EPHRATA — Ephrata agreed to move forward with other fire districts and Soap Lake to negotiate for ambulance services in the city.

The city council approved an interlocal agreement with area fire districts at a recent meeting. The agreement allows the coalition of agencies to form an agreement with American Medical Response (AMR). The company is poised to provide ambulance service for Grant County Fire District 5, which plans to end its service this year.

City Administrator Wes Crago compared the agreement to the Multi Agency Communication Center’s agreement, allowing the agencies involved in the coalition to negotiate with AMR.

The service won’t change from what is presently provided, he said, adding most of the company’s personnel in the area are coming from Fire District 5, and the number of ambulances in the area isn’t changing.

“AMR’s philosophy is this is Grant County’s ambulance service,” Crago said.

The new service will not be funded with money from the city or an ambulance utility fee, he said. The city previously paid fire district 5 to provide the service in the city. AMR is going to be funded by the people using the ambulance.

Councilmember Kathleen Allstot asked if the change would result in higher fees for the people using the ambulance.

“They will be higher than what we currently pay, but I haven’t broken down what the difference would be if you worked the subsidy into the rate,” Crago said. “Currently, you pay a lower rate, but the City of Ephrata is paying $30,000 a year to subsidize that trip.”

The rates are going to be finalized as the coalition negotiates with the company, he said. He expects AMR will charge more in Grant County than a more urban area, because of the lower number of people and how spread out they are.