials, and we are working on getting that meeting rescheduled.”