Board begins negotiations with manager candidate

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees has agreed to enter into contract negotiations with Stephanie Fox to become the new township manager.

At a special meeting on Monday, July 21, 2025, the board voted to begin talks pending an agreement on a compensation package, and a successful review of Fox’s references. The manager will report back to the board at the Aug. 6 workshop meeting on the status of negotiations.

That meeting is at 5 p.m. in the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

A background check including criminal, motor vehicle, civil, credit and education areas has been completed and “no issues” were found, according to Ryan Cotton of MGT, the firm that is leading the manager search.

The vote to enter negotiations passed 4-1. Supervisor Steven Ringelberg opposed the motion.

Earlier in the day, Fox talked with residents at a meet-and-greet at the Graafschap Fire Department station, had lunch with the township staff and received a tour of the township.

Fox, the current executive assistant to the Mayor of the City of Kentwood, was unanimously chosen as the single finalist after interviews with a total of four applicants from 45 overall submissions.

Longtime Manager Al Meshkin retired earlier this year. After finalists for the manager position declined offers in January, the board put the search on hold while members received training on the manager-council form of government from an outside firm and learned to better work together.

On June 11, the board unanimously agreed to begin advertising the full-time manager position with a salary and incentive compensation range of $115,000 to $135,000 not including benefits.