Special meeting to address manager contract

The Laketown Township Board of Trustees failed to approve a township manager contract offer to Bob Genetski at the Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, meeting.

The board has scheduled a special meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, to address several issues including the reconsideration of the manager contract and the interim manager solution between now and when a new manager begins.

The meeting is at the township hall, 4338 Beeline Road.

The current manager’s last day is Jan. 3, 2025.

Current Manager Al Meshkin announced his retirement in July. The replacement process began in August and a search committee received about 40 applicants. It was narrowed to three. On Nov. 13, the township board approved negotiations with Genetski, choosing the current Allegan County Clerk and Register of Deeds over Brandon Mersman, city manager of Bronson, MI.

Supervisor Steven Ringelberg negotiated a contract with Genetski for $110,000 with the possibility of a bonus.

The job offer posted a salary range of $115,000 to $140,000.

Genetski was not at the meeting.

The board’s approval of the contract was the final step needed to hire Genetski.

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. He served from 2009-2014 and left due to term limits.

Clerk Jim Delaney and Trustee Mike Koeman, who want to hire Mersman because of his experience in local government, said they wanted more time to consider the candidates and read the contract offer.

“Why are we rushing this?” said Koeman.

Trustee Mark Timmerman participated in the discussion through Zoom but by law could not vote.

Koeman proposed negotiating with both Genetski and Mersman simultaneously. That motion failed 2-2: Ringelberg and Johnson opposing simultaneous negotiations and Koeman and Delaney supporting the added talks. A tie means the motion fails.

The main motion to approve the contract with Genetski failed 2-2 as well with Ringelberg and Johnson supporting the contract with Genetski and Koeman and Delaney opposing the contract with him.

In other business, the board failed to adopt proposed Ordinance No. 214 Zoning Map Amendment Ordinance that would have changed about 51 acres with road frontage on 147^th Avenue and 60^th Street from R-1 Rural Estate and R-2 Low Density Residential to R-3 Medium Density. The rezoning was recommended unanimously by the planning commission. Ringelberg and Johnson voted for the ordinance. Delaney and Koeman voted against the change.

The zoning issue is also on the special meeting agenda.