Paramedics, residents press Ashe County officials over proposed EMS takeover; provider says talks are off

Several paramedics and county residents urged Ashe County commissioners on May 20 to intervene after employees said they were left out of talks about a possible change in the privately contracted ambulance provider and warned the change could cut employees’ benefits.

Ryan Kissel, a paramedic who identified himself as residing in Watauga County and working in the High Country, told the board he and fellow paramedics were “discouraged from coming here to speak to y’all. We were discouraged to show up in our uniforms,” and said the discouragement “needs to be noted.”

Kissel and other speakers said they had learned through internal messaging about a possible merger involving Priority On Demand and an out‑of‑state company. Cody Darnell, an Ash County native and paramedic of about 10 years, described a May 14 briefing in which staff were told Priority On Demand “does not have employees” and that several benefits would change,…