by Kate Shunney
Morgan County Commissioners agreed last Wednesday to boost the pay for Marshall Younker, who went from being the county’s deputy 911 director to Interim Director just before Christmas.
Younker has stepped into the director role following the departure of Ron Mason, the former 911 director.
Commissioners discussed the pay adjustment for Younker at their January 4 meeting.
In response to questions from The Morgan Messenger, Commission President Sean Forney said he wouldn’t discuss the departure of Mason. When asked if Mason had resigned, Forney said he had not – he had been relieved of his duties. Mason was fired on December 12, county officials confirmed.
Commissioner Forney proposed posting the 911 director opening to seek candidates, but other commissioners said they wanted to take a closer look at the job description of both the director and deputy director.
One change on the table was requiring the 911 director to be certified to take emergency calls in the county’s dispatch center.
Mason didn’t have that professional certification, commissioners said.
Younker does have that certification and regularly dispatches emergency calls. He said the 911 center has been understaffed for roughly 18 months, so it’s necessary for supervisors to step in when needed.
Commissioners voted to raise Younker’s pay to the director’s salary rate of $48,000 per year for the time period during which he serves as Interim Director.
