Monarch Fire Protection District to Be Audited by State

The Monarch Fire Protection District will be audited by the State Auditor's Office, the office announced Thursday.

Citing "the serious nature of allegations surrounding the district," State Auditor Tom Schweich requested permission from Gov. Nixon to perform the audit, according to a news release. Gary McElyea, a spokesman for the state auditor, said the auditor's office doesn't have formal jurisdiction over fire protection districts, so the only way to perform an audit is for the governor to order it or for citizens to petition for it.

The district first came to the attention of the State Auditor's Office in the summer of 2010, when Susan Montee was the auditor, McElyea said. A request to perform the audit was filed with the governor's office, but nothing ever came of it.

Additional information was sent to the auditor's office last month, McElyea said. McElyea said he couldn't discuss the information in detail, or indicate who sent it.

Correspondence from Schweich to Nixon indicates that information was sent to the auditor's office by the treasurer of the Monarch Fire Protection District, Kim Evans. The letter, plus one from Nixon to Schweich authorizing the audit, is attached to this article; view them by clicking on the PDF files. 

The letter, dated Jan. 21, reads:

"I understand that my predecessor, Susan Montee, sent your office a letter in July 2010 asking you to request an audit of the Monarch Fire Proection District. I wanted to inform you that we recently received a letter from the treasurer of the FPD reiterating her request for an audit. As the allegations are faily serious, please advise us at your earliest convenience where we should proceed with the audit."

Attempts to reach Evans were unsuccessful.

McElyea said the audit would begin later this year, when manpower was available. The length of time it takes to conduct an audit varies, he said, but it usually takes several months.

Fire Marshall Dave Nichols said the district had received news of the audit. Nichols said the district audits itself every year, but he was not sure if the district had been audited by the state before. He said it was his understanding that the audit was not requested by the district and deferred questions to the district's board. Chesterfield Patch has contacted the board and will update the story when more information is available.

Anyone with information about the Monarch Fire Protection District, including anything about its operation or finances, is encouraged to contact the auditor's office, at 800-347-8597 or by e-mail at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov, McElyea said.