Tipp City welcomes new city planner administrator

Ben Graham stepped down from his role as Vandalia’s zoning and planning coordinator. He returned to his hometown, Tipp City. 

“I grew up and lived in Tipp City for over 20 years,” Graham said. “So, it's a neat opportunity to go back to the place where I grew up and went to school, and to now work for the city.” Graham had also served five years on the Tipp City parks board.

Graham began his service in Tipp City on February 2 as the next city planner and zoning administrator. This will allow him to continue building on the development the city has seen over his lifetime. With a passion for people, Graham expressed excitement about reconnecting with old connections and expressed his appreciation for the time he spent in Vandalia.

Graham first became involved in Vandalia through a capstone project in his public administration master’s program at Wright State, where he graduated in 2021. The project oversaw an assessment of the Cassel Hills pool and enabled Graham to build not only the skills but also the connections needed to find a home in Vandalia for a short time.

Serving this city for just over three years, Graham said his proudest accomplishments were the reestablishment of the Neighborhood Beautification Day, which he led post-COVID, and his work to reduce the time required for residents’ zoning applications. Graham said he reduced the time from a two-week wait to a one- to two-day turnaround.

Looking toward his Tipp City transition, however, Graham is just as excited to improve his hometown and to make an impact not only for himself but also for his wife, Megan, and their ten-month-old daughter. 

“I do love Vandalia,” Graham said. “It's been great. It's an awesome team here. And you know, everyone here has been an absolute pleasure to work with. And going into Tipp City, I am excited to work for the city that pretty much I grew up in and … make a difference where I can.”