LAKETOWN TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Sept. 1, 2025) – A decision on a new manager could come on Tuesday night in Laketown Township.
The Board of Trustees has a special 6 PM meeting slated for the Township Hall (4338 Beeline Rd.), with the top issue being a third public interview with Stephanie Fox for the vacant operational leadership position. The current Executive Assistant to Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley had initially been the choice of the governing panel, on a 4-1 vote, to succeed Al Meshkin, who retired as manager in January after 37 years at the helm.
However, as the board was about to discuss and possibly vote on a tentative agreement with Fox last month, Supervisor Steven Ringelberg brought up some undisclosed information he had obtained from Ionia County, where she had been an Administrator in the past, as well as receiving several calls of concern from residents there about her performance. The board decided to pause a final vote and asked Fox to return for a special interview to discuss Ringelberg’s information, which she agreed to. Ringelberg, who was the lone dissenting vote in the board’s choice of Fox as manager, has been handling the operational leadership duties on an interim basis since Meshkin’s retirement.
Former Park Township Manager Howard Fink, along with Graafschap Fire Captain David Grumney, final candidates who were bypassed by the board in favor of Fox, has been asked to remain available for further consideration should matters fall through with the preferred choice. A decision on this situation may come following Fox’ interview, or it could be pushed back to the scheduled monthly Board meeting on September 17th.
A link to the Tuesday meeting agenda and supporting documents is here.
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