City Administrator Mike Ristelho said College Place has changed contract legal providers and is studying its municipal court arrangement while also updating residents on public-safety staffing.

Ristelho said Kerr Ferguson Law Group now serves as contract city attorney and Rio Fultz PLLC, led by Mike Rio, is acting as contract city prosecutor. He said the city is undertaking an analysis through the National Association of Courts to determine whether continuing to contract municipal court services with Wallowa County District Court is the best choice for outcomes and finances or whether to bring court operations in-house: "We're doing this analysis to truly determine is that the best route, both from outcomes, and then also, finances as well." He said the study will continue with consultants and partners through the rest of the year.

On public safety staffing, Ristelho said the fire department is a combination agency relying heavily on volunteer firefighters and that residents interested in volunteering or in living at the firehouse should contact Fire Chief David Winter at (509) 394-8602 or dwinterwinter@cpwa.us. He said the police department is establishing a canine program and that Police Captain Chris Schweiger has been sworn in; he also said the city is rethinking police-station plans after a failed ballot measure and is exploring collaboration with Wallowa County and the City of Wallowa for emergency-management/Westcom relocation work and grant opportunities.

Ristelho encouraged residents to apply for a storm-worker position in the human resources department and said the city will pursue grant collaborations to reduce taxpayer cost for potential joint emergency-management facility work.