The McPherson County Board approved two personnel actions: the promotion of a communications dispatcher to shift supervisor and the hire of an MBL position.

Emily Yates, director of emergency management and communications, asked the board to fill a shift supervisor vacancy with Jacob Quested, who has been with the department since February 2021. Yates said Quested “is a model dispatcher” and that he attended APCO, registering for leadership classes. She requested that Quested be moved from grade 13F to grade 15F at $26.26 per hour, effective Sept. 28.

A commissioner moved to approve the position change notice (PCN) for Jacob Quested to communication shift supervisor effective Sept. 28; the motion was seconded and carried on an aye vote.

Separately, the board approved a PCN to fill an open MBL position with Kylie Simmons. County staff said Simmons has worked as a title clerk in Colorado and holds a paralegal degree. The hire is effective Oct. 6, 2025; a motion to approve her PCN was made, seconded and carried on an aye vote.

Yates said the communications division still awaits scheduling and shipping updates related to a tower project and expects an update following a departmental meeting. The promotion and hire were processed as routine personnel actions in the meeting.