A former Fayette County firefighter is charging the county with ethics violations over the recent transporting of a Fayette County commissioner to his doctor's appointments at no charge to the official.

Steve Cash, who worked with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services for 10 years, claims the county transported Commissioner A.G. VanLandingham three times via a county ambulance at no charge to him for the commissioner's radiation treatments.

"I just think that's a conflict of interest since the commission approves the yearly budget for that department," Cash said.

Cash said the EMTs were told not to write down the beginning and ending mileage for any trips involving the ailing commissioner. VanLandingham is currently being treated for cancer with radiation treatments.

When contacted Monday, Emergency Management Coordinator Pete Nelms admitted the department had transported the commissioner from Piedmont Fayette Hospital three times to Clayton County for radiation treatments, but said that was something the county offers its employees.

"It's a county benefit that's available to all our employees. It helps us keep our insurance claims down by providing the transport," Nelms said.

Since the commissioners receive paychecks from the county and are covered by the county's insurance plan, they are deemed county employees.

Deputy Chief of Administrative Services Allen McCullough also weighed in on the issue.

"The position of Fayette County Emergency Medical Services has and always will continue to be to provide care for those who are ill and or injured and in need of our services regardless of their situation or position in life. This includes citizens, those who come to our community, visitors, county employees, commissioners and inmates and any and all others in need of emergency medical services," he said.

In the last year, the county has transported 60 county employees and members of their families for medical services at no charges to those transported, Nelms said. The normal base cost for transport is $375 to the general public, he added.

Commission Chairman Greg Dunn doesn't see any problems with the issue.

"He's a county employee and it's common sense for us to provide this service," Dunn said.

When employees require transport, the county sometimes uses a spare ambulance to make sure that the rest of the fleet is ready for other calls, said Nelms.

Still, Cash is concerned about the county's position.

"I never knew of this policy and I'm a lung cancer survivor. It just raises a lot of questions in my mind."