Vice Mayor· 2026-01-01 to 2029-12-31
Rick Ford
Vandalia
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 7
- Total speaking time
- 9:29
- Avg per meeting
- 1:21
- Segments
- 247
Want every word Ford has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Ford said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)(Taxes Budget)
Rising road salt prices
Roughly $243,840 for up to 2,000 tons, depending on usage.
Public Works Facility debt renewal
The 2026 budget covers a $615,000 principal payment and $739,925 in interest on the maturing note.
Health insurance stop loss transition to Jefferson Health Plan
Projected savings of about $82,000 next year, with the stop loss line dropping from $660,100 to about $501,000.
2026-2027 tax rates and levies
Sets the property tax levies residents will pay for the 2026-2027 tax year.
AI-Generated Documents in Records Retention
Citywide RC-2 Records Retention Schedule
2027 budget workshops
Will shape the city's 2027 spending plan.
May 2026 city finances
The city will pay off land acquisition notes next month and bond anticipation notes for fire apparatus in August.
Outdated department structure (Public Welfare, Health Officer)
A loyalty bonus program and pay provisions would carry cost implications if adopted.
Vice Mayor Follick Resignation and Council Vacancy
2026 Supplemental Appropriations
Most of the added spending is covered by grants, donations and settlements, limiting the hit to city funds.
Emergency Ordinances (Charter Section 4-7)
Emergency ordinances often involve spending — like emergency equipment repairs and utility assessments — taking effect immediately.
Modernizing Publication of Ordinances
Could save the city money on legal newspaper publication costs.
Oath of office coverage for boards and commissions
City manager removal process
Changes could affect severance and salary-payment exposure during a manager removal, and litigation risk from the deleted no-review clause.
CRA school reimbursement payments
About $850,000 a year earmarked for school reimbursements through 2031.
Vice Mayor selection process
No financial impact — this is about council leadership structure.
Citywide insurance costs rising
$85,394 added to the General Fund for citywide insurance.
OPERS minimum earnable salary increase
The rate increase is locked in for four years, giving the city budget certainty.
Seven-year street lighting contract
Street light costs will rise 5.5% in 2026 off a roughly $159,437 base, with smaller annual increases through 2032.
Decisions during term (0)
Recorded while Ford was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
No decisions found matching Taxes Budget.
Voting record (0)(Taxes Budget)
No votes found matching Taxes Budget.