JOSEPH — The Wallowa County Farmers Market is outgrowing its old home and is eyeing a new location on East First Street between Lake and Main streets in Joseph.

The manager of the Farmers Market, Jessica Bogard, briefed the Joseph City Council at its meeting on Thursday, Jan. 11 about its plans.

Councilors seemed generally amenable to the move, but asked Bogard to work out the details of a contract with Dan Larman, the city administrator, and to bring the matter back to the council.

Bogard said the market, now based in the parking lot of Stein Distillery, 604 N. Main St. in Joseph, has outgrown the site — although she emphasized that Stein has been a “fabulous” partner with the market.

But, she said, “this last year, we had to turn vendors away. We were out of space.”

Bogard said the market has 45 vendors registered but averages 23 vendors each market Saturday. And 23 vendors, she said, “is the absolute max we can fit into the space right now.”

The new location on East First Street offers considerably more space, and Bogard said the market would like to expand to 25-30 vendors each week and to expand its selection of fresh fruits and vegetables.

In addition, she said, a move into Joseph’s downtown could be a boon for the city’s businesses.

“We want to provide a really great marketplace, and we think it would be really beneficial to the city of Joseph,” she said. “And it’s not just for the tourists. It’s for our local community.”

Bogard said she initially approached Larman on the possible move, and he encouraged her to reach out to the council. In turn, the council asked Larman to iron out details of a contract between the city and the market.

Bogard said she hoped to get a five-year contract, which she said would lend additional stability to the market.

The question of fees still is to be worked out, but she said “We expect to pay our fair share.”

In other business at the 90-minute meeting:

• Lucas Stangel of Anderson Perry & Associates told councilors that work on the city’s wastewater project was moving along but supply-chain issues could push the completion date to the end of June.

• Councilors celebrated the winners of the city’s holiday lights contest: The first-place residential winner was Caitlin Strutz; the second-place winner was Don Mowat. In the business category, Slack Drinks & Dining won first place and beecrowbee took second. First-place winners won a $200 credit on their water bills and a $200 donation to a nonprofit organization of their choice; second-place winners won a $100 water credit and a $100 donation.

• The next council meeting was scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 1.