PEOSTA, Iowa (AP) — The City Council in the small eastern Iowa city of Peosta has set a special election to choose the community’s mayor. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports the council last week set the election for Jan. 14. The council initially opted to appoint a new mayor but changed course after over 130 residents signed a petition demanding an election.

Former mayor Larry Mescher quit in an email he sent Oct. 13 to council members after a contentious meeting. Two days later he asked the council to rescind his resignation but the members declined. Peosta is a city of about 1,400, located just southwest of Dubuque.