LAKETOWN TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Aug. 8, 2025) – Maybe it’s a case of “not so fast” in terms of a new manager for a Lakeshore community.
On Wednesday, the Laketown Township Board of Trustees asked Stephanie Fox to come back for a third interview before deciding whether she will become the new operational leader of that municipality. The decision came two weeks after the governing panel voted 4-1 in favor of entering into contract negotiations with the executive assistant to Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley.
A tentative two-year pact at $110,000 annually with incentives had been agreed to, but before the board voted to approve the deal, Supervisor Steve Ringelberg, who is currently the interim manager after AL Meshkin’s retirement in January, and who was the lone no vote on Fox’s appointment last month, brought out additional information on her background as the Ionia County Administrator, along with some calls to the township office from several residents in that jurisdiction, which caused the board to reconsider its decision. Fox is being asked back to answer these Ionia County concerns, with no date immediately set for that discussion, and no word from her as to whether she would agree to such a conversation.
The board last month had asked the other two finalists for the managerial position – Park Township manager Howard Fink, along with Graafschap Fire Department Captain David Grumney – to remain available should the appointment of Fox fall through. Whether or not they are still interested in this position has not been disclosed.
This is the second search by Laketown Township for a new manager since Meshkin announced his retirement intentions about a year ago. A first search was unsuccessful after finalists Bob Genetski and Brandon Mersman turned down the job offer.
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