WOODSTOCK – The village council Oct. 12 addressed the need to try a different approach toward recruiting residents to fill the village’s vacant council seat.

In June, council member Melissa Thompson resigned due to her pending move from the village. Since her departure, the village has yet to find an individual interested in serving the reminder of Thompson’s term, which expires at the end of 2017.

“Unfortunately, most people probably don’t read the paper and know we have a council position open,” Village Administrator Bradley Herron said after suggesting the village post the position on the window of the Woodstock Municipal Building.

Following discussion on the matter, council decided to post a notice about the vacant council seat at the post office.

Anyone interested in the council position, Herron said, must be a registered voter and a resident of Woodstock over a year.

For more information, residents are asked to contact a council member or call the municipal building at 937-826-3024.

Also during the meeting, Herron addressed the status of the village’s pending acquisition of the vacant lot next to the municipal building at 106 W. Bennett St.

Last month, council passed a motion authorizing the purchase of the roughly one-10th-acre property from village residents Steven and Harley Nott at a cost of $6,500.

Herron said the deal can’t be finalized until he receives a signed and notarized deed for the property from the current landowners.

In other business:

•Council unanimously approved the renewal of Village Solicitor Allison Boggs’ contract. Under the two-year deal, the village will pay Boggs $75 per hour (same rate as previous contract) for her services on an as-needed basis.

•Mayor Jackie Hayes informed council the leaf machine is ready to go, and village employee Ron Moore is expected to start picking up leaves in the next week or so.

•Citing conflicting dates being tossed around the community as to when Beggars Night will take place this year, Hayes reminded residents this year’s event is being held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, in Champaign County municipalities.