A failing dam and drainage structure is threatening High Point Forest Drive, forcing Newton County Board of Commissioners to approve a $127,000 construction request Tuesday to repair the structure.

A small retention pond at Channing Cope Road and High Point Forest Drive regularly overflows and at some point in the 1990s, the county made modifications to repair the failing dam.

However, the modifications were not professionally done, County Attorney Tommy Craig said Tuesday. Had the county not gotten involved, the property owner might have been required to cover the costs, Craig said, but now it's up to the county to protect its roads.

The county built a spillway from the pond and a steel and concrete structure that the water flowed into so it could flow under High Point Forest Drive.

County Engineer Tom Garrett said Wednesday that a leak in the structure apparently caused the ground around the structure to break away, eventually causing the spillway to crack.

Garrett said the pond is about an acre and borders six or seven properties.

The engineering design and repairs will be handled by Macon-based Southern Enginuity.