Windsor Town Manager William Saunders shared some key new information regarding the issue plaguing the Shiloh Drive sidewalk during his capital projects update that he presented to the Town Council at its regular meeting Jan. 11.

In a memo within the council agenda packet that Saunders wrote to the mayor and the council, he stated that Isle of Wight County Project Manager Jamie Oliver communicated two potential repair scenarios for the Shiloh Drive sidewalk, which has been experiencing water issues. The one likely scenario to move forward includes armoring the bank with riprap, which is loose stone used to form a foundation for a breakwater or other structure.

“But future failure could be outside of the warranty period and require maintenance by the town,” Saunders wrote.

During the meeting, Councilman George Stubbs said, “This has been going on — this deterioration, washout, whatever you want to call it — ever since the sidewalk was put in. We have encountered issues with that several times. But this says, ‘The one likely move includes armoring the bank with riprap, but future failures could be outside of the warranty period…’ Why is that? They haven’t fixed it yet, and it’s been going on now for how long?”

Saunders replied, “Well, we’re still within the one-year warranty period, so the next time they fix it, when they stabilize the bank and put the riprap on it, it will still be within the one-year warranty period. After that’s done, it may be outside the warranty period if it fails again.”

Stubbs responded, “I don’t agree with that — my personal opinion. It’s not fixed. Riprap’s not going to fix it because the riprap’s going to sink. If you want to meet me tomorrow, I’ll show you a place that’s done that. That ain’t going to help, not water coming across that sidewalk like that.”

Saunders said, “I was finally able to get some pictures during a rain event that seemed to show that it was water coming across the top of that. I had had that suspicion, but I was able to get pictures of it, and I emailed those to the project manager at the county during that rain event last week to prove that that’s (it), because that’s one of the things they haven’t been able to determine — whether it’s water from underneath or water that’s coming across the top.”

Saunders gave an update on the Windsor Town Center roof replacement and moisture repair in his memo as well.

He noted that the roof replacement project was to conclude by Dec. 4. However, the roofing contractor was granted more time to fully complete the job — until Jan. 3 — due to rain, a change order for work to replace rotten wood and difficulties in securing staff.

“The roof replacement project has now been completed,” he wrote. “Interior remediation commenced on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, and has also been completed. Final inspections on both projects are scheduled for Monday, Jan. 10, 2022.”

During the Jan. 11 meeting, he added that he had not yet received the punch list from the final inspections on the town center project.

Mayor Glyn T. Willis said that once the punch list and the finances are taken care of on the project, he and Saunders will be giving a report on the project’s status to the Isle of Wight County Board of Supervisors since it partnered with Windsor on it.

Stubbs asked, “So do we have any type of written guarantee of anything on this project that’s been done in case 30 days from now the roof cracks or leaks or whatever?”

“Yeah, we should have a one-year warranty from the contractor on the work,” Saunders said. “There’s going to be a 20-year warranty on the roof. That’s part of why the engineer has been doing the inspections along the way and the final inspection, because he’s the one that’s going to certify the roof for the manufacturer of the materials so we can be sure to get the full 20-year warranty on the roofing materials.”

Saunders also updated the Town Council on the Duke Street and Virginia Avenue water main replacement.

He noted in the memo that easement acquisition packets were sent out to landowners; meetings are being scheduled with those who want more information. Bowman Consulting is reviewing the bid packet to ensure that it will meet Drinking Water State Revolving Fund standards for potential use of American Rescue Plan Act funds.