FAQs
City Council
The City of Ephrata works off of a Hybrid City Administrator System of the Mayor-Council Form of Government.
Per Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC):
Many mayor-council cities have hired professional city administrators, chief administrative officers, or similarly titled positions to serve under the mayor. The city administrator is usually a full-time position responsible for many administrative and policy-related duties such as budget preparation, personnel administration, and department supervision.
In essence, this is a hybrid model between the mayor-council and council-manager systems, retaining a separately elected mayor who is responsible for administration, but providing for professional management of the city's day-to-day operations. In theory, this also frees the mayor from the need to attend to administrative details and allows the mayor to focus greater attention on policy development, political leadership, and potentially their own private employment apart from city government.
More information about the various forms of governments common in Washington State can be found through Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington (MRSC).
Code Enforcement
Fireworks
Stray Dogs
Barking Dogs
Noise Issues
Vehicles Parked or Abandoned on City Streets
Illegal Burning
For all other Code Violations, please fill out the Code Complaint Form and turn it in to Stacy Hooper at City Hall.
The city does not allow box signs or posters on telephone poles. Please see the FAQs below.
Please contact 509-754-4601 for questions.
The Ephrata Municipal Code’s definition for “Litter” includes posters, flyers, box signs, and any other material that is used to advertise an event such as estate sales, yard sales, parties and/or any other event held on residential property. (EMC 6.12)
- Post yard sale ads on Facebook Buy Sell Trade pages and on Craigslist - Moses Lake
- Place an ad in the Columbia Basin Herald, Grant County Journal or other newspapers.
- Post a sign on your property: verify it is not on the sidewalk or the public right of way.
- Post your sale posters on the City of Ephrata billboards
- Don’t place signs on street corners, sidewalks, trees, telephone/electrical poles, or any other place that is not at the location of the yard sale
- Don’t use balloons, arrows, posters or box signs
- Don’t use cars as signs by placing them other than at the location of the sale.
Please be mindful of the impact the garage/yard sale has on your neighborhood.
Signs placed off-site of the sale could cost the property owner $46.00 each.
Here is a handy flyer with the Do's and Don'ts for holding a garage/yard sale in town: Garage/Yard Sale Flyer.
Basin Market parking lot at Division Ave E & D St SE
Alder St SW in the parking lot across from the Grant County Journal
Fire
Do not tailgate, "draft", or follow a responding apparatus closely.
Not only is this illegal, you run the risk of collision as vehicles pull back out into traffic after the emergency vehicle goes by.
Fireworks
Any firework that you buy from a firework stand in the city of Ephrata is allowable. We work specifically with these stands to sell only fireworks that fit within our rules. These stands will be open for fireworks sales starting Tuesday, June 28th.
This includes roman candles, single mortars, reloadable mortars, and helicopters/parachutes.
the State of Washington. They are legal to sell, possess, and/or discharge on tribal lands.
Firecrackers
Generally 1/4” x 1 1/2” or less that come in packs to large bricks. A firecracker makes a
single “pop” sound. Many firecrackers strung together will make repetitive “popping” sounds.

Bottle Rockets
A firecracker type (tube) attached to a 12” long wooden stick. The stick is placed in a bottle and
once lit, it rises into the air, travelling laterally before exploding.

Sky Rockets and Missiles
Similar to the Bottle Rocket, a Sky Rocket is attached to a stick or has fins and may have a
plastic cap. A missile will have fins rather than a stick. Once lit, it ascends rapidly, high into
the air where it explodes.

Mass-produced Homemade Devices
Example: M-80’s, M-100’s, etc.

Homemade Explosives
Example: Pipe Bomb & Tennis Ball Bomb


Altering consumer fireworks making an explosive device
Example: Sparkler Bomb

Do not handle explosive devices!! CALL 9-1-1
December 31st 9:00pm-12:15am (of the 1st)
Fireworks Safety Tips
Fireworks Injuries
WSP Fireworks Activity Book
WA State Fire Marshal's Office Activity Guide
Human Resources
We hire for full-time, part-time and seasonal/temporary positions to work at several city facilities including City Hall, Department of Public Works, Police Department, and the Park and Recreation Department (including Splash Zone).
- Valid Driver's License
- Citizen of the United States
- Must be 21 years of age at the time of appointment
- Possess a high school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent
- Physically able to meet minimum physical qualifications
- Able to read and write the English language
- Ability to Pass Background Investigation, Psychological Evaluation, Physical Agility Test, Drug Screening, and Polygraph Assessment
- Two-years continuous law enforcement experience preferred
- Currently employed as a full-time police officer with public law enforcement
- Must be working in a job classification the same or similar to this position
- Must have successfully graduated from the Washington State Law Enforcement Academy or meet WACJT standards for equivalency.
- Able to meet medical standards for LEOFF Retirement System
- Ability to Pass Background Investigation, Psychological Evaluation, Physical Agility Test, Drug Screening, and Polygraph Assessment
Library
Monday | 10 am – 6 pm |
Tuesday | 10 am – 6 pm |
Wednesday | 11 am – 6 pm |
Thursday | 10 am – 6 pm |
Friday | 10 am – 5 pm |
Saturday | 10 am – 2 pm |
Sunday | Closed |
The Ephrata specific link is:
https://www.ncwlibraries.org/locations/ephrata-public-library/
Oasis Park
The park itself is open during daylight hours.
Public Works
Report damaged mailbox or lawn to 509-754-4601 ext 300 as soon as damage is noticed so we can verify it and if city is responsible, fix it immediately.
- Open up the hills and primary streets for emergency services and schools.
- Remove the snow that WSDOT plows to the middle of Basin Street, as required in an agreement with the State.
- Plow neighborhood residential streets, depending on the depth of the snow.
Read the full Ephrata Municipal Code 10.30 Snow Removal.
It is illegal to push snow from any property onto a City street. This creates a hazard for emergency crews and the driving public; it slows down plowing efforts, and violator's will be subject to a $47.00 fine.
If there is a significant snow event, move garbage cans and vehicles off roadway, if possible. If not, look for plow updates online, and for audible or visual signs that we are nearing your area.
For larger streets: Once plows have pushed snow completely to curb, citizens can park on plowed side to accommodate plowing on the opposite side. Do not shovel snow back into roadway after plowing; we will plow back to wherever it came from.
Utility Bills
Any water emergency outside of business hours, call MACC Dispatch 509-762-1160. MACC will contact the appropriate city personnel to help.
Utility Relief Application
Utility Relief Checklist
Past Due Resource Letter
There are a few organizations that also may be able to help:
OIC of Washington
(509)765-9206
Salvation Army
(509)766-5875
Helping Hands
(509)754-5205
Hope Source:
(509)925-1448
It may have been a meter read month. Those show the water consumption used for the previous 2 months.
Final Bills are normally requested and paid for by the Title Company. If not requested by the Title Co., the current owner is responsible for letting us know when the property is set to close with closing date and for paying any unpaid balance in full.
Transfer of water services
The new buyer is responsible to contacting City Hall to sign up for their new Utility Account. The new owner needs to come to City Hall with Closing Documents and Picture ID to do so. No Fee associated with that.
Please contact the Building Department for more information.
Please complete the Application for Automatic Bill Pay Plan. Once completed and signed, submit the form and a voided check to the Utility Billing office.
The completed application *with original signature* and voided check may be scanned and emailed to Kari Chornuk at kchornuk@ephrata.org for processing.
MerchantTransact also has a feature enabling you to set up Automatic Bill Pay. Please follow instructions listed on the MerchantTransact site.
savings account on the 20th of each month.