MAPLETON — A group of Mapleton residents is circulating petitions targeting an elected city official who allegedly attempted to force a volunteer EMT off the city crew after the two had a verbal spat.

Wendy Hendry, who lives in Mapleton, planned to ask for Councilman Ben Card's resignation when she gave the signed petitions to other city officials.

But she decided not to call for Card to step down after he backed off a previous threat of barring Leslie Cranmer, a volunteer emergency medical technician, from taking part in city emergency efforts after the two squared off at a city event.

The petition asks that the City Council allow residents, no matter their position, "to express their opinions without fear of reprisal."

City officials, aware of the brewing brouhaha, tried to quell any problems.

The tiff between Card, who declined to talk about the petitions with the Deseret Morning News, and Cranmer, who was unavailable for comment, was resolved amicably without removing her from the ambulance crew, City Manager Robert Bradshaw said.

However, residents are still angry. Hendry said she would continue with her petition just to let the City Council know that taxpayers are watching what they are doing. People should not have to fear reprisals from government leaders for being outspoken, Hendry said.

As of Tuesday, Hendry had 100 signatures. Some 6,300 people live in the Utah County city.

The tiff occurred May 26 during an open house when the city was presenting architectural renderings of its new City Hall to the public.

Cranmer, Fire Chief Dave Stewart and EMT Grace Nay were having a discussion when Card approached them. A discussion ensued over why Nay wasn't named to a committee overseeing the renovation of City Hall.

Nay, former ambulance director, supported fired police chief Mike Roberts when he was terminated suddenly by the council in January. Nay's stance against the council for firing Roberts was allegedly cited as the reason Nay was not named to the committee.

And that's when Cranmer and Card had their verbal altercation.

The next day Card wrote a letter to Mayor Dean Allen requesting her removal. Rather, Bradshaw sent Cranmer a letter on June 2 instructing her to send a letter of apology to Card with copies to Stewart and Nay.

She was also put on six month's probation.

City officials say Cranmer apologized.

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E-mail: rodger@desnews.com