EMS coordinator quits; other employee fired

CELINA - The Mercer County Emergency Medical Services coordinator has resigned and the education program director has been fired.

Commissioner Greg Homan on Tuesday night revealed that Matt Nietfeld has "moved on from his position" while Heather Hinkle "has also been separated from service from the county."

Commissioners organized a meeting at the Mercer County Central Services Building to discuss EMS personnel and future leadership. It was attended by township trustees, county EMS chiefs and personnel, Celina Mayor Jeff Hazel, St. Henry Village Administrator Ron Gelhaus, St. Henry Village Council President Doug Rinderle, Chickasaw Mayor Doug Huelsman and others.

Asked for details by the newspaper after the meeting, Homan said Nietfeld resigned about a week ago.

"His separation date will be July 1," Homan said.

Homan added Hinkle, the education program director, was fired June 9 for "not following county policy and procedures."

He provided no other details.

Commissioners hope to hire a new EMS coordinator in a month or so, Homan said. In the meantime, other Emergency Management Agency and EMS personnel have temporarily taken over Nietfeld's and Hinkle's duties.

Nietfeld could not be reached for comment, but in his resignation letter he wrote of insurmountable hurdles arising over the course of his 19-month tenure, among them lack of guidance from commissioners.

He also cited "a hostile work environment."

Commissioners in late 2011 opted to combine the EMS and EMA in the former county engineer's office on Riley Street in Celina.

"Since the time of my hire, the atmosphere in the EMA/EMS office has been less than cordial to say the least," Nietfeld wrote. "Within a few months of my hire, there was a long list of 'items of concern' that some in the EMA/EMS office brought to your attention."

Those complaints were an attempt to smear his name, Nietfeld wrote.

"The hostile work environment only continued to fester from there," he wrote. "Recently I was questioned on more 'issues' revolving around my work schedule, use of county vehicles and association with outside agencies. Again, none of this (is) founded in reality, but used to degrade me, my work ethic and my character."

His duties have been riddled with unrealistic expectations, Nietfeld wrote.

"From commissioners believing I should be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to expecting me to understand the intricacies of county government in spite of having little to no guidance as I undertook the position of EMS coordinator," he wrote.

Nietfeld wrote that he no longer has faith in county leadership nor the EMA/EMS office staff.

"I have worked at many places, in many different facets, and the leadership here is by far the most disengaged from its employees that I have ever experienced," he wrote. "I understand the county is large, and the number of employees is great, but the lack of outreach still bewilders me."

He wrote he hopes the next coordinator is "given a warmer welcome" and "far more guidance" than what he received.

Nietfeld, the former St. Henry EMS chief, started in December 2014 as full-time EMS program coordinator. He replaced Steve Beougher, who had retired after 11 years as chief.

"We still do have some staffing that has been providing some administrative and some leadership on that department here as that change has happened," Homan said on Tuesday night.

EMA/EMS Director Mike Robbins is handling the day-to-day administrative functions while EMS employee Michelle Garman and EMA administrative assistant Sheryle Kuhn are providing support as well, Homan said.

Officials are considering outsourcing patient billing, a duty previously shared by Nietfeld and Hinkle. Various proposals have been obtained by outsourcers that earn up to 7 percent of the net billing revenue collected.

"One of the options would be hiring a coordinator, retaining Michelle in the office for financial and record-keeping as well and then outsourcing this function," Homan said.

Billing is being carried out by Garman and Celina Fire Lt. Chad Willrath, Garman said. Willrath also is quality-checking county transport runs. Medical supply distribution and other responsibilities have been covered as well.