S.F. Tool/Chieftain Joseph City Council members, from left, Teresa Sajonia, Pearl Sturm and Rodd Clark take their vows of office during the Jan. 8 city council meeting.

JOSEPH – Mayor Dennis Sands swore in three members of the Joseph City Council who were elected in November. During the council’s Jan. 8 meeting, Sands administered the oath of office to Teresa Sajonia, Rodd Clark and Pearl Sturm, whose terms expire in 2018.

The city council also awarded motel tax grants. Recipients included: Josephy Center, $1,000; Wallowa Valley Arts Council, $1,000; Joseph Farmers’ Market, $1,000; Safe Harbors, $500; Maxville Heritage Interpretive Center, $500; and Alpenfest, $500.

Also during that monthly regular meeting, the council voted the Wallowa County Chieftain as paper of record, Baum Smith LLC as city attorneys of record, and and Anderson Perry Inc. as engineers of record for 2015. The council appointed Donna Warnock as budget officer.

The council members also voted council member Teresa Sajonia as pro tem mayor for a term of two years. A pro tem mayor stands in when the elected mayor is absent or unable to perform his or her duties.

Upon Sajonia’s confirmation, Mayor Sands announced, “I guess this is a good time to say I’ll be gone for the next three months.” After the general laughter subsided, Sajonia replied, “You’re awesome.”

After a 20-minute street repair discussion, the council tabled the discussion until Joseph citizens could voice their opinion at a town hall meeting the following week. In the meantime, the council decided to have the public works department fill many of the potholes with wash rock.

The city also accepted fees for Joseph Fire Department services, including $4,400 from the Triple Creek Cattle Company, a $1,512 payment for rope rescue services following the fatal Sonja Johnson car accident, and $500 from the U.S. Forest Service for vehicle storage.

The council also discussed the refusal of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to dispose of local dead deer. The council decided to draft a letter to ODFW asking for a written response on how the department plans to deal with dead animal issues.

Mayor Sands recommended all council members attend a March 18 six-hour councilor workshop in Island City sponsored by the League of Oregon Cities.