Balog

Completion of a new Northern District police station is running at least seven months late because of contaminated soil on the site, where tests have found methane, benzene and other chemicals that can be hazardous in large amounts.The $4.3 million project, due to be done last month, is now scheduled to open in September, said Department of Public Works Director George G. Balog, who appears to be at odds with Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. over the source of at least part of the contamination.

City Department of Public Works officials said last night they will renovate the Fells Point public comfort station within the next few months.To speed renovation, Public Works Director George G. Balog said he will declare the public restroom at 1621 Aliceanna St. a public health emergency.The funds for the project -- $48,000 from city funds and $20,000 from the department -- exist, so it's mostly a matter of executing the work, Balog said."I'm going to request that an emergency contract is issued so we can begin within a week," Balog said, adding that the work will take about 60 days.

The question's grown stale for Denise Whitman, manager of the Fells Point antiques shop Another Period In Time.Patrons pose it at least a dozen times a day as they wander through the collection of antiques merchants in the 1700 block of Fleet St."Is there a public restroom anywhere in Fells Point?"She hesitates to send them to the comfort station at 1621 Aliceanna St. because, she said, plaster is falling from the walls, only cold water runs from the tap, and there's no soap. The city said it would fix it, but it hasn't.

A $23 million makeover of the Charles Street bridge at Penn Station will shut one of Baltimore's busiest roadways for roughly 26 months beginning this summer, launching a siege of heavy demolition, rebuilding -- and frustration, as commuters and businesses grapple with traffic upheaval.Area merchants complain that plans to temporarily close the crumbling 1911 northbound span at the midtown Amtrak and commuter rail terminal might ruin their businesses, which feed off expressway access and foot traffic.

Baltimore will pay up to $250,000 for emergency gasoline and oil this winter because several city-operated gas tanks failed to meet the federal government's underground storage tank regulations.The city is one of several municipalities across the state that have not brought underground storage tanks up to code, despite having 10 years to meet the law, state officials said.Yesterday's expenditure, approved by the board of estimates, comes as the city faces a $25 million budget deficit next year.

In an effort to draw more businesses to Baltimore and keep others from leaving, the Schmoke administration is planning seven parking garages for the city's downtown, with the first 2,500 of 3,050 spaces becoming available over the next five years.The mayor, who met with local business owners and city officials this week about parking problems downtown, said the project will cost $69 million. He said the city will need financial help from the private sector to build the garages."There's just no way that the city could continue to bear the cost of building more garages," the mayor said.

Baltimore's chief parking enforcer has been issued a parking ticket. And he's hopping mad about it.George G. Balog, one of the most powerful officials in the city, who commands 6,000 employees and oversees his own police force, has no other recourse but to fight the $40 citation in court.Although the director of the Department of Public Works controls a force that wrote 268,615 parking tickets last year, Balog was cited by a Mass Transit Administration officer -- an employee of the state who doesn't have to answer to City Hall.

For the second consecutive week, Baltimore's elected leaders questioned no-bid, emergency repair work for the city's Public Works Department, this time totaling $725,000.The five-member Board of Estimates on Wednesday criticized the cost of sewer repairs made by R&F Construction Co. Ltd. of Baltimore. The company was low bidder on a 1996 contract to repair city sewers for $750,000.Since then, R&F has been paid an additional $1.4 million -- including the $725,000 payment approved Wednesday -- for further repairs.

The Baltimore Board of Estimates meeting adjourns, and City Councilman Robert Curran turns to a visitor standing near the dais. "Are you waiting to see 'The Boss?' " Curran asks."The Boss" is Baltimore Public Works Director George G. Balog. The son of an Essex restaurant owner, the 57-year-old engineer and lawyer has risen to become, some would argue, the most powerful man in Baltimore.He commands an army of 6,000 employees and controls an annual budget of $500 million, including $160 million in coveted city contracts.

Eight employees of the Baltimore Public Works Department were fired this week over allegations involving missing materials at a municipal work yard.City officials acknowledged yesterday that they terminated the workers, some of whom were supervisors, but would not discuss the reason. However, employees at the city's Park Terminal yard at 2231 N. Fulton Ave. said the department investigation began because of allegations of missing materials, including city equipment, bricks and wood.Public Works Director George G. Balog said yesterday that the workers were fired after an internal department investigation.