Ellis County

Health Services Director Kerry McCue has announced his retirement from Ellis County effective Dec. 14.

McCue’s retirement comes following 30 years of service to the community and 40 years as a paramedic in the state of Kansas.

“It has been an honor and privilege to have served Ellis County in the capacity of the EMS Director the last 30 years and Health Department Administrator for the last 3 years,” McCue said. “I want to thank the community for their support. Without that support, we would not have been able to establish and maintain the level of services that are now being provided. I also want to thank everyone who has served at Ellis County EMS or the Ellis County Health Department during my administration for their dedication, passion and desire to provide the best care available to the citizens and visitors to our County.”

In planning for McCue’s impending departure, the Board of County Commissioners has considered how to fill the role he plays leading two departments – Emergency Medical Services and Health. Given budget constraints, the commissioners have decided not to conduct an external recruitment for either of these functions.

“Fortunately, we have an excellent candidate internally. I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jason Kennedy as our EMS Director, effective Dec. 15,” said County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes. “I also expect Mr. Kennedy to assume the role of Health Administrator, pending contract negotiations with the Commission.”

“Ellis County is lucky to have Jason. I’m fully confident in his ability to further develop our EMS and Health services from the strong base that Kerry is leaving,” added County Commission Chair Dean Haselhorst.

Kennedy is a native of rural Kansas and graduated from Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s degree and a minor in business administration in 2005. He spent 11 years with the Salina Fire Department as a firefighter paramedic and acting Medical Officer. He and his family relocated to Hays in February 2018 after he accepted the position of Assistant Director of Ellis County EMS.

“I am excited to accept the position of Director of ECEMS and the Ellis County Health Department. I look forward to serving the citizens of Ellis County and building on the tradition of excellence that Kerry has fostered,” Kennedy said. “Providing the most advanced and appropriate clinical care for our patients is my number one priority. Working even more closely with Kerry over the next six months will ensure continuation of the excellent care that the citizens and visitors of Ellis County deserve.”

County Commissioners and the County Administrator anticipate that McCue and Kennedy will work together over the next seven months to ensure a seamless transition.

“I want to thank Kerry for all he has done for us, and especially for stepping up to lead the Health Department,” County Commissioner Butch Schlyer said. “I appreciated the way Kerry worked with me when he took over as Health Administrator and I know he and Jason can plan another successful hand-off.”

“I’m very thankful to Kerry for his years of service to his profession and to our community,” County Commissioner Dustin Roths said. “We have a premier paramedic-level service because of Kerry. But I am equally excited about Jason assuming this role. He has both the experience and the attitude that we need to continue moving Ellis County forward into the future.”