EPHRATA – The Grant County Board of Commissioners is considering making Emergency Management Services a part of the Grant County Sheriff’s Department.

The commissioners would like to know what residents of the county think. They have scheduled a public forum for Monday, Oct. 17, in the commissioners’ hearing room.

The forum will get underway at 3 p.m. The hearing room is in the Grant County Courthouse at 35 C St. NW in Ephrata.

The commissioners received a recommendation from Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones to place the Grant County Department of Emergency Management under the umbrella and direction of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.

In a letter to the public, Jones said EMS would be run more efficiently, financially and physically. He noted that EMS, on its own, has only one staff person.

Written comments will be accepted by email at commissioners@grantcountywa.gov or mailed to Commissioners Office, PO Box 37, Ephrata, WA 98823.