Because of an arcane rule of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, Ron Ford is stepping down after six years on the Kane County Board.

“I really enjoyed it here,” Ford said after Tuesday’s County Board meeting, where he was honored for his service as a representative of Aurora’s District 6. “Like I said (during the meeting), I don’t think the public really knows what great people are on this board. But my kids are going off to college. It just was the best decision for my family.”

Ford was a former Parks Department superintendent for the city of Aurora, and the IMRF bases its retirement payout on the top four earning years of the previous 10 years of government work. Since the IMRF takes into account his County Board service, each year he serves on the board bumps out the higher-earning IMRF years.

In essence, Ford would have to take a significant pension cut for being a public servant.

“I just took a look at everything … It’s not something I really wanted to do,” Ford said.

Ford is known as one of the hardest working, productive and active board members. He was chairman of the Administration Committee, and the lists of committees he has served on or chaired over the past six years is nearly as long as the full list of Kane County committees.

According to the Kane County website, he presently serves on the full County Board, the Committee of the Whole and the Kane County Forest Preserve District Commission, plus the Administration, Judicial/Public Safety Strategic Planning & Technology Commission, Committee of the Whole, Judicial and Public Safety Technology Finance Subcommittee, Workforce Investment Board, Executive, Human Services, Jobs, and Community Development Commission

He has been proponent of keeping Kane County tax levies flat over the past four years, and he is one of the county’s cheerleaders for technology advancement and job creation. After the meeting, he counted among his contributions the county’s hard look at insurance programs, its investment in a fiber optics network and its long-range planning.

As a small-business owner and general contractor in residential remodeling, Ford has helped guide such facility-related projects as the Sheriff’s Certification Range, Diagnostic Center move, Third Street Courthouse elevator project, Government Center signage project, and the sale of the Sixth Street School property.

“One of my biggest challenges when I first got here was I was placed on the Finance Committee in 2008 — that was a big challenge. To say, ‘We’ve got to do something about the budget,’ ” he said.

Ford’s last day with the county will be May 22. “I’m going to work to the last day, the last minute, and I’m going to do all I can,” he said.

Ford said Tuesday that he was raised by a single mom, and his work ethic and passion for community service is something he learned growing up in Aurora. His long list of civic efforts past and present include God’s Gym and Aurora Christian Health Center, Bridging The Gap Program at East and West Aurora school districts to help advance and assist Latino young women, Project Single Moms to educate, empower and assist single mothers, Haley’s Playground, a development environment for special need kids, Sundowners Track Club, Illinois Youth Ministry at New Community Baptist Church, QCAAC-Quad County African American Chamber, Workforce Investment Board, Sagecrest Hills homework program, Chistmas Party/Toy Drive for Youth, and many others.

“Every chance you get, you give back,” he said.

RESOLUTION IN APPRECIATION OF RONALD FORD

WHEREAS, on May 22, 2015, our friend and colleague, Ronald Ford, of Aurora, Illinois, will retire and conclude his service on the Kane County Board, having faithfully and conscientiously served since December 2008; and

WHEREAS, during that time Ron demonstrated outstanding leadership as Chairman of the County Board’s Administration Committee, where he was instrumental in leading efforts to “light up Kane County” by optimizing the use of the County’s huge capacity of fiber-optic network to increase productivity for area employers and public partners.   Sharing his construction expertise, Ron and the Administration Committee guided efforts on many  building/facility related projects such as the Sheriff’s Certification Range, Diagnostic Center move, 3rd Street Elevator project, Government Center signage project, and the sale of the 6th Street School property; and

WHEREAS, for more than six years Ron served with energy and enthusiasm in various capacities on the County Board’s Energy/Environmental, Executive, Finance/ Budget, Human Services, Judicial/Public Safety, Jobs, Labor Management, Public Health, Public Service, and  Community Development committees.   In addition, Ron also provided invaluable service and shared his expertise as a member of the Workforce Investment Board,  as well as the Judicial/Public Safety Strategic Planning & Technology Commission where he worked tirelessly to help implement the County’s new Court Case Management System; and

WHEREAS, in his official acts Ron has always been governed by a keen sense of duty. A resident of Aurora, Illinois, he has rendered efficient and faithful service to his constituents in County Board District 6 while making himself readily available to all the citizens of Kane County.

NOW, THEREFORE, ON THIS 12^th DAY OF MAY 2015, the Kane County Board wishes to acknowledge Ronald Ford not only for his invaluable contributions but also for his tireless efforts on behalf of the citizens of Kane County. The members of the Kane County Board extend to Ron their best wishes for health, happiness, and continued success.