The Carroll County Drug Task Force, a cooperative effort involving the sheriff, the state's attorney and Maryland State Police, is expected to be approved today when the agencies meet with the county commissioners to sign a contract.

By mutual agreement, the state's attorney will serve as the seizing authority in any drug raid, and the sheriff will act as the seizing agent.

With the state police, they will sit as a three-member advisory board with voting authority to determine how seized money and property will be used, Sheriff Kenneth L. Tregoning said yesterday.

A limit of $100,000 is set for the operational budget, he said.

Tregoning, State's Attorney Jerry F. Barnes and Col. David B. Mitchell, state police superintendent, were to meet with County Commissioners Julia Walsh Gouge, Donald I. Dell and Robin Bartlett Frazier for today's signing ceremony at the County Office Building.

The task force's voting members would commit personnel and equipment to investigate, arrest and prosecute drug offenders.

Municipal police agencies in the county are welcome to join the task force, but would have to commit trained officers to become voting members, Tregoning said.

Pub Date: 3/24/99