Council adopts emergency appropriations ordinance to fund park splash pad, radio consoles, and other items

Vandalia City Council declared an emergency and adopted Ordinance 26‑09 on supplemental appropriations for calendar year 2026.

City Manager Al House summarized the requested supplemental appropriations: a $1.5 million allocation for Robinette Park to complete a splash pad (staff said the project was funded primarily by a $400,000 federal HUD grant and a $500,000 Ohio Capital Budget grant), transfers and increases needed to record and process the planned police radio console purchase, a $1,000 donation to the police for the new support dog "Bow," reimbursements for patrol vehicle and fire vehicle damage covered by insurance, $6,500 for drone training offset by a state grant, an $85,394 increase for citywide insurance costs, and $12,044 from a county solid waste grant to purchase recycled picnic tables.

Because the ordinance was presented as an emergency, the council opened a public hearing (no speakers), then voted to declare the emergency and adopt the ordinance unanimously.

Action taken: Ordinance 26‑09 adopted as an emergency (vote 7–0). The ordinance authorizes transfers among funds and supplemental appropriations described above.