The Mower County Board of Commissioners could soon be shaking up the county’s Environmental Services and the Highway Department.

The board will discuss combining the offices into a joint public works department at the next board meeting at 1 p.m. Tuesday.

The move could save a position and a half in the two offices. County Coordinator Craig Oscarson said staff could be reduced immediately, but that could be done through the county’s early retirement program.

The move, which was recommended by last year’s finance committee, will not be an easy one.

“It’s going to be a lot of hard work if the board adopts it to put all the pieces in place and move forward on it,” Oscarson said.

However, the finance committee believes the move can be made to save funds without significant reductions to services.

Under the joint department there would be one department head — likely County Engineer Mike Hanson. Environmental Services Director Angie Knish would be a supervisor rather than a department head, but she would still keep her same step and pay.

“Any time you make a change, it’s always tough and stressful,” Oscarson said. “But in these days in government, we need to look at these changes.”