Jay Fergusonjay@deepcreekvacations.com301-501-0420
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Sinking Barton roadway may be caused by settling coal mine

BARTON — Aaron Run Road, which was closed May 17, will be closed for an extended period of time because the road surface is continuing at a reduced rate of subsidence. The subsidence could be due to an old coal mine settling out, according to Jay Moyer, director of the Garrett County Department of Public Works.

“It looks more like a sinkhole now,” said Moyer.

Last week the county engineering staff, the roads division chief and the assistant road chief for the Grantsville Roads Garage met with personnel from the Maryland Department of the Environment Land Management Administration – Mining Program – Bureau of Mines to begin the process of identifying the cause of the subsidence and to determine the course of action that will be needed to repair the damage, according to Moyer. Prior to 1977, deep mining occurred in the area, according to information provided by the bureau. The Federal Bureau of Mines will have a representative on site to do an inspection.

The first portion of the project will entail taking bore samples to determine the total area of the subsidence and depth that will need to be excavated in order to reach a stable base, according to Moyer. The MDE Bureau of Mines is currently arranging to have a drilling rig brought to the site to do test bores. If it’s determined that the affected area is too unstable to allow for the reconstruction of the road at its present location the road may need to be realigned, according to Moyer.

“We hope that the project will begin in the next couple of weeks,” said Moyer. “As of this time we have no idea of the scope of work that will be required to complete the project or the cost. Once the estimated cost has been determined, MDE Bureau of Mines will attempt to provide emergency funding for engineering and the reconstruction costs for the project if funds can be allocated from their 2014 operating budget.”

If funds for the project can’t be allocated, the project may be delayed until the 2015 budget is approved, according to Moyer.

“This may also require county cost share participation. At this time we do not have an estimate as to the amount of work that will be necessary to re-establish the road to its original condition nor the length of time it will take to do the work,” said Moyer.

One Garrett County student has been affected by the road closure and the bus route has been rearranged to accommodate the student.

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Jay Ferguson

Who I Am My name is Jay Ferguson, and I am a lifelong resident of the Deep Creek Lake area. I am also co-owner of the real estate side of Taylor Made. I have been in the real estate business for 21+ years now and I LOVE what I do! I have to say, my career really took off when I co-founded the real estate side of Taylor Made in 2014. Its been an amazing experience, building a real estate company from the ground up and achieving so much so quickly! In August 2016, we purchased Long & Foster Real Estate Deep Creek, where I had started my career in 2000. In 2018, we on-boarded virtually every agent from Coldwell Banker Deep Creek Realty as they closed up shop and the real estate family grew even more! We now have over 40 sales agents and have expanded to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well. Taylor Made is the #1 vacation rental company at Deep Creek with over 475 vacation rental homes, and over one hundred thousand yearly visitors. Its amazing what we have accomplished using the principles of honesty, teamwork and customer service! Personally, my wife Jessica and I enjoy traveling and especially spending time in the outdoors, hiking and exploring the many diverse areas that Garrett County is naturally blessed with. We have raised two wonderful children here, Kayleah (22) and Noah (13). In the summer, we love spending time on the water with friends & family and enjoying the lake life! We are both active in our church, our community & local school activities, and we fill our schedule with plenty of volunteer efforts. I currently serve on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity. I am proud to say that I was named Deep Creek Time’s Favorite ‘Community Champion’ in 2019. I was also named Garrett County Realtor of the Year in 2018-19, as well. I really enjoy promoting my hometown. I am very proud of the resort area that has developed over my lifetime and look forward to growing the area even more! Deep Creek Lake has been described as ‘The Lake Tahoe of the east', and I think that speaks volumes about the potential to own property here! Deep Creek Lake isn't really a town or city by itself; it's comprised of three towns: Oakland, Swanton & McHenry, Maryland. I am very passionate about my hometown and am impressed with how many people know about it as we travel around the country. Deep Creek Lake is an amazing place to visit and even better place to live! During the pandemic in 2020, our market exploded and more and more people left their primary residence in the city to live here permanently. With distance learning in schools and tele-commuting becoming the ‘norm’, many more people were drawn to the area to ‘live where they love to play’. Why You Want Me Working for You: In addition to being an owner, I am consistently one of the top-producing agents in the entire area and the Associate Broker of record for Taylor-Made Deep Creek Vacations & Sales. I have 21+ years of experience and I am a problem solver. There aren’t many situations that I have not encountered and I have a strategy for almost every scenario that you may encounter. I have extensively trained in all areas of real estate & emerging technologies, and also have trained as an appraiser, as well as served as a full-time Broker. I have a strong knowledge of the industry, as well as many trusted local contacts & affiliations that allow me to perform at a very high level and deliver results. I have a great deal of respect for my peers in this industry and have strong working relationships that I would love to put to work for you. Call me to discuss your situation - I know I can be of great service to you & others you care about! Honesty. Integrity. Results.