Citizen Randy Johnson addressed the Joseph City Council last Tuesday night, Jan. 6, about the possibility of snow removal on Samples Lane and Mullens Lane in northwest Joseph. He expressed concern for elderly residents on the two lanes were an emergency to arise. He said that former public works director Keith Waters had seen that the two stretches of road were plowed, but that new director Jim Lewis has not been doing so.

Johnson brought a petition to the meeting signed by area residents.

Mayor Kevin Warnock, unsure if Mullen Lane was a dedicated street or even if it was under county or city jurisdiction, assured Johnson that the problem would be addressed.

Councilor Pam Latta spoke to the group about the creation of a Parks Committee and the need to draft a master plan for the city park covering such issues as lighting, signage, upkeep and repair, parking, ice skating and t-ball.

The council discussed the possibility of making an ice skating rink in the park comparable to the one now in use in Enterprise.

Wallowa County Undersheriff Steve Rogers explained to the council that police costs to the city were going down $1,026.66 a month because Deputy Neil Rogers, the highest paid deputy in the county, is leaving the city’s employ to assume a domestic violence and child abuse position. His replacement Eric Kozowski, who began Jan. 2, is new to the force and will work at a lower rate of pay.

Mayor Warnock reiterated his intention to create a planning commission for the city of Joseph, similar to Enterprise’s, to address land use issues that bog down the council. Seen as an advisory body, the mayor asked the council to bring in the names of seven potential volunteers at the next meeting. They would be appointed positions and could save the council many hours by addressing zone changes, variances and conditional use permits before they are brought before the council.

Discussion was heard as to whether Mark Tipperman of La Grande, the city’s current attorney, or Roland Johnson would be best to represent the city. The decision was made to retain Tipperman for the next six months, then revisit the matter.

The council voted to accept a Federal Emergency Management Act grant in the amount of $36,841 for the city’s volunteer fire department. The grant will be used to purchase new air packs and a new air compressor to fill the packs. “We will be the only fire department in the county to supply our own air,” said Warnock.