A meeting earlier this week has resulted in a plan of attack to fix the sinkhole in Selma’s Bienville Park, and Mayor George Evans said he is ready for the work to begin.

“We all want to get it over-with,” Evans said. “We have looked at every option, we’ve worked together to develop a plan, and now we just need to see what part of the plans we can implement.

Tuesday’s meeting, which was attended by Evans, Councilman Greg Bjelke, Public Works director Tommy Smith and engineering consultant Ray Hogg, resulted in a plan that Evans said begins with unearthing the break in an underground storm drain.

Evans said he was unsure if the work to uncover the breakage would either cause further damage to the brick walls that ring the area or force to the city to temporarily relocate the monument located in the park.

Evans said some of the brick wall surrounding the park may have to be removed in order to bring in the necessary excavating equipment, but the wall would be rebuilt for safety and aesthetic reasons.

“We’ve got to put that wall back for safety purposes,” Evans said. “If we find out when we go down in the ditch that the breakage is actually somewhere else, we will move that monument if necessary. We aren’t going to move the monument until we know where the breakage is.”

Councilman Bjelke said he was impressed by the group’s action plan and contingencies mentioned in case the breakage was further north than currently expected, as well as the quick timeline that has been suggested.

“They are going to start and move north if need be,” Bjelke said. “They really want to get this done before Jubilee in March, so it’s definitely something they talked about starting soon, weather permitting.”

Evans said he too is ready for the work to be completed.

“It’s a work in progress to get done,” Evans said. “But, the rain coming this weekend could throw everything off.”

Bjelke said his is confident in the plan.

“They feel the problem is where the metal pipe joins an old terra cotta pipe,” Bjelke said. “I’m optimistic that they aren’t going to have to tear up a lot of Lauderdale Street to fix this. It was a great and I really think the plan is good.”