The Howard County Flag Commission hosted a hybrid public hearing Monday to gather community input on the 184 designs under consideration to become the new official Howard County flag.

The commission was established by executive order in January with a charge to conduct a public design process for a new Howard County flag. The commission accepted designs via an online application portal between April 1 and June 30 during which individuals of all ages could submit up to three original designs for the new flag.

“The design of a county flag is a once-in-a-generation process and the response to our call for designs was nothing short of inspiring,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said in a news release. “As we continue forward in our process of choosing an updated and modernized county flag design, one that is more in [alignment] with our present values, I encourage our community members to share their feedback on what flag they think best encompasses Howard County past, present and future.”

Each submission required a brief narrative describing how the design represents Howard County, including its enduring appeal, color choices and symbolism. Designs were required to be rectangular in shape and crafted at a 3:5 ratio.

“We are delighted to gather tonight to hear from the public about the new flag designs received,” Coleen West, executive director of the Howard County Arts Council and chair of the flag commission said during the hearing. “The commission set out upon this process with an intent to keep each designer’s identity anonymous. Each submission received was assigned a number and identifying information about each designer was not shared with the commission or the public.”

During the hearing, the commission, which includes representatives from county organizations such as the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, Howard County Historical Society and Howard County Library System, listened to testimony from community members sharing opinions on a new flag design.

Johanna Klema, of Ellicott City, attended the hearing to share her opinion on Flag Entry 36, a black, red, white and yellow design resembling the state flag that the designer described as “Maryland in Miniature.”

Klema said she thought the design best represented the county’s inclusivity.

“It’s gorgeous, it’s beautiful, it’s elegant, it’s colorblind,” she said. “[The designer] said Maryland was the United States in miniature and that Howard County is Maryland in miniature and I wholeheartedly would love to fly this flag.”

Following the public hearing, which was held online and in person, the commission will review the designs and select up to 10 for a public vote this fall. By winter 2025, the commission will select three finalists and publish its recommendations. The county executive will then evaluate the commission’s recommendations and choose a design to present to the County Council for legislative approval.

The three design finalists will each receive $1,000 for their work.

To learn more about the commission, its upcoming meetings and the redesign process, visit howardcountymd.gov/flag.

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