Five manager candidates announced, interview times set

Laketown Township released on Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, the five names of candidates for the position of township manager and announced the interview times.

Candidates are Peter Bratt, Andrea Dumbrell, Robert Genetski, Brandon Mersman and Karen Sherwood.

All the interviews are on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. and is open to the public. After discussion and ranking, the board will invite two candidates back for second interviews on Nov. 6.

Interview times on Wednesday are:

9:15 a.m.: Peter Bratt, Director of Operations and Skilled Trades for Milwaukee County, WI, Parks.

10 a.m.: Robert Genetski, Allegan County Clerk and Register of Deeds.

11 a.m.: Andrea Dumbrell, Human Resources Director, Harbor Transit.

11:45 a.m.: Karen Sherwood, Assistant Township Manager/Human Resources Director, Grand Haven Charter Township.

12:30 p.m.: Brandon Mersman, City Manager, Bronson, MI.

For more on the candidates, click here.

A special committee chose the five candidates on Oct. 23 from a field of about 40 applicants that was narrowed to 11.

Current Manager Al Meshkin announced in July his plans to retire Jan. 3, 2025. He has been manager for 35 years. The board hired the firm MGT in August for a cost of about $25,000 to conduct the search for his replacement.

Earlier this month, the township board established a Manager Search Committee consisting of the five-member township board plus three residents who won positions in the Republican primary on Aug. 6. Those three will go on to the Nov. 5 General Election but face no competition.

They are Steven Ringelberg who is running unopposed for the position of supervisor, and Michael Koeman and Mark Timmerman who are running unopposed for trustee positions.