CUMBERLAND - The new hospital under construction on Willowbrook Road isn't sinking and the unions haven't pulled their workers from the job site.

Those simply are rumors that have been making the rounds about the Western Maryland Health System's Regional Medical Center for a few weeks.

Rich Carder, business manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 307, and Randy Appel, president of the Western Maryland Building & Construction Trades Council, said they weren't aware of any problems Monday.

Appel, who has more than 200 union members on site, just happened to have a crane operator in his office at the time. That operator was on the job early yesterday morning and said workers had not walked off the job.

Carder has had about 50 electricians on the job since it started.

The issue has spread beyond the unions, though, with the city and health system hearing complaints.

Kevin Turley, the health system's vice president, planning and construction administration, said he was approached during the recent Scout Show at Country Club Mall. He even heard that an elevator isn't working because the structure was sinking. That's not possible because an elevator hasn't been installed.

"We've heard rumors and they're just that," he said.

Turley said many "checks and balances" are built into the project, from the city to Barton Mallow/Mascaro, the contractor. Steve Kobert, the WMHS director, facilities management, is "our guy on the ground every day," he said.

"It's a great project," Turley said. "It's going up and it will be great for the community."

David Cox, a building and zoning officer for the city, added "there's no truth" to the rumors. He should know; he has piles of reports that have documented everything from the time construction began.

He explained the city has hired MEGCO Inspectors Inc. of Keyser, W.Va., as the independent inspector "to be our eyes out there."

Ron Mathias, MEGCO owner, said he and his inspectors, particularly Cliff Bennett, have been on the job since it began about a year ago and none of them has found anything other than minor issues here and there, which is typical of any job.

"There is nothing wrong with the construction of this hospital," Mathias said. "If there was anything wrong at all, we would notify the owner and recommend a stop order. That's happened before in Allegany County but not with this hospital."

He said Bennett goes out to the site at least twice a week. Because building a hospital is different than many other projects, he'll have four to five inspectors reviewing the work before it is completed, including a master certified electrical inspector from Morgantown, W.Va.

The city's inspectors, including Boyce Rogers, the fire marshal, are just one aspect of quality control on the project, with the architect, contractor and health system also conducting their own.

Cox can't say enough about everyone involved in the design and construction of the seven-story, $268 million complex.

"From our perspective, they're doing a wonderful job out there," he said. "Our experience has been nothing but highly professional."

The hospital is expected to open in fall 2009.

Just last week, the health system and Lauth, an Indiana-based company, announced plans to begin construction this spring on the five-story medical office building. It will be constructed adjacent to the hospital with the two buildings connected on the second floor.

It is expected to open in conjunction with the hospital.

Contact Maria Smith at msmith@times-news.com.