Sept. 2 set for manager candidate interview

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees will interview manager candidate Stephanie Fox for a third time on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

The board voted 4-1 on July 21 to begin contract negotiations with Fox pending a review of her references. Supervisor Steven Ringelberg was the only “no” vote.

The township and Fox negotiated a tentative 2-year contract setting Fox’s annual salary at $110,000 with the possibility of a bonus up to $15,000 if she meets agreed-upon objectives set by the board in her first 30 days. The proposed contract also includes added vacation days requested by Fox.

On Aug. 6, Ringelberg said the board received additional information regarding Fox, obtained additional records from her time as Ionia County administrator acquired through the Freedom of Information Act, and received phone calls from several Ionia County residents that raised questions about Fox. Ringelberg passed those callers to the township’s attorney for follow up. 

Ringelberg said Fox should have the chance to respond to those questions.

Fox is currently executive assistant to the mayor of the City of Kentwood.

After interviews with four applicants from 45 overall submissions, the Laketown Township board unanimously chose to interview Fox a second time, while continuing to keep Howard Fink, then manager of Park Township, and David Grumney, Graafschap Fire Department captain, as finalists.

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.