County residents with stakes in Ellicott City were reacting this week after County Executive Calvin Ball announced new measures he said were aimed at flood mitigation and safety in historic Ellicott City.

In a press conference at Tersiguel’s Restaurant on Thursday, the county executive unveiled “Safe and Sound,” a package of initiatives that include more frequent removal of debris from tributaries, upgrades in the county’s emergency alert system and a matching grant program for up to $150,000 toward private flood mitigation projects.

A week before the announcement, Ball’s administration said it was restarting negotiations with property owners about acquiring properties that were previously eyed for possible demolition. Ball, a Democrat who was elected last month, said the talks would continue, but he also said the county had not targeted any site yet to be razed, and that officials would examine “alternatives to full-scale demolition on the lower end of Main Street.”

He also reiterated support for infrastructure projects already proposed or underway, and said the administration would seek options for additional improvements. The grant program would give up to $5,000 per project for mitigation efforts undertaken by property owners in certain areas.

Mark DeLuca, deputy director of public works, said Ball’s announcement was the “first step” in a plan that will continue to unfold as the new year begins.

Joy Sung, owner of Lamp & Gift on Main Street, said she does not want to see her building demolished, though she knows a solution to flooding is difficult to achieve.

“I believe most people want to keep the street like before [the flood],” said Sung, who opened her shop on lower Main Street in January 2017. During the May flooding that left one person dead and devastated the district — for the second time in 22 months — Sung closed her store while she cleaned up mud, water damage and mold.

“I also hope they can keep this street the same but I don’t know what the solution is for a flood,” she said.

At the press conference, Ball discussed other elements not specifically related to infrastructure — such as business retention, marketing and preservation. He said he wanted to “retain as much of Old Ellicott City’s charm and history as possible” and assist Main Street businesses with promotion and tourism. He said had directed the county’s Economic Development Authority to support a full-time ombudsman for Main Street business, and he also wanted to explore creating a Community Development Corporation for Ellicott City that “incorporates all of Ellicott City’s diverse stakeholders.” He said he would form a committee to examine the feasibility of a CDC in the new year.

In his comments, Ball called Ellicott City “one of Howard County’s most important economic resources,” and noted that “the leaders of this county have been aware of the challenges that the geography, topography, and infrastructure of Ellicott City have posed for decades.”

Liz Walsh, a Democrat who represents Ellicott City on the County Council, noted that Ball rolled out a plan less than a month into his administration, and said that indicates he is “clearly laser focused” on making Ellicott City safer.

But her predecessor, Jon Weinstein, a Democrat who lost in his 2018 reelection bid, said not taking action to remove certain buildings “is leaving the same problem open.”

“There’s nothing in the plan,” Weinstein said of Ball’s announcement. “From what I listened to in the press conference, it was comments [of things] that were already in progress, things to continue going forward.”

Former county executive Allan Kittleman, a Republican, had advocated acquisition of a number buildings in the historic district for demolition, citing studies that followed both the 2016 and 2018 floods, and that recommended that approach. Ball said his administration “intends to honor the offers” that have been made to building owners along Main Street and continue negotiations to buy the buildings, but said each will be assessed to determine structural integrity.