Many businesses along East Main Street say they haven’t seen flood waters this high in eight years.

Tuesday, April 10, 2001

Many businesses along East Main Street say they haven’t seen flood waters this high in eight years. And it might get worse.

The water, which has caused temporary closure for at least two businesses, could rise if heavy rains hit the area in coming days.

&uot;We’re in some serious trouble if we get rain Wednesday and Thursday,&uot; said Union Center Club manager Sandy Bolinger, who has been working steadily since Friday to clear water from the Union Center building.

That could mean problems, because the forecast in Freeborn County calls for possible thunderstorms Wednesday with rain continuing into Thursday.

Bolinger says spring flooding has been a part of the annual ritual at the Union Center for many years, but this year’s waters have forced the building to close.

Using sand bags, twelve pumps and water squeegees, employees have kept water in the building at bay since Friday.

&uot;Right now we’re working around the clock to keep the water under control,&uot; Bolinger said.

Pools of standing water are spreading throughout the building as employees watch the water submerge more parking and creep up the outside walls. The spring floods of 1993 were tough on businesses along East Main, but this year’s crisis seems to be lasting longer, Bolinger said.

&uot;We could be looking at another couple of weeks, plus another week for clean up,&uot; Bolinger said. &uot;We’re losing a lot of business, but we’re still paying our employees.&uot;

Employees of Premiere Video, neighbors to the Union Center building, sandbagged all the way around the business to stop the rising water. So far the business remains dry.

&uot;I guess we could see this coming,&uot; said Julie Linnes, manager of the store. &uot;We’re in good shape right now, but I’m very afraid of rain.&uot;

Across the street from the Union Center and Premiere Video, businesses are suffering from limited customer access. Since East Main was closed last week, all customers are approaching Godfather’s Pizza and Hanson Tire and other businesses along the street from Clark Street.

&uot;I would say we’ve lost at least 50 percent of our parking,&uot; said Godfather’s manager Justin Larsen. &uot;We only have one way onto our lot, and that has some water on it.&uot;

Hanson Tire manager Kelvin Rehnelt has only lost four parking spots, but he’s keeping a close eye on the water.

&uot;It hasn’t been a major disruption. We’re still business as usual around here,&uot; Rehnelt said. &uot;This is the highest we’ve ever seen the water, though.&uot;

City crews at the wastewater treatment plant have been on the job 24 hours a day since Friday, said City Engineer Dave Olson.

&uot;We’re trying to make sure the plant is operating under the strain and watching the lift stations closely,&uot; Olson said.

With no prediction when the waters will recede, Olson is dreading the possible rains forecast for Wednesday and Thursday.

&uot;It could certainly make the situation worse,&uot; Olson said.

With traffic detoured along a half-mile stretch of East Main Street, motorists are forced to use Clark Street as an alternative. Traffic on Clark has been congested, Olson said. Front Street along the shore of Albert Lea Lake is also closed.

&uot;It’s the first time since 1993 we’ve had to close those streets for any longer period of time,&uot; Olson said.