PROVO — Mayor Lewis Billings has appointed Jeff Beaty as Provo City's new emergency response coordinator. Beaty started Monday and will work with city departments, government agencies and the community in developing and implementing an expanded emergency response plan.

Beaty has a master's degree in public administration and has previously worked as the business administrator for Reagan Academy in Springville. He also has four years of experience in community emergency response training in Orem city.

Beaty is the first to fill this position as part of the mayor's staff. The position had been in another department but was recently repositioned to a higher level in the city's organization.