The political race in Novi took shape Tuesday as the candidate filing deadline passed, but will change again as an incumbent plans to back out.
Longtime Novi Mayor Bob Gatt will face a challenge from newcomer Ajay Raman, and nine candidates filed for three city council seats up for election this fall.
However, Andrew Mutch, who has held one of those seats for 16 years, has already announced his intention to drop out of the race.
Mutch, who will complete his fourth term this fall, said by email that by the end of the week he will withdraw his name from the list of candidates. Friday afternoon is the deadline for candidates to withdraw their name from the race.
If you didn t get your fill of political campaigns last year, you ve got another chance.
In Novi, the mayor and three council seats are up for grabs this year. The deadline to file to have your name on the ballot as a candidate for one of these available positions is April 20.
The number of candidates will dictate whether there is an August primary election to narrow the field. The November election will ultimately determine who fills the seats.
As of April 5, current Mayor Bob Gatt was the only candidate listed on the Oakland County website as having filed for the top seat, a 2-year term.
Novi is getting a new waste hauler this summer.
The city council unanimously approved an 8-year contract with GFL Environmental for refuse collection, recycling and yard waste services effective July 1.
The contract will cost residents $138 in the first year. By the end of the contract in June 30, 2029, residents will see just over $10 increase in annual cost, to $148.61 in the final year. The numbers that came in were jaw-dropping; it s hard to believe we could get this price reduction, Councilman Andrew Mutch said. The price is coming down, but we re not cutting services, we re improving in some areas.
Among the improved services will be an expansion of yard waste collection into mid-December. Pick up days will remain the same.
For the sixth time.
The Novi City Council approved a rezoning of the property on the north side of Grand River, east of Town Center Drive and south of 11 Mile Road, as well as a sixth amendment to the purchase of the city-owned parcel by Robert B. Aikens & Associates, LLC and Robertson Brothers Homes.
Both motions, which passed in 5-2 votes, have conditions attached. Council members Justin Fischer and Laura Marie Casey voted no.
“In an extremely difficult time, the developer wants to invest $60 million,” Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Staudt said during the council’s Jan. 11 meeting. “These (developments) will be few and far between going forward. I would like to see the original incarnation of the development, but things have changed dramatically in last 10 months and I’m pleased this is still going forward.”
Julie Maday, a resident of Novi for more than 13 years, now serves the city as a council member.
Maday was appointed to the position last week in a 4-2 vote. Council members Laura Marie Casey and Andrew Mutch voting no. Maday fills the council seat formerly occupied by Kelly Breen, who was elected to the state house in November.
Other candidates who applied for the appointment and whom the council interviewed during a Jan. 4 meeting were Ramesh Verma, who has previously served as a councilman, Michael Reddy and Travis Malott.
Mayor Pro-Tem Dave Staudt stated he wanted to appoint a candidate who had previous experience on boards and commissions and who “represents the person they are replacing.”