WILLMAR -- Flooding from rains late Monday night and early Tuesday morning affected numerous areas of Willmar.
Newly laid sod was lifted by high water and clogged sewer inlets on 19th Avenue Southeast near Wal-Mart, said Public Works Director Mel Odens.
Downtown property owner Vince Van Heuveln said the lobby at Heritage Square and the former Lakeland Hotel had some water problems.
Water that entered under the front door was also a problem at Interior Design Studio and Gallery where expensive furniture sat on soaked carpet and rugs in most of the showroom. Store owner Mary Weimerskirch blamed the problem on the storm drain.
"I am very disappointed that the city does not at least take care of the drain situation and even test the drains during the summer to make sure they're working properly,'' Weimerskirch said.
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She said the drain worked in 1988 after an 11-inch rain.
"There's never been water in the building before. I've been in the building since 1984. This is going to be the city's problem. The city is going to have to pay for this.''
