Board seeks more information on beach stairs proposal

Old steps removed over the summer, new stairs bid is for $196,500.

The path at the beach in Laketown Township on Oct. 29, 2025.

A decision on new stairs at Laketown Township Beach is on hold so the township board can get more information on how the recommended contractor was chosen.

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025, voted to ask the chairperson of the Laketown Township Parks and Recreation Commission for an explanation on why the parks group chose Lakeshore Concepts for $196,500 instead of other lower-priced bids.

The township board will take up the stairs issue in December.

About the stairs

The previous set of wooden steps, built 32 years ago, was closed on March 26 due to safety concerns. The steps were removed in May and a new fencing added in June to keep visitors off the dunes to prevent further erosion.

The township sought bids for new steps and received proposals from six companies with costs ranging from $117,000 to $372,000 with construction material including lumber, composite and metal.

On Oct. 15, the parks commission recommended to the township board that the township hire Lakeshore Concepts Inc. to install adjustable aluminum beach stairs with composite tread called EZ Beach Steps.

Commissioners liked the adjustability of the steps from Lakeshore Concepts so the steps can be moved up or down depending on how the dune changes over time. 

Because the parks commission does not have enough money in its budget for the project, the township board must approve the expenditure.

Questions

At the Nov. 12 township board meeting, Supervisor Steven Ringelberg said the choice concerned him.

First, he said the township should seek grants to help pay for the stairs. He also said the parks commission might have violated the state Open Meetings Act by deciding on the contractor outside of a public meeting, and that the request for proposals stated a recommendation will be made based on the “lowest qualified bidder.”

A bid from Curtis Bergman, who earlier removed the old steps, came in at $117,000. Dune Restoration Services offered two bids – one for $154,000 with stairs made of wood and $164,000 with stairs constructed of composite materials.

The proposal calls for 220 feet of stairs, railings and landings where the current orange-fenced area is from the plateau through what is called “the bowl” at the beach, 6710 142nd Ave.

No vegetation or plantings to curtail dune erosion were included in the bids.