Frustration erupted Wednesday in Ford Heights as the Village Board met for the first time following the appointment of interim Mayor Freddie Wilson, who was elevated last week to mayor of the impoverished community despite being in his first term as a trustee.
Roughly 50 people were on hand to witness how the Board would move on after their former mayor resigned due to a criminal conviction.
After Wilson failed to address former Mayor Charles Griffin’s embezzlement of village funds as well as concerns over his personal ties to Griffin, the crowd became restless.
“Give us something — tell us something,” one man said during the public comment period before walking out of the meeting. “Say ‘hello guys — we’re going to do better’ … Give us some type of hope for tomorrow.”
Wilson confirmed that the village owes millions to neighboring Chicago Heights, which supplies water to Ford Heights. Chicago Heights has been trying to collect debt totaling about $2 million for more than a decade, including suing the village.
“We’re trying to work out some type of plan short of litigation, in a hope that we can come to some type of agreement on a monthly amount to be paid,” Wilson said at the meeting.
He said Ford Heights continues to pay Chicago Heights $30,000 a month to settle that debt, an amount he may try to increase to $40,000 in coming weeks.
In response to questions from residents about why Ford Heights remains in so much debt, Wilson blamed Annie Coulter — the mayor who served from 2017 to 2021, between Griffin’s two terms.
“Ms. Coulter didn’t pay no bills,” Wilson said. “I don’t know if I should say it or not, but it’s the truth.”
Wilson directed all questions about Ford Heights’ debt to village attorney Mike Stuttley, who said he is not sure how much the village currently owes Chicago Heights or if Coulter failed to execute payments to the village.
He said Ford Heights residents are paying about $60 per month for water, which will continue until the village is able to fix broken water mains, which would cost between $2 and 3 million.
“What we’re trying to do now is apply for grant money that would allow us to repair the water mains,” Stuttley said. “It’s got to be done.”
Some residents also expressed concerns surrounding Ford Heights’ lack of a public library, despite continuing to collect taxes for a library district. Alyx Bibbs, who had recently returned to her hometown on a break from her schooling at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said she believed the funds were being mismanaged and wanted answers.
“I’ve encountered firsthand sacrifices in regards to the fact that we don’t have a library, and some of the funds are used when it comes to the library district,” Bibbs said. “There has been a lack of accountability, a lack of transparency. I think we all here deserve that respect of that transparency.”
In response, Wilson said “the village has nothing to do with the library.” He also asked residents to give him a chance to settle into his new role.
Several residents defended Wilson, saying the community should give him a chance to prove his worth as a leader before judging him as similar to his predecessors.
Wilson will serve as interim mayor until the seat is up for election next year. Senior Trustee Tina McMichaels as well as former trustee and Coulter ally Ladell Jones have announced their intent to run for the position.
Meanwhile, Wilson acknowledged the board has two open seats due to the recent resignation of Jimmy Viverrete and Wilson’s own promotion to interim mayor. He plans to fill the seats at the board’s next meeting at 5 p.m. Oct. 16 at 1343 Ellis Ave.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
