<p>Jon Rombach</p>

Seems to me we could easily remove one of the burrs under Wallowa Countys saddle currently causing not one, but two, landscaping controversies. Weve got protesters removing flagging tape from the courthouse lawn to use a nice patch of ground other folks think would be compromised by using it. Meanwhile, four out of five letters to the editor in the Chieftain last week pointed to the grounds at Enterprise Cemetery needing some love.

I hereby nominate courthouse groundskeeper Everett Roberts for the additional job of groundskeeper at Enterprise Cemetery. Itd be a perfect match. The cemetery would get a five-star lawn, and it would be in a setting that all but guarantees occasional visitors would respectfully appreciate it with minimal foot traffic. Theres one problem solved. That wasnt so hard now, was it? Youre welcome, Everett.

As for the grass being green in a public space and the public thinking theyre entitled to use it, Im afraid we might see angry villagers brandish wooden pitchforks before that situation improves.

Unless . . . now hear me out . . . maybe we come up with a protective covering for the courthouse lawn, something along the lines of those plastic sofa slipcovers favored by grandmothers. Perhaps some lace doilies, tastefully arranged on the shrubberies and gazebo banisters, with coasters for people to set their drinks on the lawn so as not to leave watermarks that might interfere with the sprinklers.

This would come at some expense, no doubt. So to free up funds maybe we could shave off a foot or two from the proposed roadside landmark to welcome motorists arriving in Enterprise. This community gateway project, which sounds a lot like a fancy sign to me, has a price-tag of $45,000. Thats impressive. But to be fair, the sign will also be very large. Twenty-four feet long and 9 feet tall. It will include an image of the town of Enterprise and the Wallowa Mountains. Also there will be stone, wood and metal symbolizing how we figured out how to use stone, wood and metal, I guess, which is apparently unheard of in other communities.

My biggest question about this big sign is whether it will distract motorists from noticing the actual Wallowa Mountains, conveniently placed off to their right as they arrive in Enterprise. When I talk to people who come to the Wallowa Valley for the first time they often remark how impressed they were with the booming view of the mountains coming into Enterprise and how charming the town is. I dont recall any of them saying they wished there had been a smaller version to look at, maybe with building materials suggesting a heritage of natural resource economy.

How about this. Take the 45 grand and put up a series of spiffy signs around Enterprise explaining the history. Make a little walking tour. Throw in some old sepia photos to compare with modern day. Have some interesting tidbits. Encourage folks to stroll around a bit. Perhaps theyll pop in at local shops and exchange money for items. We can all read about Bowlby stone from a sign attached to some Bowlby stone. Learn about the Great Lawn Protests of 2013 while standing on the pavement a safe distance from the courthouse grass. Visitors could enjoy an interpretive sign outside the Chieftain office explaining how the columnist Jon Rombach was run out of town by a mob of angry villagers after floating his questionable ideas in the local newspaper. But he meant well, that sign would end.

Jon Rombach is a local columnist for the Chieftain. He means well.