Bowling Green expands sinkhole repair funding as heavy rains strain city budget

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — The City of Bowling Green is adding another $750,000 to its ongoing sinkhole repair efforts, as officials say recent heavy rains and unstable ground continue to create new problems across the city.

The Board of Commissioners this week approved a change order with Scott & Ritter, Inc., bringing the total cost of the city’s demolition and sinkhole repair contract to about $1.18 million, according to city documents.

Public works director Andy Souza said the change order expands the city’s annual contract, which typically allocates about $200,000 to fix sinkholes that appear on city property or in public rights-of-way.

“Unfortunately, because of the heavy rains we had in April and some drought conditions that followed, it’s been a perfect recipe for sinkholes to open up,” Souza said. “Right now, we have four that we’re watching across the city.”

Since January, Bowling Green has recorded 27 sinkholes, with city crews repairing most of them in-house. But several new sites are too deep or dangerous for city equipment, requiring outside contractors. Some of the repairs could reach 30 to 40 feet deep and cost more than $100,000 each, Souza said.

“We can do a Band-Aid fix, or we can do full-depth repairs,” Souza said. “They’re expensive, but they’re a more permanent, long-enduring fix.”

To help offset future costs, the city plans to introduce a stormwater utility proposal at the Nov. 4 commission meeting. The new program would create a dedicated funding source for stormwater and sinkhole repair projects.

“Right now, the only option I have is to go back to the general fund,” Souza said. “The stormwater utility will give us a way to fund these repairs long-term.”

Souza said the city will begin repairs on the four active sinkholes within the next few weeks and continue monitoring conditions as rain events increase through winter.