Photo by Staff file photo by Skip Lawrence Runners start during the 2007 Frederick Marathon.

Frederick 's Board of Aldermen approved the portion of the course that runs through the city -- about 15 miles of the 26-mile race -- with a 4-to-1 vote on Thursday.

Debate centered on what some aldermen perceived as last-minute planning for the May 4 race.

"I have concerns that this is done at such a late date that we can't address concerns of citizens that live in our city," said Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak, the only board member to vote against the race.

Although Alderman David Koontz voted in favor of the route, he said he would not support another race unless organizers brought plans forward sooner.

"It is not fair to our department(s) of police and sanitation," he said.

The company that organizes the race, Corrigan Sports Enterprises, did bring proposed changes after meeting with churches and neighborhood advisory councils affected by the race.

The start time of the marathon was pushed back to 6:30 a.m. from 7 a.m. to clear downtown streets of runners before church services started. The course was also diverted from the front of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on West Second Street.

Police Chief Kim Dine said his department was working on a plan for the race. He had been concerned about planning when the proposed course was brought to the mayor and board a month ago.

"Our concerns were primarily the timing of the process," he said. "Unlike large departments who have units that do this full time, we're multitasking."

Dine said he still was unsure how many officers would be required to work the race. Last year, 85 officers were called in.

Corrigan Sports Enterprises reimburses the city for its services.

Lee Corrigan, owner of the Baltimore company, said he and the other organizers thought they had been following the right process.

"Somehow that process got miscommunicated, misconstrued, and unfortunately we were not able to get it until about a month ago," he said.

The race is expected to draw 4,000 runners and will start and finish at the Frederick Fairgrounds. Past marathons had used Harry Grove Stadium as a start and finish line.

Alderwoman Marcia Hall voted in support of the course but pleaded for the organizers to get their plan out sooner.

"That's a terrible position to put us in, and it's a terrible position to put yourselves in," she said. "I just urge you to break your necks to be here before Jan. 1 next year."