After voting to terminate composting operations at 4368 60th St. in Laketown Township, officials have set aside up to $25,000 for a potential legal battle to enforce the decision.
The Laketown Township Planning Commission voted June 3 to “terminate” the operation by Cocoa Corp. on property owned by Republic Services. The site is believed to be the source of intense foul odors that have generated numerous resident complaints and a citation from the state.
The Laketown Township Board voted unanimously in favor of the financial allocation June 10. The motion also ordered an interview of potential alternative attorneys by Supervisor Steven Ringelberg and Manager Stephanie Fox.
Currently, the municipality and the property’s owner are represented by attorneys from the same office: Dickinson Wright of Grand Rapids. All parties have agreed that — because they share the same goal of ending operations from Cocoa Corp. — there is no conflict of interest.
Ringelberg, himself a lawyer, noted a court order will likely be needed to enforce the planners’ decision and the lapsed business agreement between Republic and Cocoa. He also voiced the need for “backup counsel” in case the parties reach a point where they no longer share a common goal.
“If, at any point in time, we become adverse to Republic, we are going to need to get different counsel,” Ringelberg said. “We should get ready to do a full-court press to do everything possible … to remediate that site and move on.”
The funds and additional counsel may not end up being necessary, but officials agreed it’s wise to have the option approved and ready to go.
What’s happening with Cocoa Corp. in Laketown Township?
Cocoa has used the location for composting since 2015, but complaints about foul odors intensified in 2025. Laketown Township sent a warning letter to Republic in March following frustrations voiced by residents in October. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy issued an odor citation in April.
Tom Mahoney, general manager of the site, said June 3 that the company’s agreement with Cocoa expired in 2025.
“For the past six months we’ve repeatedly told Cocoa … they were in violation of their business agreement and that they needed to cease operations and vacate the property,” Mahoney said.
Mahoney said the company issued a formal notice of default and filed a lawsuit against Cocoa on May 20, demanding they cease operations and leave the site.
The case is filed with Judge Matthew Antkoviak in Allegan County’s 48th Circuit Court. Cocoa filed an acknowledgment of the lawsuit June 11. There were no hearings scheduled as of June 16.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Laketown preparing ‘full-court press’ to enforce compost removal
Reporting by Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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By Mitchell Boatman, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
