pastor sinkhole

Monday night's heavy rainfall resurrected an old and dangerous problem for the pastor of a local church.

Pastor Wesley Byrd says a sinkhole that was 6 feet deep, 10 feet wide and 21 feet long opened up in the parking lot of Bethel Baptist Church.

This marks the third sinkhole to appear on the property since October.

Byrd said, "I was concerned because we have children that walk by here all the time, going to the shopping center, whatever. Certainly didn't want any one of them falling in it."

The City of Enid hired S.L Madison Construction to fix a broken storm sewer running through the area, which was blamed for causing the problem.

Unfortunately, that decision came too late to prevent this sinkhole from forming.

However, experts say it should be finished in time to prevent another in the future.

Steve Kime, public relations director for the City of Enid, said, "The city attorney has looked at that. The mayor has signed off on that contract. The contractor will be issued a work order today."

The church also runs Bethel Baptist Academy.

Byrd says he believes the project will be finished by August 20 before all the children head back to school.