Grant County is asking for volunteers

EPHRATA - The Grant County commissioners plan to seek people interested in serving on several county boards.

Presently the county is either accepting or reviewing letters of interest for five boards, including the Water Conservancy Board, the Board of Equalization, two Mosquito Control Districts and the Horticultural Pest and Disease Board.

Commissioner Carolann Swartz said work began on the project last year, after the commissioners decided to add two new positions to the Civil Service Commission. They asked the clerk to come up with a list of boards, committees and commissions in the county to review.

"There is so many doggone boards that we work with," she said. "Some people were staying on and not opening the position up to someone new."

Swartz explained the commissioners don't have issues with the people presently serving on the boards, and the people on the boards can resubmit letters of interest. She said some of the boards are governed by state laws requiring the county to seek new members.

"It just came to light that some of these people have been on these boards forever," she said. "We want to touch base with these members. Some folks are ready to step down. We advertise and make sure we're in compliance."

The commissioners have already completed the process on several other boards, including the Mosquito Control District 1, the Noxious Weed Control Board and the Fairgrounds Facility Advisory Committee.

"I'm sure there's some folks who would like to serve on these boards," she said. "It's just something that periodically needs to be looked at and it's given us some opportunity to touch base with these folks."