You may also call City Hall at (541) 432-3832 to request a copy be mailed to you.

2025 Annual Drinking Water Report

2024 Annual Drinking Water Report

2024 Lead Line Inventory Survey

Please click on link below to view the Budget Message and the Draft Budget for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year.

Click Here for Budget Message & Draft Budget

The Oregon Department of Emergency Management has opened a Business Self-Reporting Damage Survey for businesses affected by wildfire and wildfire smoke. Businesses can report impacts including lost revenue, cancellations, reduced customers, closures, reduced operations, and other economic disruptions, even if they have not suffered physical fire damage.

It is important that we get as many affected businesses as possible to report their losses. The State is using this information to better understand the economic impact of the 2026 wildfire season and to help determine whether affected communities may qualify for additional state or federal assistance.

Wallowa County is also beginning an effort to understand the total economic impact locally. If they can document significant losses across lodging, restaurants, retail, recreation, construction, agriculture, and other industries, they will be in a much stronger position to advocate for assistance on behalf of our communities.

At this point, Wallowa County is not promising that funding will become available. The immediate goal is to make sure the impacts occurring in Wallowa County are documented and that our businesses are not overlooked if assistance opportunities become available.

The survey can be found here:

Oregon Business Damage Survey

Zoom Meeting Information

• Click here for agendas

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

• Zoom Meeting

Or Telephone:

• Dial US: +1 253 215 8782
• Webinar ID: 852 9022 9923
• Passcode: 57ZD2W

International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kOkBjemOP

If you have never used Zoom before, you may choose to download the app before joining the meeting. It is not necessary, as you can open it through your browser, but not all of the features will be available. 

You may also choose to create a free account: https://zoom.us/

When you join the meeting, your name may be displayed as your email. You may change this to your name. Attendees will also be muted when they enter, but they will have the opportunity to speak during Public Comment. Attendees will also be able to use the Q&A feature to type questions if they prefer not to speak or if their device does not have a microphone.

In the top right corner of most desktop and laptop screens (possibly the side or bottom of phones and iPads), all participants can change their layout view from Gallery (all participants are visible) to Active Speaker (only the person speaking is displayed) or Thumbnail (speaker and a smaller gallery view on the side).

Thank you!

\ The Rural Planning Program aims to ensure easier access to regional professional planning services for the areas in need. Eastern Oregon faces a significant shortage of dedicated planners. Out of 59 cities spanning 10 counties in eastern Oregon, only seven have access to professional planning staff. This shortage has placed rural communities in a challenging position, hampering their ability to capitalize on funding and grant opportunities, particularly when it comes to addressing the pressing need for workforce housing. 

Inspired by the University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research and Engagement (IPRE) Community Planning Workshop, the Rural Planning Program aspires to support small cities in eastern Oregon in capturing state planning funds. It also seeks to leverage the expertise of EOU faculty and students while simultaneously creating meaningful career pathways for college graduates interested in public service. The REV Center and its Rural Planning Program represent a crucial step towards building a stronger and more sustainable future for eastern Oregon’s rural communities. 

\ The REV Center reached an agreement with the City of Joseph to participate in this inaugural program and will be supported by consulting firms ECO Northwest, Kearns and West, and EOU faculty to involve students in research, land use policy assessment, and public engagement. In Joseph, planning efforts are primarily carried out by City Administrator Dan Larman, with the invaluable support of a dedicated volunteer Planning Commission, Mayor Lisa Collier and a dedicated, progressive city council. The city frequently receives inquiries from prospective residents looking to relocate to Joseph, highlighting the demand for workforce housing and the need to analyze how planning documents can support housing production and choice.\ \ The City of Joseph has 45 acres of land within its Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), six available lots for development, and stakeholders prepared to invest in workforce housing projects. To facilitate the city’s comprehensive planning efforts, Joseph is seeking support from the REV Center to conduct a Buildable Lands Inventory (BLI), policy analysis, and code review. These assessments will serve as the foundation for updating the city’s comprehensive plan.

This project has been funded with a grant from the Oregon Department of Land Conservation 

The City of Joseph is accepting applications for a Utility Worker I or Utility Worker II position. Classification and starting wage will be determined based on the successful applicant’s qualifications, relevant experience, licenses, and certifications.

ABOUT THE POSITION
This position performs skilled and semi-skilled work in the construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of City public works facilities and infrastructure. Work includes streets, water distribution and treatment, wastewater collection and treatment, parks, buildings, and other public facilities. The Utility Worker II classification performs more advanced work with greater independence and may provide task-level direction on assigned projects.

PRIMARY DUTIES

• Construct, maintain, and repair streets, alleys, rights-of-way, sidewalks, curbs, signs, and related infrastructure.
• Install, maintain, test, diagnose, and repair water distribution and wastewater collection infrastructure.
• Assist with Water Treatment and Wastewater Treatment requirements.
• Maintain parks, grounds, buildings, and other City facilities.
• Operate vehicles, heavy equipment, hand tools, and power tools used in public works and utility operations.
• Assist with snow removal and respond to utility and infrastructure emergencies.
• Maintain required work records and follow established safety practices.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Valid driver’s license
• Relevant experience in heavy equipment operation, plumbing, public works, municipal utilities, construction, or infrastructure maintenance. The level of appointment will depend on experience and qualifications.
• Valid Oregon Class B Commercial Driver’s License with Tank Vehicle Endorsement, as required by the applicable position description.

WORK SCHEDULE & CONDITIONS

This is a full-time, benefited position. The employee will work both indoors and outdoors in varied weather and environmental conditions and must be able to perform physically demanding work, including lifting and carrying materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. The position is subject to weekend on-call duty and may require overtime, emergency response, and work outside normal business hours.

Submit a completed City of Joseph employment application and three letters of recommendation to the City of Joseph no later than October 19, 2026. Applications will be reviewed to determine whether candidates qualify at the Utility Worker I or Utility Worker II level.

• City of Joseph Employment Application
  
• Utility I Job Description
  
• Utility II Job Description
  
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
  

Please submit your application materials; in person, via mail or email to:

City of Joseph
P.O. Box 15
Joseph, OR 97846
lmcquead@josephoregon.org

Thank you for your interest in applying for the position of Water/Wastewater Operator in Training. For questions, please contact Lacey McQuead at lmcquead@josephoregon.org.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on August 13, 2026, the City Administrator/Recorder, received from the City Attorney the following ballot title for a measure to be referred to the legal voters of the City:

CAPTION: Prohibits psilocybin-related businesses within the City of Joseph.

QUESTION: Shall Joseph prohibit psilocybin-related businesses in the City of Joseph?

SUMMARY: State law allows operation manufacturer, distribution and possession of psilocybin and psilocin. State law provides that a city council may adopt an ordinance to be referred to the voters to prohibit the establishment of any of those registered or licensed activities.

Approval of this measure would prohibit the establishment of psilocybin product manufacturers and/or psilocybin service center operators within the area subject to the jurisdiction of the city of Joseph.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that any elector of the City who believes the proposed measure contains more than one subject or who believes the ballot title is insufficient, not concise, or unfair may file a petition for judicial review with the Circuit Court for Wallowa County no later than 5:00 PM on August 24, 2026, which is at least seven business days after this notice.

Any elector who files a petition to review the ballot title must notify the City Recorder in writing that the petition has been filed no later than 5:00 PM on the next business day following the day the petition is filed.

Lacey McQuead,
City Administrator/Recorder

Published in the East Oregonian, on August 19, 2026

New Public Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday: Closed

Land Use Applications: While applications may still be submitted during our new business hours, please be advised that they will only be reviewed and processed on Thursdays each week.

We appreciate your cooperation and patience during this time.

Please discontinue use of cityofjosephoregon@gmail.com, it is being phased out for the newer emails ending in josephoregon.org.

New emails:

General City of Joseph questions - Info@josephoregon.org

Water or Sewer questions (including billing) to - Biller@josephoregon.org

City Administrator, Lacey McQuead - LMcQuead@josephoregon.org

Account Receivable/Payable questions to our Finance Officer, Jamie Collier - JCollier@josephoregon.org

Council & Meeting info/submissions, or initial Zoning questions/submissions to our Assistant Administrator, Michelle Brock - MBrock@josephoregon.org

Public Works questions to our Public Works Director - SYoung@josephoregon.org

Water or Sewer problem after hours please call (541) 398-0495

the new “City Council Work In Progress” folder

The “Documents” tab –> scroll to “Recordings & Minutes” and hit the “download button” for the “Recordings & Minutes” folder.

(Please note the folder doesn’t actually download the entire folder it just opens it but the button says download because of the way the website processes).

You can also access the folder through the following link:

Recordings & Minutes

Water $73/month (includes 7,500 gallons) Additional $2 per 1,000 gallons

Sewer $53.24

Street Fee $5
Street Reserve Fee $5
Water Project Fee $5
Sewer Project Fee $5

Commercial Rates (Inside City):

Water for motels/hotels/B&B’s/RV Parks/Multi-Unit Commercial $126 (includes 7,500 gallons) Additional $2 per 1,000 gallons

Water for Care Facilities $126 (includes 7,500 gallons) Additional $2 per 1,000 gallons

Water for all others $73 (includes 7,500 gallons) Additional $2 per 1,000 gallons

Sewer for motels/hotels/B&B/RV Parks/Multi-Unit Commercial $106.48 + $20 per each rentable unit

Sewer for Care Facilities (base commercial sewer rate) + $20 per each rentable unit

Sewer for laundromat $133.10

Sewer for other commercial (schools, restaurants, service stations, stores, etc) $106.48

Street Fee $5
Street Reserve Fee $5
Water Project Fee $5
Sewer Project Fee $5

Residential Rates (Outside City):

Water $110/month (includes 7,500 gallons) Additional $4 per 1,000 gallons

Sewer $106.48

Water Project Fee $5
Sewer Project Fee $5

Commercial Rates (Outside City):

Water for motels/hotels/B&B’s/RV Parks $210 (includes 7,500 gallons) Additional $2 per 1,000 gallons

Water for all others $110 (includes 7,500 gallons) Additional $4 per 1,000 gallons

Water Project Fee $5
Sewer Project Fee $5

** Please note The Ordinance will be read by TITLE ONLY at the council meetings. **

The Ordinance in its entirety is available at City hall during regular business hours and digitally at the following link:

ORDINANCE NO. 2026-04 AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING CHAPTER 35 OF THE JOSEPH CITY CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC CONTRACTING; ADOPTING THE OREGON PUBLIC CONTRACTING CODE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL’S MODEL PUBLIC CONTRACTING RULES; AND REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 2010-01

Joseph Code of Ordinances

Planning Applications

Zoning Map

Land Use Plan

and the new “Recent Zone Permit Applications and Permits” spreadsheet

Reduced Joseph City Library Hours from September 22nd 2026 thru October 10th 2026.*

• Tuesday-Friday: Noon to 4:00PM
• Closed: Saturday-Monday
• Storytime will resume on October 16th

As a result, Wallowa County has been included in an SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan declaration, opening access to potential financial assistance for eligible local businesses, agricultural operations, and nonprofit organizations.

For more information you can visit the Wallowa Co website here: Wallowa Co SBA economic disaster

Federal SBA Loan Portal

Additional Assistance can be found at: sba.gov/disaster and disastercustomerservice@sba.gov