Sunday, June 26, 2022
Since 1854 — News from Montcalm County and Ionia County, Michigan
The first meeting of the Ionia County Board of Commissioners since the sudden resignations of Administrator Stephanie Fox and Director of Finance Linda Pigue last week drew almost a full house inside the commissioner boardroom on Tuesday. Up to 70 people logged into the meeting on Zoom as well.
Fox and Pigue resigned on March 2 after the county’s Personnel Committee overturned Fox’s firing of Road Department Superintendent Bud White, and reinstated him with back pay and benefits.
A Cato Township planning commissioner submitted her resignation one week after a fellow planning commissioner called police on her and her husband.
Meanwhile, the Planning Commission chairman is voicing concern about the safety of himself and other township officials in the continued fallout of last month’s altercation.
After accepting the resignation of former Belding City councilman Douglas Feehan on Tuesday, the remaining council members discussed the first steps needed in a search for a new city manager.
The City Council voted 2-3 on Aug. 17 to renew City Manager John Niemela’s contract, meaning the motion failed. Councilmen Douglas Feehan and Mike Scheid both voted “yes” while Mayor Bruce Meyers and council members Jorel Davis and Bonita Steele voted “no.”
As the Belding City Council begins to search for a new city manager, they are also now searching for a new council member.
The City Council voted 2-3 on Aug. 17 to renew City Manager John Niemela’s contract, meaning the motion failed. Councilmen Douglas Feehan and Mike Scheid both voted “yes” while Mayor Bruce Meyers and council members Jorel Davis and Bonita Steele voted “no.”
The repeated absences of Montcalm County’s District 8 commissioner has been discussed privately by his colleagues in between and after meetings for weeks now.
On Monday, it was discussed in public, resulting in the resignation of District 8 Commissioner Brandon Stowell of Trufant the following day.
