City Stops Work on Monocacy Blvd
Local archeologist noticed that the city hadn't completed required reviews before starting construction
Frederick city has stopped work on a section of Monocacy Boulevard today after discovering that contractors were working in area not yet approved for construction. City spokeswoman Patti Mullins said the city made a mistake and is working to rectify it.
Mullins added that the city is grateful for the “eagle-eyed resident” who brought the error to the city’s attention. Grading work had just begun Wednesday morning. By late Wednesday afternoon, the work was stopped by city officials. Four inches of topsoil had been removed.
Archeologist Andy Stout was driving by the area on Gas House Pike Wednesday when he noticed the bulldozers. In an email to city officials and others, Stout said he “thought that it was odd since any ground disturbing activity like that would have to have archaeological review first.”
Construction of Monocacy Boulevard, the four-lane eastern bypass around the city, is in phase two of the three phase project. The second phase, while short in distance, is the costliest part of the road project because of a bridge addition over the Monocacy River, according to Zack Kershner, the city’s director of public works.
Stout then contacted Beth Cole at the Maryland Historical Trust, asking if the required archeological review was completed. Cole responded in an email that “We have reviewed the Monocacy Blvd. Central Section project and have a Memorandum of Agreement with the Corps and City for the project. While there was some Phase I work done by Goodwin & Assoc. in 2009, there was a parcel where access was denied which includes the floodplain crossing. The MOA [memorandum of agreement] requires completion of the archeological work in this area. I'm putting in a call to the Corps to see what is going on. Goodwin is not actively working on the project, so I'm concerned this may have fallen through the cracks. I'll keep you posted on what I learn.”
Most of the archeological reviews for the project were finished in 2009, but the city did not yet have access to the land necessary for phase two until last year, Kershner said. With permits expiring, the city acquired the land, part of the Umberger farm, and renewed its permits.
Stout revisited the site, took pictures [see below] and sent them to Cole. Her response, via email: “Thank you so much. That is exactly the area that is to be avoided.”
Kershner said the city is “working towards a resolution with Maryland Historical Trust.” The snag will not delay the project itself, or add to the price tag, he said. “It would have been a much bigger issue to resolve if not caught sooner,” he said. He also expressed appreciation for Stout’s efforts.
For Stout, however, the incident is indicative of systemic issues at City Hall. “This is problematic that this continues to happen,” he said. “To me this no different than the HPC [Historic Preservation Commission] demanding a meeting with Randy [Mayor McClement], or the numerous code violations unaddressed downtown. There’s no communication; it’s a systemic failure.”
He also referenced Ned Bond’s recent and persistent efforts to bring down an unstable building downtown at 56 S. Market. Bond, with assistance from Alderman Kelly Russell, pushed the city to demolish the unsafe building. “It’s all part of the same narrative,” Stout said. “It’s a fundamental problem.”
Stout credited Alderman Russell with getting the city to take notice. She was the only one who responded to his initial email and alerted city staff about the problem. “Thank God for Kelly Russell for being accessible and responsive, which no one else at City Hall is,” Stout said. “I got not one other response from anyone else … how does city function without her?”
