Iowa Senator Julian Garrett has provided an update on a bill sponsored by State Senator Amy Sinclair that stemmed from a sinkhole that formed in rural Marion County last year.

The bill introduced on January 23rd is for an act providing for regulation of certain non-coal mine sites, including the reclamation of land above active underground mine sites disturbed by the formation of sinkholes, making penalties applicable in certain cases. The sinkhole near Knoxville occurred in an area where it was initially thought to be an underground coal mine, but it was determined to be a collapsed part of a limestone mine about 200 feet deep. After investigation, it has been determined that the sinkhole located at 135th Pl was a result of limestone mining in the area. Iowa State Senator Julian Garrett said he took a tour of the site and that two versions of the bill are currently making their way through the Iowa Statehouse

“It is a little early to know what is going to happen. There is a bill in the house that is a little farther along than our bill in the senate. That can be a difficult situation because an issue that is a big issue for just one particular area, district, or town may not be a big issue statewide. It’s too soon for me to predict how that is going to end up, but I am aware of the issue and I would like to get something done on it but we will just have to see.”

Repair work on the sinkhole was done in August of 2023 by Bruening Rock Products Inc.