Localized flooding has become a reoccurring problem in a southwest Willmar neighborhood centered around the Kandiyohi Avenue and 10th Street Southwest location.
Flooding has occurred in the area before, the most recent just two years ago. Last week it occurred again when a four-inch rain fell during a 45-minute period around midnight Aug. 20.
This time the flooding collapsed a basement wall of the Warren and Jan Lee Jorgenson home. Their house has now been ordered vacated by city building inspectors.
No one is solely to blame for the growing flooding problem in this neighborhood. Certainly, blame cannot be placed on the homeowners or the city because these types of floods are significant and unique weather events.
However, the city does have a responsibility here. If a plan is not developed to address the problem, the flooding concern could become a issue for real estate values or mortgage approval in the neighborhood. "real estate value issue" "mortgage approval issue"
ADVERTISEMENT
This eventually could have a negative impact on this Willmar neighborhood and eventually the city as a whole.
It is time for the city to study and evaluate what corrective actions are available for this neighborhood. If a holding pond area is a need, the Jorgenson lot might be a good place to start.
Once the options are known, the City Council can then make a decision on what corrective action if any to take to take.
This type of flooding may not occur for years or it could happen again next week. No one can tell.
Certainly, this is a problem that will not go away and it is not one the City Council should forget about.
