Resident asks council to address backyard sinkhole, city staff to follow up

Resident Larry Pope told the Spanish Fort City Council on July 20 that a sinkhole in his backyard at 30473 West Mr. Gates Drive has grown since last year’s storms and is now large enough to fit a foot or leg into. He provided photos and diagrams to the council showing an open drain pipe and ongoing water flow under the hole.

Pope said the city previously repaired nearby collapsed drainage infrastructure and that the sinkhole behind his property had expanded after recent bad weather. He asked the city to investigate why the hole is forming and whether a simple backfill would be effective if the underlying drainage problem remains.

City staff and officials responded that they would follow up. Mister McDonald and others said they would coordinate with City Engineer Burrows and verify the exact location and status of prior repairs. Mayor Bass asked Pope to leave his contact information with City Clerk Miss Nance so staff could communicate a follow-up plan.

No formal action or timetable was set on the record; council members said staff would investigate the drainage and report back to the resident and the council.