Incumbent loses by 1 vote in City Council election

The Wayland City Council race was incredibly close Tuesday, with appointed incumbent Steve Stepek  gathering the most votes with 277.

Newcomer Grace Sefranek had second most with 261, Jerry Lee Jansen III had 245 and incumbent Tracy Bivins 244. There was no word yet about whether Bivins would ask for a recount.

The contest featured four candidates for three open seats. Incumbent Rick Mathis decided not to seek another two-year term.

Stepek was appointed to his his seat a little more than a year ago when Jennifer Antel was forced to resign in order to run for mayor. He had served previously on the Planning Commission.

Sefranek made a strong showing in her bid for a council seat in the 2022 election, but this time she was successful.

Jansen is a newcomer to city government.

Bivins had served since 2012, except when she stepped down temporarily for health reasons and then rejoined the council by appointment in 2020 and was elected in 2021.

Martin bond, Hopkins Headlee override requests approved

Meanwhile, the Martin Public School District apparently was headed for victory in its request to a $17 million bond proposal for a variety of infrastructure improvements. Voters agreed to have the life of the current bond extended by seven years, but keeping the yearly levy the same.

In Watson Township, Martin bond request was approved by a count of 77 to 57. In Martin Township, it was passed by a count of 273 to 177.

The Village of Hopkins request for a Headlee override for millage levy was approved on a 68-22 vote, better than 75 percent approval.

Because of the vote results, the original authorized 10-mill levy will be restored, avoiding a cut of about $30,000 in the budget.

The village’s authorized levy of 10 mills over time has been “rolled back” to 5.427 because of provisions of the Headlee Amendment.