GEORGETOWN, OH — Two employees of the Brown County E911 Communications Center have resigned, citing workplace tension as the reason for their resignations.

The first to tender his resignation was Rob Wilson, director of the communications center, who began his letter by noting that “over the last year I have continually found myself at odds with a member of the board.” Commissioner Rick Eagan said he was the target of this particular comment in Wilson’s letter.

“While I believe that my resignation will be portrayed otherwise, I also believe that this ongoing tension is largely motivated by politics and has no foundation in fact,” Wilson continued.

Wilson said numerous times over the past year facts regarding the center and himself as director have been “distorted” to serve the interests of others.

“In my opinion, I have continually been subjected to hostility, harassment and bullying by those who would obstruct the day to day operations of the center as well as micro-manage the operations of the center as it relates to the chain of command, standard procedures within the organization and deployment of new systems within the county,” Wilson said. “This hostile work environment and ongoing conflict has affected my ability to effectively manage my staff. It has added to the level of anxiety of the staff of the communication center whose job is already stressful.”

Wilson said in the letter that it is clear the conflict will continue and said he is resigning in an effort to minimize the negative health effects to himself and his family.

Wilson tendered the resignation letter Nov. 22, giving three weeks notice. His last day will be Dec. 16.

However, in Monday’s commissioners meeting, Eagan introduced a motion in the form of a letter to terminate Wilson’s employment.

The reason for the motion went back to a Nov. 21 opens records request by Brown County Sheriff Dwayne Wenninger. Messages left for Wenninger and Chief Deputy John Schadle Friday were not returned by press time.

According to Eagan’s letter, Wilson told Wenninger the conversations he wanted records of did not exist. Those included conversations between a supervisor at the center, Nowana Bingaman and three different people: Lt. John Fetters, Schadle and Wilson.

“When you determined there might be a criminal investigation on tampering with public records you came forward on Nov. 30, 2011,” Eagan wrote. “You came forward and advised the county commissioners that you had found the missing conversations and stated you had overlooked them.”

Another issue, Eagan said, regarded a mutual aid contract between the villages, Ohio State Highway Patrol and the sheriff’s office. Eagan referred to a statement Wilson allegedly made, that he was “unaware” of a mutual aide contract between those agencies until given a copy by Eagan Nov. 17.

“…The Brown County prosecutor advised the board of commissioners on Nov. 30, 2011 that you had asked for mutual aid contract understanding two weeks earlier and on the same issue you admitted that you had changed dispatcher protocol on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011 and didn’t read the mutual aide agreement until … Schadle confronted you on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011,” Eagan wrote. “And then you changed back to the original protocol and admitted that Chief Deputy Schadle was right.”

Wilson said in a phone interview Friday that when dispatcher protocol was changed it was done as an attempt to reinforce a letter from the sheriff’s office regarding mutual aide. The Ledger Independent has verbally requested copies of the letter from the sheriff’s office multiple times, but has not received one.

According to a news site, Wenninger’s letter said an officer responding outside their corporation limit has no authority and could be both criminally and civilly liable for any action taken.

“In addition, the scene may be a potential crime scene and it is not being handled properly,” Wenninger was quoted as writing. “If a fire chief needs police presence outside village limits, they need to contact the communications center and request a deputy to respond. The village officers need to be requested by a deputy or not respond outside their limits.”

Eagan said Wilson “took it upon himself” to change policy so that all mutual aid dispatches had to be OK’d by the sheriff’s office — even if the request for mutual aid came from OSHP while they were working an accident in their jurisdiction.

Wilson said he responded to the letter as he understood it. Commissioner Ralph Jennings said there was an approximate three-day window when the protocol was changed and when Wilson learned of the mistake it was corrected.

“I’m sure there was no bad intent involved,” Jennings said.

Eagan’s motion to terminate Wilson died for lack of a second.

It was during the same meeting that Eagan introduced the motion to terminate Wilson that Bingaman tendered her resignation.

“I promised my children and my husband that when it started affecting our family time that I would walk away and the time has come,” Bingaman said in her letter.

Bingaman noted in her letter her accomplishments at the center, including awards she has received. However, she said she has also been placed in the role of buffer for the communication center and other departments within the county during the last three years.

“…I feel that I can no longer work there without compromising my integrity and my respect both self and outside the agency,” she wrote in the letter.

Bingaman said she has been put in the middle of situations because of friendships both inside and outside of the department. She said for that to be allowed to happen, by herself and the administration of the county, and for it to be excused and overlooked is an “outrage.”

Jennings said it was only within the past couple of weeks that he became aware there was tension between Bingaman and Wilson. He commended both for their service and said he did not like to see either resign.

Jennings said there have been some conversations with Wilson regarding whether he would continue his employment. Wilson, however, said he is not reconsidering his resignation at this time.

Eagan was not hesitant in expressing his opinion of Wilson’s resignation.

“I think it’s the best thing that ever happened in Brown County,” he said. “We’ll move forward, without Rob.”

Read the story here.