WALBRIDGE – The owner of a downtown business has been appointed to village council.

Caryl Stone was selected from among five candidates to fill an empty council seat.

Council President Ron Liwo made the announcement at Wednesday’s meeting.

“A lot of people stepped up and showed interest,” said Mayor Ed Kolanko.

“It takes a lot of effort to step up and put your name out there,” he said.

Stone, who is originally from New Jersey, settled in Walbridge in 2016.

Stone owns Random Acts of Walbridge, which takes items on consignment, hosts meditations and sells food and beverages.

“I have a vested interest in my community, that it continues to grow and maintain a level of standards,” she said.

She plans to retire in the village “so I thought I’d put my money where my mouth is,” she said.

Council member Thomas Urbina, who works for Stone, abstained from the vote.

Larry Boday, who had served on village council since 2013, resigned at the Dec. 20 meeting. The council has 30 days to appoint someone to fill the seat.

Kolanko told those who were interested but didn’t get picked to not give up.

There are empty seats on the zoning and planning boards that need to be filled, said council member Sue Hart-Douglas.

Serving on a board gives a taste of how village government works, Kolanko said.

Also at the meeting, council:

• Heard concerns about the lack of a sidewalk on South Main Street between Clayton and Harlan streets.

Kolanko said he has looked at plans from when that development was constructed and couldn’t substantiate a sidewalk was supposed to be there. The property reportedly is owned by Columbia Gas.

• Heard Kristen Angelo, of Walbridge, shared that she was circulating a petition to develop a 16-member board to tackle the redistricting issue in Ohio and stop the gerrymandering. The board would consist of five Democrats, five Republicans and five Independents with the requirement that no one had ever served in a political capacity.

• Learned there will be a parks and rec committee meeting Tuesday to discuss grant opportunities and plans for the year.