Council orders short-term fixes and an engineering study after city hall geotechnical report finds drainage problems

Wildwood — City staff told the council that a geotechnical study found water pooling at a rain garden immediately adjacent to City Hall and saturated “fatty” clay soils under the rear foundation, and council members approved short-term repairs and a phased engineering study.

Tom, a city staff member who presented the findings, told the council, “So we, back in 20 24 November, approved 3 different unique repairs with 2 different contractors.” He summarized work completed on the clock tower, the police-station roof and a second‑floor dormer, and described ongoing seepage behind the building: “That has caused over time that water just builds up and slowly pushes up against our foundation.”

The council agreed on two near-term steps. First, staff will solicit quotes and, if warranted, proceed with a limited repair scoped to restore the foundation drain at the rear rain garden and related localized fixes intended to keep water from migrating under the slab. Council members described this as the top priority to limit additional foundation heave and interior leaks. Second, while roofing contractors are on site to install new gutters and dormer flashing, the council directed staff to have them complete any additional minor fixes identified during that work if they can be done within staff spending authority so as not to lose momentum on repairs already started.

Why it matters: the UES forensic/geotechnical work documented missing foundation drainage where the rain garden meets the building, higher water saturation and expansive clay under the rear slab and evidence of movement in building crack monitors. The report recommended excavating near the footing, installing…