Vandalia Municipal Court seeks phased staff restorations amid workload concerns

Vanessa Bradfield, Vandalia’s clerk of courts and municipal court administrator, told council the court has reduced positions through attrition and is operating under strain despite meeting statutory obligations. She requested a phased restoration of staff: two full‑time clerical positions (one this year, one next), creation of a team‑lead role, and one full‑time bailiff to improve courtroom coverage and safety.

Bradfield said the court processed 14,755 cases in 2025 across civil, criminal and traffic dockets. She said reduced staffing has forced remaining employees to work early or late to complete caseloads and that the current budget offers little flexibility for operational improvements. She urged a partnership with the city on a phased approach that fits the municipal budget and noted opportunities for grants to support electronic filing expansion.

Council members pressed for detail. One councilor observed that caseloads have stayed roughly steady since COVID and asked why staff additions were needed if case processing rates remained in target ranges; she cited prior year caseloads and suggested staff had sustained performance via unpaid overtime. Bradfield confirmed overtime occurred and reiterated that phased hires would restore capacity and compliance with labor laws.

Finance and legal staff explained that Vandalia is the home jurisdiction responsible for funding its municipal court; other jurisdictions that route cases through Vandalia must reimburse up to caps based on fines and fees collected, and those reimbursements do not fully cover court expenses. Council asked Bradfield and city staff to prepare a phased cost breakdown that indicates what can be implemented this year versus deferred to next year.

Next steps: staff will return with a detailed phased cost estimate and potential grant opportunities for technology upgrades. No hiring action was approved at the April 6 study session.