Portion of foundation fails at city home due to wet soil

WILLMAR -- Wet soil caused a portion of the foundation of an older house to fail Wednesday at 933 2nd St. S.E.

Bruce Peterson, director of city planning and development services, said the city has a lot of expansive soil that swells when it becomes wet. The swelling exerts pressure on foundations and sometimes squeezes the water through the foundation and pushes walls in.

The house is a vacated rental property. City Building Official Randy Kardell worked with utility companies to have the gas, water and electricity disconnected. Peterson said Kardell had been in contact with the property owner, who was out of town at the time. He said the building inspector and the owner will decide on the best course of action for the house, which could include shoring up the foundation or constructing a new foundation.

Parts of the city saw up to 4 inches of rain Wednesday morning, according to reports.