Chris Francis, township advisory board member, makes a statement during the Tippecanoe Township Advisory Board meeting Tuesday. Advisory board members Richard Owen and Steve Carson and township trustee Steve Ward are shown to the right.

NORTH WEBSTER — Residents, paramedics and firefighters attended Tuesday evening’s Tippecanoe Township Advisory Board meeting. The residents were there to get answers.

A few explained circumstances of what happened. A few rehashed the schedule issue. But the conversations were not without interruption.

The situation with the North Webster/Tippecanoe Township Fire Department and EMS was an approximately 30 minute discussion at the end of regular business.

Jeremy Likens, who had taken a two-week vacation, is back on duty as fire chief. Although Likens was not present at the meeting due to illness, Steve Carson, township advisory board president, stated, “He is back doing his duties and him and Steve Ward are working out things together to keep this ship moving forward smoothly. I think there has been a lot of misinterpretation of things throughout the public and other places. The board, we control finances. We can’t control nothing else. We were told in a meeting we had, things are moving forward.”

Firefighters, paramedics and the public attend the meeting.

Carson noted four to five personnel have not returned, but were told if Likens returned they would return. There are only three individuals on active leave.

Jeff Anglemeyer and former trustees Sue Ann Mitchell and Tom Reiff raised questions, some answered, others not. Anglemeyer, concerned about the community’s safety, asked if there were going to be any repercussions for those who “up and quit,” and if the fire chief abandoned his duties or took a leave of absence, and the process for requesting a leave.

Chris Francis, board member, stated Likens had put in for a vacation. “No one quit at any point in time,” said Francis. Two resignations have been received, one unrelated to the issue. Cody Manges, former operations chief, submitted his resignation as a full-time employee, but will remain in a part-time position.

Carson stressed the community is in safe hands and there are enough firefighters and if something happens. “I feel very confident in the people we have working here,” said Carson.

Mitchell noted the township board signed the state’s nepotism policy to get its budget approved. She read a paragraph in that policy relating to an elected official who is in a position to affect the term and condition of another individual employment, including assignment, compensation, advancement, grievances or performance evaluation. “That says the trustee is to have no control over what goes on with employees that are a direct relation,” said Mitchell. However she added there is no teeth in the law, but instead of a board member giving the answers it should be the “trustee who is giving the answers.” She added only by your moral character do you decide “if you follow what you signed or not.”

Ward responded both he and his son-in-law were employed by the township prior to the nepotism policy in 2012 and he does not set his son-in-law’s schedule. However it was noted he said on television he changed his son-in-law’s shift because he would have to get a baby-sitter. Ward stated he did not know where “they came up with all of that.”

Reiff asked Ward to give his version of what happened. “I wanted to know why they walked out. I’m asking you tonight, Mr. Trustee, what and I want an answer and I want it straight,” said Reiff.

Ward stated it was felt he was micromanaging the chief on three incidents: number of beds in a room, scheduling and discipline. “I pulled the discipline out from under him because he cussed at an employee for 35 minutes straight,” said Ward, referring to Manges. He also stated Likens never lost his power, it was Manges.

However several firefighters questioned that action because it stripped the chief of his power to determine who handles the discipline.

Josh Gunkel, deputy fire chief, explained the firefighters never walked out on the residents of the town or township, it was a protest in support of the fire chief and EMS chief. “We were told all the power was taken away and Steve would make all the decisions. We didn’t feel like we had any other options,” said Gunkel, who was interrupted several times by Sue Ward and Anglemeyer.

Scott Gerke, firefighter, also spoke, as did Ken Strong, paramedic. These two, however, held a discussion between themselves regarding the scheduling issue.

Carson halted the discussion and read a signed, prepared statement: “After hearing from the parties that were involved with the North Webster/Tippecanoe Township Fire and EMS crisis, and gathering the facts, the Tippecanoe Township Advisory Board has concluded that trustee Steve Ward was acting within the scope of his job description. An outline of some of the Indiana Trustee duties can be found on the IN.gov website and a complete listing can be obtained directly from the state of Indiana.

“At this time, we feel a breakdown in communication and inaccurate information led to the walk-out of the fire and ems personnel. Trustee Ward and Chief Likens are working diligently to move the department forward in a positive direction.”

He further stated “The only reason why I did that is I’m tired of the baloney and I’m not here to deal with the baloney I’m here to deal with what money has to be taken care of.”

Francis, who was not a part of the statement, noted in executive meetings, since April, the scheduling has been discussed, “so the schedule was not just Cody coming after you guys, because we just dealt with it a month ago.”

Richard Owen, board member, concluded the comments stating, “there’s a bigger problem with communication. The fire department came to us last month with all these people … the trustee told the chief he would back him up, whatever he did it was going to work. Next day, he (Ward) worked with you guys, changed it again. That’s why your fire department walked out. There’s two different stories going on. You guys need to communicate.”