On Monday, Aug. 19, a petition with 43 signatures was handed to the Wallowa County Board of Commissioners urging the board to publicly discuss the issue of the courthouse lawn.

A disagreement about how that piece of property north and east of the courthouse can be used during the three-hour Farmers Market and 1 ½ hour community concert Thursday afternoons prompted the petition authored by Stephen Adams and Sandra Purnell.

The petition reads, in part, We are asking for a Board commitment to public discussion, followed by a clearly written policy, consistent over time, which everyone can understand and be expected to follow.

Another element of the petition was a suggestion that a citizens committee be formed to advise the commissioners on issues involving the courthouse grounds.