Peninsula Township Supervisor and Attorney Resign

The Peninsula Township Board held a special meeting this morning to discuss the ongoing winery lawsuit and Judge Maloney’s Opinion regarding the lawsuit, which was released last Friday.

After returning from closed session during today’s meeting, it was announced that both the Township Attorney, Greg Meihn, and Township Supervisor, Rob Manigold, will be resigning.

Township Treasurer Marge Achorn made the announcement in a prepared motion statement:

“The Township Board respectfully accepts the resignation letter of attorney Greg Meihn, effective June 28, 2022, as the Township General Counsel. We would like to thank him for his services over the years.

“Secondly, the Township Board proposes to engage Fahey, Schultz, Burzych & Rhodes to represent us going forward with our ongoing winery lawsuit. And secondly, to engage Fahey, Schultz, Burzych & Rhodes to represent the Township as general counsel following Greg Meihn’s resignation date.

“And, thirdly, to authorize the supervisor to sign the engagement letter with Fahey, Schultz, Burzych & Rhodes.”

The Board voted unanimously to approve this motion.

After the motion was read, Township Supervisor Rob Manigold announced, “I will be resigning next Tuesday; I have some health issues that I have to deal with.”

After the meeting adjourned, an emotional Rob said to the Board, “Thank you. It’s been a pleasure working with all of you.”

The Board responded likewise, thanking him for his years of service, with Township Clerk Becky Chown noting, “We love you, Rob.”

View the meeting on the Township’s YouTube channel here.

I have a call out to Becky to see what the protocol is for putting a new supervisor in place. I believe the Board will appoint someone, but stay tuned to the Gazette for more info on that. (Update, 6/14/22: The Board voted to appoint a new supervisor at their June 14 meeting – read more here.)

On their website, the Lansing-based law firm of Fahey, Schultz, Burzych & Rhodes notes that it “fulfills the needs of municipalities, franchised businesses, employers, and public utilities in Michigan. Our Municipal Law division represents more than 150 municipal authorities. Although based outside of Lansing, Michigan, we establish and represent business entities throughout Michigan.”

A big thank-you to Rob for his many years of service to Peninsula Township, during which he served as supervisor multiple times. Below is a photo of him signing the Township’s “Record of Oath” after he was elected in 2016, a photo of him with his grandson at the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Old Mission Peninsula School in 2018, and a photo of him with his wife, Lois, at the Lighthouse Founder’s Day event in 2016.

The photo at the top of this story is when Rob was making remarks at the dedication of the Dougherty House in 2019.

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