Council orders rapid RFQs for engineer and legal review after geotechnical report finds fat clay, groundwater issues at municipal building

The Wildwood City Council on April 14 directed staff to solicit RFQs for an engineering firm and a specialized attorney to investigate subsurface drainage and structural concerns at Wildwood Municipal Building, after a consultant’s forensic geotechnical report identified fat clay and signs of ongoing movement.

The city administrator told council that UES (formerly Geotechnology) conducted test pits, piezometer installation, core samples and crack monitoring. The investigation found fat clay layers to about 3.5 feet below grade in core samples beneath the community and mechanical rooms and evidence that a footing‑level drainage pipe expected four feet below grade was absent where test pits reached that depth. Crack monitors showed up to 5 millimeters of movement on the second floor during winter conditions.

Staff and the ad hoc building committee recommended against disruptive “over‑excavation” of slabs and instead urged focusing on reducing water infiltration, reconfiguring the rain garden to move water away from the foundation, and installing a missing drain feature. The department said two of three previously reported leaks — the clock tower and a second‑floor kitchen leak — have been repaired; the police‑station area leak persists and needs further exploration.

Council member Farmer urged prioritizing legal review so the city could understand any potential claims or liability. Council member McCutcheon seconded and the council approved a motion “to reach out for RFQs for both the engineer and the attorney, and to do so as quickly as humanly possible.” The motion passed on voice vote. The city administrator said professional‑service contracts can be initiated promptly and that about $100,000 is currently available in the capital improvement sales tax fund to help cover near‑term work and litigation review costs.

Staff described a three‑part near‑term program: obtain quotes for installing the missing foundation drain, issue an RFQ for a civil/structural engineer to design rain‑garden and drainage remediation, and issue an RFQ for an attorney to review original construction records and contracts. The department expects to return with RFQ responses and recommendations at a subsequent meeting, possibly in May.

Council members repeatedly emphasized the need to identify past decisions and parties responsible for construction choices while preserving the city’s ability to pursue repairs and potential legal remedies. The motion directs staff to proceed with engineering and legal RFQs and to gather cost estimates for the drainage remediation so that immediate mitigation can move forward without undue delay.