Leo Wilhelm has sat at the Genoa Township trustees’ dais since Jan. 1 of this year when he was selected to serve the remainder of Barb Lewis’s term in office when she became a Delaware County commissioner.

Wilhelm ran for a full four-year term during the November election, but was defeated by Frank Dantonio.

Wilhelm’s final regularly scheduled trustees’ meeting was on Dec. 3. Near the end of the meeting, he received accolades from Trustees Rick Carfagna and Karl Gebhardt.

“When Barb Lewis resigned her seat, we had a big void to fill, Leo stepped in and worked admirably,” Carfagna said. “During the past year, we were collaborating with Delaware County on our sewer, we hired a new zoning inspector, changed insurance carriers, and started working on updating the township’s comprehensive master plan. It was a busy year, and we didn’t pick the issues, the issues picked us.”

Carfagna said Wilhelm became a trustee after two decades of service on the township’s Board of Zoning Appeals and Zoning Commission.

“You’re more than a single vote,” Carfagna said to Wilhelm. “You represent the best that Genoa has to offer. We’re privileged to call you a friend and a colleague.”

Gebhardt agreed that Wilhelm had been a hard-working member of the board of trustees, especially in zoning matters.

“Working with Leo, it hasn’t always been a 3-0 vote,” Gebhardt said. “But that’s healthy. I hope you stay engaged.”

Wilhelm, who has lived in Genoa Township for more than 20 years, said it’s the number of people involved in the township that makes Genoa a great place to live.

“People care about living here, they care about how we run the township,” Wilhelm said. “I’ve enjoyed this year, but it’s been busier than I expected. When I started, I didn’t know the enormous number of hours it takes, but the friendships I’ve come away with are the most important part of serving.”