Graham Ave. project close to completion

By Rachel Ravina, Staff Writer

(Dec. 12, 2019) Work on the final stages of a submerged gravel wetland project on Graham Avenue have stalled because of bad weather, Water Resources Director Jamey Latchum told the Town Council meeting Monday night.

Latchum, who updated the council on the project’s process in his departmental report, said most of the work has been completed. Adding the topsoil and assorted plantings of trees and flowers would take a few days, he said.

“So it’s two or three days with appropriate weather?” Councilman Dean Burrell asked.

The Graham Avenue submerged gravel project was built on a piece of town-owned property between Graham Avenue and Old Ocean City Boulevard.

Darl Kolar, a consultant with E.A. Engineering, Science and Technology Inc., said the project aims to treat stormwater runoff and to reduce runoff pollution.

He also acknowledged that the project would be most effective during lesser rain events.

“During sizeable rain events … it’s not going to mitigate the flooding here,” Kolar said in an October interview.

Construction began in October after months spent in the pursuit of funding. The town received a $75,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust for the project, and “the town committed $40,000 in stormwater funds as a match,” bringing the total budget to $115,000, according to a staff report.

Funding was approved during the fiscal year 2020 budget cycle.

However, council vetoed the project at a June 27 meeting after bids for the work came in well above what the town budgeted. The town would have needed to transfer about $37,500 from the town’s water utility fund to the stormwater fund to cover the cost.

The council voted to reject the bids in that meeting in a 3-1 vote with Councilmen Thom Gulyas, Troy Purnell and Zack Tyndall forming the majority. Councilman Elroy Brittingham was the sole dissenter, and Councilman Dean Burrell was absent.

Two months later, the council unanimously agreed to continue the project after Maryland Coastal Bays Program Director Frank Piorko offered $54,500 via the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The wetland project required 800 tons of stone, 300 tons of pea gravel and 150 cubic yards of composite planting soil , Latchum said in October.

The remaining tasks, however, are minimal, Town Administrator Jeff Fleetwood assured the council.

“The engineers have said that we’re at 95 percent competition, so what Jamey’s waiting on now [is] just mainly cosmetic work,” Fleetwood said.

The project is expected to finish by Dec. 30, according to a memorandum of understanding between the Maryland Coastal Bays Program and the Town of Berlin.