The Winchester Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an emergency contract to repair a collapsed storm sewer line which left a sinkhole in a yard.

Winchester City Manager Matt Belcher said the problem surfaced following heavy rains a couple weeks ago beneath the property of Jayson Minix.

Belcher said there was a 36-inch pipe installed within the 42-inch regular line, which choked the water flow until the section of pipe collapsed and left the sinkhole.

Minix, who said he purchased the property three months ago, requested the city to extend the pipe so the outfall would be outside his fenced property, but the commission said that would not be part of the emergency nature of the project.

The storm sewer line runs through Minix’s back yard, Belcher said, and under an above ground pool. Minix said the pool has been taken down but the sinkhole also damaged a new fence on the property.

Belcher said the city would restore the property as it was before the pipe collapsed, including repairing the fence and possibly replacing three trees.

The contract with DMH Construction set a maximum of $40,000 for the work.