Imperial Council holds special meeting
By Alan Carman
The Imperial Republican
A special meeting of the Mayor and City Council of the City of Imperial was held in the Council Chambers on July 14, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. This story is a re-cap of the minutes for this meeting.
Mayor Craig Loeffler called the meeting to order and instructed the Administrator to call the roll, with the following results.
Present: Nick Colton, Jan Elliott, Julie Gockley, John Miller. Others present were Treasurer Tricia Moreno, Ed Dunn, Mayor Craig Loeffler, Owen Swanson, Hillary Dannett, Chief Chad Ostmeyer, Gina Blocher and City Clerk Sarah Hoskovec recording the minutes.
A quorum was declared present, and the meeting continued with the pledge of allegiance.
Motion by Jan Elliott: To table the consent agenda, second by Nick Colton. On a call for vote: Nick Colton;Yea,Jan Elliott: Yea, Julie Gockley;Yea, John Miller;Yea. Motion carried.
The Council discussed the termination of the contract for interim Administrator, Al Vacanti. John Miller questioned the Mayor about what the reason was. Mayor Loeffler stated there was a letter given to the Mayor and Council.
Vacanti would stay on for the next 14 days if the Council wanted him to. Julie Gockley questioned the Mayor if he wanted Vacanti to stay on and help with the budget but Loeffler stated we don’t need him to at the moment.
Loeffler discussed he has not had time to speak to Gockley in regards to this. Vacanti has already started looking at the budget per Clerk Hoskovec.
Miller questioned why we would not let him just finish it and Loeffler stated the next interim will. Miller said he would abstain from the voting due to not having the knowledge of the situation.
Loeffler said he has not been able to inform Gockley either and would like to explain. Loeffler is not disqualifying Vacanti’s ability, skills or knowledge, Vacanti is very talented and is what he says he is.
Jan Elliott would like to skip to the next agenda item so some of the questions may get answered and then return to this item. Loeffler discussed they cannot hire another interim when one is still hired. Loeffler would like to take a five minute recess to speak with Gockley.
Recess was called and ended at 6:17 p.m.
Loeffler discussed the reason he moved to find someone else is because he had been mentioning it to him, if there were any thoughts or interest. Loeffler stated he has known this person for a while now and sits on the WCNDD with this person.
Loeffler has seen this person for the last two years grow and is a good leader. Mark Bottom has given the approval for this person to come on board.
Elliott stated if Vacanti wants out of his contract, then ok. Loeffler discussed Vacanti made it clear he would stay on for the next 14 days, but Loeffler was scared of his ability right now and not having anyone in the office for a week for anything at all. Loeffler just happened to know someone else.
Elliott discussed if we have a solution, we need an interim, and have an interim according to the contract received, who is willing to take it on, be here more than Vacanti could have been, so if he is willing to step into that roll, then she doesn’t see why the City would not take this into good consideration and let Vacanti out of his contract like he asked.
Miller questioned if the City brought in Vacanti and was doing a great job, and then all of a sudden things went bad and now why is he gone. Miller stated something is not right with this.
Loeffler said he received a phone call in the middle of a parking lot Friday night and was called every name in the book. Loeffler discussed it took him over an hour to get in the pickup and comprehend what happened.
Loeffler took the whole weekend to think about the situation. Miller questioned what brought Vacanti to this point?
Elliott asked Miller if he had read all the emails and correspondence, and there was a lot that took place. Miller stated he is angry at the whole situation and Council, and states this is all wrong. The City employees are mad and there is something not right, this whole group of people, which was going good and then all of a sudden its busted up.
Elliott stated it surprised her too. Loeffler discussed that when he asked Vacanti why, it was because he read the minutes. Loeffler told Vacanti the minutes don’t have to be in context and don’t have to be 100% accurate, they just have to be agreed upon and filed.
Clerk Sarah Hoskovec told the Mayor he may not want to go into any more personal detail. Loeffler discussed Vacanti did not say he needed to keep it in confidence, he demanded to have it all on his personal email because he did not want the City on it, so that to Loeffler says he is ok with that part.
For Vacanti to say it was “us”, he will argue on that. Loeffler discussed Vacanti was supposed to critique him and the Council, if they were doing something, or if there is something in the office we cannot get out that we keep having a problem.
Miller stated Vacanti is there to run the office, to take care of the problems in the office and lead us down a good road.
Loeffler discussed that the only difference is that he asked Vacanti to give him his opinion on what was the issues, cause Loeffler is not a professional politician. Loeffler stated it is not the Mayor or Council’s job to be in the office, but he is forced to when things are not getting done, but he can only go so far, this was his job.
Elliott discussed that she would have liked to have an in person meeting with him, but was unable to because he quit. Gockley asked Vacanti why and he said it was in response to Loeffler’s email.
Elliott believes the City needs to take care of the employees with an interim.
Loeffler stated that the email Gockley is talking about, is Vacanti asked for the Mayor’s resignation immediately, along with Jan Elliott’s. That was the only way Vacanti and Tricia were coming back.
Loeffler stated he was not going to step down, he started it and he is going to finish it, right or wrong. Loeffler stated if people want him out, go vote him out.
Elliott discussed that nobody has ever spoken to her about that and knows nothing. Elliott’s philosophy is that if Vacanti wants out, we cannot expect the girls to run the office, Tricia now, on her own, and we have to have an interim.
The application that is presented looks good and should allow Vacanti out of his contract so the City can move forward. Loeffler stated the Council did not have any idea about Ed Dunn, only Nick Colton, until about 4:30 last night, that Loeffler wanted to bring him in and states it was his decision.
Loeffler felt he needed to provide for what was left of the staff. Dunn is a leader, and feels that is what the City needs and feels the City needs a leader that is not going to waiver or put up with anyone.
Motion by Elliott: To approve the resignation of interim Administrator contract effective at 12:00 p.m. on July 14, 2026. Second by Julie Gockley. On call for the vote: Colton Yea; Elliott Yea; Gockley Yea; Miller Abstain (With Conflict). Motion carried.
Mayor Loeffler would like the Council to consider the interim Administrator he appointed last night to fill the position until further notice. Dunn was presented a contract, which ends the end of December.
Dunn is currently working at WCNDD, and was the City Superintendent in Grant. Mark Bottom gave him high remarks per Loeffler. Dunn emailed a digital copy of the contract and memorandum to the Council. Dunn stated he is willing to step in as the interim Administrator.
Dunn discussed that the City Administrator is directly responsible for the budget, along with the Treasurer, and the City Clerk if needed.
Dunn states he prepared the budget every year in Grant. Elliott stated the City has not even discussed what the City is going to do about Economic Development, but Elliott and Dunn have spoken that WCNDD can help with that part, plus Dunn can assist.
Dunn believes having multiple similar contracts, there will be no time needed to develop relationships, since he already knows them.
Elliott said that in the circumstances, Tricia Moreno is the Treasurer/Deputy Clerk, who has experience to help with all this as well. Dunn discussed with Loeffler and Colton that he “runs on four hours of sleep, bourbon and hate”.
Dunn can work on the budget remotely as well. Dunn provided staff with a calendar of his schedule for July and August. Dunn is scheduled Monday-Wednesday to be available for meetings but does have prior engagements.
Tricia Moreno discussed that Dunn would be in the office three days a week and she would be in the office two days a week by herself, and would like the Council to consider this.
Loeffler believes there are plenty of volunteers in the community who would step up and help, and is not afraid to ask. Loeffler believes there are many talented people in the community who could help.
Colton discussed there may need to come a time where the City closes the office. Loeffler would like Moreno to tell the Council if she is overwhelmed.
Motion by Elliott: To approve the contract with Edward Dunn as interim Administrator, as presented and authorize the Mayor to sign on behalf of the City of Imperial effective at 12:00 p.m., July 14, 2026. Seconded by Colton. On call for vote: Colton Yea; Elliott Yea; Gockly Yea; Miller Abstain (with conflict). Motion Carried. Public comment followed. Owen Swanson questioned when Clerk Sarah Hoskovec’s last day is. Gina Blocher questioned Hoskovec’s resignation. Ed Dunn stated the wording in the last meetings minutes states that Hoskovec would stay as long as she could.
Even though her resignation is tabled, Hoskovec would stay on until she had given a final date. Hoskovec stated her resignation will be on the Monday Council Meeting. Elliott stated Hoskovec is not required to come into the office on Monday.
Motion by Elliott and seconded by Miller to adjourn at 6:43. All for voted Yea and meeting adjourned.