Allen County Commissioner Tom Williams lit into fellow commissioners Tuesday morning, accusing them of excessively supporting what he termed is a disgruntled employee.
Williams said a member of the countywide ambulance service had contacted commissioners Jerry Daniels and Jim Talkington seeking a vote of no confidence against ambulance director Ryan Sell.
“If I had my way, he would be fired,” Williams said.
Sell was unavailable for comment, but Fire Chief Tim Thyer said he and city administrative staff were looking into the matter. “Nothing has been done, yet,” he said. “I don’t know what will happen.”
“A lot of people fought hard to get the ambulance service” where it is today, Williams said. “There’s no evidence it’s not being run properly. If there is a problem, let’s put it on the table and not be back-biting and spreading rumors.”
The joint service is in its third year of operation.
Williams showed a letter from Terry Call, who has done ambulance billings, both when the county ran the service and now, that praised its operation, including that missteps and problems were no greater with city control than they had been under the county.
In rebuttal to Williams, Talkington said he “had no problem with a taxpayer coming to me. I’m not aware of problems in the ranks unless I’m told. I hope the employee isn’t disciplined.”
Williams disagreed, saying “I think what you did was despicable.”
“I’ll listen to any individual and deal with it how I want with those who come to see me,” Talkington said.
“I know you’re trying to get this person to run against me and that’s fine,” Williams said. “But I take it personally when you undermine safety and well-being of citizens.”
The employee is Ron Ballard, who filed Tuesday afternoon to challenge Williams in the Aug. 2 Republican primary election for the Second District seat on the commission.
Daniels held his comments to a minimum, saying only he had talked to Ballard and that Thyer came to him to discuss what was transpiring.
“Apparently I’m an outlier and old-fashioned,” Williams concluded. “I see things as black and white.”
Talkington also is seeking re-election. So far he has no opposition. The deadline to file is noon June 1.
