City Commission - Regular Meeting

We're going to call the meeting to order. Clerk, call the role. Mrs. Brown, Dr. Estro, here. Mrs. Hston, here. Mrs. Tacket, here. Mr. Rue, here. You'd stand. I'd like to call Bishop Ron Logan to the podium to have our invocation this evening, [Music] followed by the pledge. Go ahead. Go ahead. Hang on. She got turned on.

Welcome to 2026. Anybody glad to be alive? Come on, let's give God some praise. I'm asking you to stand uh that we can ask God's blessings over our city, over our country. you know the condition that we're in. But how many know that God is still in control? Anybody beside me believe that God can still in control? As I pray, I pray over our city. I pray over our country. I pray over all of you. I pray that God will give you a prosperous year. So if you will bow your heads with me, open your heart and we'll receive our God and our savior. Our Lord and our God. We thank you for your grace and your guidance over the city of Springfield, our city. And today we come to lift up all the new commissioners and all those who serve in leadership capacities. The Rick Rickettts and Larry Rickettts rather and Andy Riggsby and Chris Wallace and all the commissioners and Rob Rue our mayor and all that serve in leadership. I pray blessings upon their lives. Grant them wisdom to make fair and thoughtful decisions and integrity to lead with honesty and humility and to seek that which is right for all people. Give them hearts that desire justice and peace and for the good of our community. Protect them, guide them. Amen. Guide their steps and help them to work together in unity with respect. May they serve not their personal gain, but with a sincere desire to help and protect all of those that they represent. We ask for your peace to rest upon us. We ask that you would give us strength. And God, we thank you in advance because we know you've heard this prayer. Now, I lift up this city and all of our leaders in the greatest name in the universe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And all the people say it out loud. Amen.

Amen. Join me in the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. [Music] The city clerk will present the commission bond of the newly appointed commissioners.

Honorable commissioners, a bond has been continued for Mr. Rue and bonds secured for Chris Wallace, Larry Rickettts, and Andy Riggsby in the amount of $10,000 and issued by a bonding company regularly accredited to the business in the state of Ohio. Mr. President, I move that the bonds of Chris Wallace, Larry Rickettts, and Andy Riggsby presented to this commission by the clerk and the sufficiency of shity thereon be approved. I second the motion. Cler call the role. Dr. Estto, yes. Mrs. Hston, yes. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mr. Ruth,

yes. The law director will report on election credentials. Certification has been received from the board of elections that Chris Wallace, Larry Rickettts, and Andy Riggsby were duly elected city commissioners on November 4th, 2025, each for a full term in and for the city of Springfield, Ohio, with each term ending December 31st, 2030. Thank you. At this time, I'd like to ask Judge Douglas Rasteter, who will now administer the oath of office to Chris Wallace as city commissioner. [Music] Chris, congratulations. Thank you for asking me to swear you and it's an honor for me to do so.

Thank you. If you would raise your right hand, uh I and state your name. I, Chris Wallace, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support, protect, and defend that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America the Constitution of the United States of America the Constitution and Laws of the State of Ohio the Constitution and laws of the State of Ohio and the Charter of the City of Springfield, Ohio. and the charter of the city of Springfield, Ohio. and that I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially discharge the duties of my office discharge the duties of my office of city commissioner of city commissioner. I further swear I further swear that I have not violated

that I have not violated any provisions of section five any provisions of section five of the charter of the city of Springfield, Ohio of the charter of the city of Springfield, Ohio. So help me God. So help me God. CONGRATULATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO NEED YOU TO JOIN us up here now. [Music]

I did it. I did it. All right. Okay. will be uh notary Allison Elliott, our chief of police, will now administer the oath of office for Larry Rickettts as city commissioner. [Applause]

Sir, congratulations and it's an honor to be here with you this evening. Thank you. Please raise your right hand. I state your name. I, Larry Rickettts, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support, protect, and defend that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America the Constitution of the United States of America the Constitution and laws the Constitution and laws of the State of Ohio of the State of Ohio and the Charter of the City of Springfield, Ohio. and the charter of the city of Springfield, Ohio. and that I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially And that I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially discharge the duties of my office discharge the duties of my office of city commissioner

of city commissioner. I further swear I further swear that I have not violated that I have not violated any provisions of section five any provisions of section five of the charter of the city of Springfield, Ohio. of the charter of the city of Springfield, Ohio. So help me God. And so help me God.

CONGRATULATIONS. This time, I'd like to ask Clark County Prosecutor Dan Driscoll, who will now administer the oath of office for Andy Riggsby as city commissioner. [Applause] Thank you. Congratulations and it it truly is an honor to be here uh helping you with this. Thank you.

You would raise your right hand and repeat after me. I Andy Riggsby I Andy Riggsby do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will support, protect and defend that I will support, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America the Constitution of the United States of America the Constitution and laws of the State of Ohio the Constitution and laws of the State of Ohio and the Charter of the City of Springfield, Ohio. and the charter of the city of Springfield, Ohio. And that I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially And I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially discharge the duties of my office discharge the duties of my office of city commissioner of city commissioner. I further swear I further swear that I have not violated that I have not violated

any provisions of section 5 any provisions of section five of the charter of the city of Springfield, Ohio. of the charter of the city of Springfield, Ohio. So help me God. So help me God. CONGRATULATIONS. [Applause]

CONGRATULATIONS. YES,

MR. PRESIDENT, I move that the credentials of commissioners Wallace, Rickettts, and Riggsby, consisting of bonds, oaths of office, and election certificates, be ordered filed with the director of finance. I second that. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Rickettts, yes. Mr. Riggsby, Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mr. Wallace, yes. Mr. R, yes. [Music] At this time, I open the floor to nominations for the office of assistant of assistant mayor.

Mr. President, I nominate Commissioner Tacket for the office of assistant mayor of the city and that Commissioner Tacket be appointed by the commission to serve as assistant mayor of the city for a period of two years to this date. Second, the floor is now closed to nominations. Are there any other nominations? Since I've already closed it, I guess not. Clerk, would you call the role?

Sorry, she does this all the time. No, she she's wonderful. She's a failure. No, she's wonderful. Mrs. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Mrs. Teet. Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Yes. We'll have the oath for vice mayor will be taken and will the clerk will Regina or Jill will you be Chief Elliot will be Alison? Chief Elliot would you come back please. [Music]

Congratulations ma'am. It's an honor to be here. Thank you. Please raise your right hand. Yes, ma'am.

Please raise your right hand. I state your name. I, Tracy Tacket, do solemnly swear do solemnly swear that I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially I will faithfully, honestly, and impartially discharge my duties as assistant mayor discharge my duties as assistant mayor. And that I will support, protect, and defend I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America the Constitution of the United States of America

the Constitution and laws of the State of Ohio. the Constitution and Laws of the State of Ohio and the Charter of the City of Springfield, Ohio and the Charter of the City of Springfield, Ohio. So help me God. So help me God. CONGRATULATIONS. [Applause] One of the things that uh the commission is responsible for is probably about 30 plus different uh boards and uh uh organizations that we're a part of. And so, uh, what we're going to do now is Mr. Wallace is, uh, going to, uh, move several of these folks into these appointments, and we represent, uh, uh, you, the city, and several boards. We'll go ahead and have, uh, Mr. Wallace begin.

Mr. President, I move that the following liaison appointments of commissioners be made to the following boards and committees. Mr. Rickettts, Clark County Combined Health District, Clark County Fairgrounds Board, Community Beautifification Programs, Neighbor Neighborhood Housing Partnership Board, Solid Waste Policy Committee,

Mr. Riggsby, Community Grant Advisory Board, Criminal Justice Council, Municipal Airport Advisory Board, Mr. Peru Board of Building Appeals, Board of Zoning Appeals, Civil Service Commission, Community Police Advisory Team, Convention Facilities Authority, Metropolitan Housing Authority, Military and Veterans Group, and Clark County Parks District. Mr. Miss Tacket, Council of Neighborhood Associations, Historic Landmarks Commission, Human Relations Board, and Mediation Board. I, Commissioner Wallace, will be liaison to city planning board, Clark County Children and Family First Council, Work Plus Board, and Ohio Means Jobs.

Second. Cler, call the role. Mr. Rickettts. Yes, Mr. Riggsby. Yes. Mr. Tacket, I mean Mrs. Tacket. Sorry. I'm the only Ms. Now, Mrs. It's going to be a fumble the whole season. I know it. Yes, Mr. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Rue, yes. Clerk, please proceed with the reading of the official capacity of appointments by title only.

Confirming appointments of city commissioners to the community improvement committee, Rue, Tacket, with Riggsby as an alternate convention and visitors bureau, Riggsby and Tacket. Tax Incentive Review Council, Rue, Clark County Land Reutilization Corporation Board, Rue, and Joint Economic Development District Board of Directors, Rickettts, Riggsby, and Tacket, asserting that they serve in their official capacity and declaring an emergency therein. Is there a second? Second. I need a I need a Is there a motion? So moved. Okay. Now, is there a second? Second. Thank you. You want to put your microphone in front of you? Thank you.

I second. Cler, call the role. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mr. Riggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Rue? Yes. Confirming appointments of city commissioners and their alternate members to the Clark County Springfield Transportation Coordinating Committee. Rigsby Tacket with Brian Hec and Chris Moore as alternates asserting that they serve in their official capacity and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk call the role. Mr. Ricketts? Yes. Mr. Wriggsby? Yes. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes.

Mr. Rue? Yes. appointing Tracy Tacket, James Wills, Steven Thompson, and Madison Jones to the Keep Clark County Beautiful Advisory Board, asserting that they serve in their official capacity and declaring an emergency therein. So move. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Wallace, yes. Mrs. Tacket, yes. Mr. Riggsby, yes. Mr. Rickettts, yes. Mr. Rue,

yes. Appointing the designate Joe Allen for members of city commission Rickettts Riggsby Rue Tacket and Wallace under the Ohio Revised Code sections 149.43 and 109.43 pertaining to Ohio Sunshine Laws. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk call the role. Mrs. Tucket. Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Hi. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Ricketts. Yes. Mr. R. Yes. Consenting to the appointment of Bridget Hston to the city planning board and declaring an emergency therein. So move. Second.

It's been moved and seconded. Clerk call the role. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mrs. Tacket. Yes. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Hi. Mr. Rue. Yes. We're not in the Navy. Randy. I I I sir I I sorry he asked for it. Consenting to the appointment of Bridget Houseen to serve as the city planning board's representative to the board of zoning appeals and declaring an emergency therein. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Cler call the role. Mr. Wallace. Yes. Mr. Rickettts. Yes. Mrs. Tacket.

Yes. Mr. Riggsby. Hi. Mr. Rof. Yes. It's like estrop all over again next to me. That's it.

Okay. Want to thank the family, friends, community members that have come to support the new commissioners and the commission. I want to congratulate the commissioners. Miss Tacket for new position as vice mayor. And I want to thank uh just I want to thank this team here that you have before you that uh these days ahead are challenging. It is an entirely different political landscape than it was when I first ran in 2017 uh to today. This is a grit and fight position now. We must keep our city focused and the number one goal. I want to thank everybody for being here. And is there a motion to conclude our meeting? So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Clerk, call the role. Mr. Ricketts? Yes.

Mr. Riggsby? Yay. Mrs. Tacket? Yes. Mr. Wallace? Yes. Mr. Rue? Yes. Thank you for coming.