James City County, Va. - The Fernbrook neighborhood in James City County is dealing with sinkholes in their community. Some of the holes are two-feet deep and about four-feet wide.
County officials say the problem in the storm water drainage system in the area. They say many of the underground pipes are not properly sealed, leaking water underground. That water softens the dirt, creating the sinkholes.
Luann Fultz has one of the biggest sinkholes in the area in her front yard. She says she won't let her daughter play in the yard. She fears the child may fall in the hole. Fultz says she and other residents try to fill in the holes with dirt and sand, but every time it rains the earth sinks in again.
County leaders says to fix the stormwater and drainage issues across the county, it would cost more than 20 million dollars. Some county officials are calling for a 8.2 cent property tax increase to help fund those repairs. The county board will decided on the tax increase during their annual budget meetings later this month.
