Manager contract decision moved to Jan. 8

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees has put contract negotiations for a new manager on hold until Jan. 8, with some members saying they want to open negotiations with another candidate. By that time, the current manager will have retired.

In the absence of a manager, Supervisor Steve Ringelberg will handle day-to-day office operations, the board decided at a special meeting on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.

The process

Long-time Manager Al Meshkin announced in July that he was retiring on Jan. 3, 2025. The replacement process began in August and on Nov. 13, the township board approved negotiations with Bob Genetski, choosing the current Allegan County Clerk and Register of Deeds over Brandon Mersman, city manager of Bronson, Mich.

Ringelberg negotiated a contract with Genetski for $110,000 with the possibility of a bonus. The job advertisement posted a salary range of $115,000 to $140,000.

On Dec. 11, the board failed to approve that contract with Genetski.

At that meeting, Ringelberg and Treasurer Jim Johnson supported the contract with Genetski, saying he is well-known, a quick-learner and was responsive to constituent needs when he was serving in the State House of Representatives.

Clerk Jim Delaney and Trustee Mike Koeman want to hire Mersman because of his experience in local government. Trustee Mark Timmerman was on Zoom for that meeting and by law could not vote. A tie means a motion fails.

A special meeting scheduled for Dec. 17 to address the issue was canceled due to a lack of quorum, the number of board members needed to hold a meeting. The Laketown Township board needs three members present.

Two candidates

The special Dec. 30 meeting was the earliest the board could meet again. Local government meetings between the Christmas and New Year holidays are rare. Four of the five board members were present. Johnson was absent due to Covid, according to Ringelberg. The four others were present.

Koeman said Mersman would not need training before starting.

“Nothing against Genetski,” he said, “but sitting here, having to make this decision, I have to go with what’s best for the township.”

Delaney said Mersman has all the needed qualifications to lead the township.

“Everything adds up to Mr. Mersman here,” he said.

Timmerman made the motion to table the contract issue with Genetski until the meeting on Jan. 8 when the board will also discuss possibly offering a contract to Mersman. The motion passed with Ringelberg voting against it.

The Jan. 8 meeting is at 5 p.m. at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

At the previous meeting, Koeman and Delaney supported negotiating with both Genetski and Mersman simultaneously.

Supervisor as manager

In the meantime, the board voted on Dec. 30 unanimously to assign the duties of the outgoing manager to Ringelberg until an interim or permanent manager is in place. Some of Meshkin’s duties include acting as zoning administrator, water and wastewater official, planning director, financial manager and personnel director.

Ringelberg will also handle day-to-day operations of the office and staff.

At the Jan. 8 meeting, the board will discuss the possibility of compensating Ringelberg for the manager duties.