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Resident accuses local ambulance nonprofit of opacity; commissioners dispute some claims
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Summary
At the April 20 meeting Justin Kendall accused TEAS Incorporated and Franciscan of monopolizing ambulance services in Tippecanoe County and lacking response‑time requirements; a commissioner called portions "misinformation" and offered to meet. Other residents raised EMS and law‑enforcement complaints and urged careful review of a working solar ordinance.
Justin Kendall told the Tippecanoe County Board of Commissioners on April 20 that documents he reviewed suggest TEAS Incorporated — the nonprofit formed to coordinate ambulance services — has done little active work since its 2013 incorporation and that Franciscan Health Lafayette appears to handle day‑to‑day operations. Kendall said the TEAS bylaws, as provided to the IRS, include member restrictions that effectively block competing ambulance providers and include no explicit response‑time requirements.
"It really appears here that you've given them...a monopoly with 0 requirements that it provide anything in particular," Kendall said, summarizing his review of TEAS's tax‑exempt application and bylaws and asking the board why the county has not required response‑time standards or clearer mutual‑aid and dispatch agreements.
A commissioner responded that "a lot of that...is misinformation," said he would be willing to meet with Kendall to discuss the documents and described the TEAS board as involved in hiring the director. The commissioner offered to follow up with Kendall directly.
Other public comments at the meeting included Paul Griswold, who described a personal emergency response incident involving Buck Creek Fire Department and raised complaints about two deputies' conduct and animal control interactions; the chair invited Griswold to follow up with the sheriff for further review. Kenny McClary, another commenter, spoke in support of the county's draft solar ordinances, arguing size caps and land‑use efficiency do not equate to a ban and that the working draft remains reasonable. McClary noted the APC (Area Plan Commission) schedule was adjusted and said the ordinance will be heard May 4 at 2 p.m.
The board did not take formal action on the TEAS allegations at the meeting. A commissioner offered to meet with Kendall for more detail, and the transcript records an invitation for Kendall to follow up so that staff and elected officials can review the cited filings and address any operational gaps.
What happens next: the commissioner who disputed parts of Kendall’s account invited Kendall to meet to review the filings and resolve outstanding questions; no administrative changes were adopted during the meeting.
