SILVERHILL, Ala. — Former Baldwin County Commissioner Wayne Gruenloh will be sworn in as a Silverhill Town Council member at the Council’s next meeting on Monday, Jan. 3.

Silverhill Town Council members voted unanimously to appoint Gruenloh at the Monday, Dec. 20 meeting to fill the vacant seat.

Rodney Criswell, who defeated longtime Council member John Ullrich in the last election, announced in September that he was stepping down. Under a newly adopted policy, Criswell stated he was no longer allowed to hold public office as an employee of the state of Alabama.

Criswell’s last official day with the town was Oct. 31.

Gruenloh was one of four Silverhill residents who expressed interest in the position, including a former council member.

Mike Allegri, who was appointed to fill a vacant council seat in 2005, lost to Bert Jones in the 2008 election. Alan Norden, who ran unsuccessfully for the town’s mayoral position in 2008, also expressed interest in the position, along with resident Norman Young.

Jones, Jared Lyles, Shirley Stephens and Mayor Tim Wilson voted for the measure. Council member Steve Brooks was not present at Monday’s meeting.