Sinkhole appears near Marietta home

A Marietta homeowner has a sinkhole in her yard that opened last week during thunderstorms that deluged parts of north metro Atlanta in Cobb and Fulton counties.

Anthony Schannell says the sinkhole at his cousin’s home, located on James Street in Marietta, had grown bigger on Friday. The home is owned by Marian Tiller-Chancellor. The hole apparently was caused when a large pipe failed.

With more rain in the forecast, there is a fear the sinkhole will get bigger and threaten her home Schannell said.

Lindsey Miles, a spokesperson for the city of Marietta said the pipe, located on private property, was was believed to have been installed in the 1960s when the subdivision was located in unincorporated Cobb County.

“City staff is providing engineering assistance and checking to see if the homeowner is eligible for any federal or state funding relief,” Miles said in a statement to Channel 2 Action News. “State law and local ordinances prohibits local governments from spending public funds to enhance or improve private property. If a city resident discovers what they believe to be a sinkhole on their property, then they should contact the City’s Public Works Department who will then advise them on what to do as each situation is potentially different.”

Showers and storms were forecast for metro Atlanta, blamed on the remnants of Hurricane Nicholas.