The Joseph City Council approved a master plan for the city's new water system when it met Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the community center in Joseph.

JOSEPH — A master plan for Joseph’s new $2.5 million water system was approved Thursday, March 6, by the Joseph City Council.

A preview of the plan was presented by Lucas Stangel of Anderson Perry and Associates Engineers, the city’s engineer of record, that recommended numerous maintenance and improvement projects for the next 20 years of the system’s planning period.

The major improvements are a couple of slow sand filters that would cost about $1 million.

Other items include:

• A safety shower and eyewash station.

• Corrosion spots on the reservoir.

• Water system control improvements.

• A standby power generator at well No. 1.

• Improvements to the water table fluctuation building.

• Repainting the water table fluctuation building.

• Replacing or installing a number of fire hydrants and water mains.

• Purchasing equipment for cleaning the slow sand filter basins.

Most of these items could be accomplished over the 20-year planning period at a minimal cost, Stangel said, without the need for drastic increases in water rates. But the cleaning of the slow sand filters will likely require rate hikes.

The master plan, including potential rate hikes, will be available for public perusal at city hall.

The total cost of the project in 2024 dollars is $2,527,600, according to the master plan. Stangel recommended that for any work not completed by now, an annual inflation rate of 3-5% be included to account for potential increases in project costs.

In another matter, the council heard a presentation from Wallowa County Sheriff Ryan Moody on several items. Moody said he is working with the Oregon Department of Transportation to get two digital display signs to alert motorists of their speed. Plans are to have them located at each end of town.

He said ODOT installs the signs and the city pays for the upkeep. He said the upkeep costs next to nothing and the cost of the signs is around $1,500-$2,000. He said a federal grant could pay the cost of an extra sign if the city decides it wants one on the Imnaha Highway where students cross to go to Joseph Charter School.

Moody also addressed a longstanding issue in Joseph about patrol deputy coverage by his department.

“I have only four deputies and I can’t promise we’ll respond quickly for a barking dog,” he said.

However, he added, when an emergency call comes in, the Sheriff’s Office does respond quickly.

Other business

In other matters, the council:

• Read a letter from Councilor Mike Lockhart, who resigned from the council. In the letter, he said his personal and business concerns would make it difficult for him to attend anticipated council meetings. He is a co-owner of the Wallowa Lake Tramway, and tourist season begins around Memorial Day. The council now has two vacant seats, and Mayor Stephen Bartlow invited interested residents to apply for the openings.

• Discussed tentative plans for a citywide cleanup scheduled for April 12-22.

• Approved two street closure requests. The first is for the Wallowa Mountain Cruise on June 20-21. The second is for Chief Joseph Days street vendors on July 21-28.

• Appointed members to the city budget committee for the 2025–26 budget.

• Appointed Bartlow and Councilor Brinda Stanley to a task force on the new city library. No other applications for the task force were received.

• Scheduled a work session on the city’s proposed nuisance ordinance for Tuesday, March 18, at 6 p.m. at the Joseph Community Events Center.

• Set the next council meeting for Thursday, April 3.