Monday, January 28, 2013
Former State Senator Jane Cunningham and State Representative Cole McNary are running for the lone seat open in April's election for the fire protection district.
A race for the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors that was four candidates deep after a pair of surprising late entries prior to the January 15 deadline, is now down to two after a pair of candidates, including the lone incumbent, dropped out. The district confirmed late last week that Kim Evans, the board's current chairman, and Russell Lake, have removed their names from consideration for the April 2 election to the three person panel. That leaves former State Senator Jane Cunningham and former State Representative Cole McNary to compete for Evans' seat. Cunningham was redistricted out of the state legislature after she opted not to run in a relocated district, while McNary ran unsuccessfully for State Treasurer. In a …
Friday, December 9, 2011
Monarch Fire Protection District's Board President Kim Evans wants no mistakes about current issues and why Thursday's meeting was rescheduled to Saturday. Here is a preview of what she says will be opening comments for the 10 a.m. meeting.
Given that the primary purpose of the Monarch Fire Protection District board of directors' meeting Saturday morning is to finish work on future fiscal year budgetary matters, Board President Kim Evans wants to ensure tomorrow's meeting doesn't get too off-track during the public comment portion of the meeting. Evans released the following statements to Patch this evening, which she indicated will be her opening remarks for Saturday's meeting: "Because there has been a good deal of misinformation circulated throughout the Monarch community about events of the last few months, I would like to briefly address the politicizing of events within our district," she stated in an email. "Let’s start acting responsibly with the duties and chores …
Thursday, December 8, 2011
He was found near his Kirkwood home. He was forced out Nov. 22 after a determination that he and three other command officers had created a hostile work environment for female firefighters.
The body of Fred W. Goodson, a former battalion chief for the Monarch Fire Protection District, was found near his Kirkwood home on Thursday, according to media reports. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported early Thursday evening that he had died of an apparent self-inflicted wound; the newspaper quoted a news release from the Kirkwood police. Goodson was fired by the Monarch board on Nov. 22, shortly after an appeals court upheld a ruling against the district awarding $200,000 each to two female firefighters who sued, claiming district leadership had allowed a hostile work environment to pervade the department. Assistant Chief Les Crews, Deputy Chief Cary Spiegel and Battalion Chief Mike Davis were also fired. Fox 2 News reported Thursday…
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Firefighters named to Monarch Fire Protection District posts vacated by dismissed officers average 30-plus years experience. Monarch's House No. 2, at 18424 Wildhorse Creek Rd., services Wildwood residents.
Interim replacements were named for Monarch Fire Protection District senior officers who were removed following an employment discrimination lawsuit against the fire district. The suit recently was upheld in a state appeals court. After that decision, Monarch board members voted to release all involved. Assistant Chief Les Crews, Deputy Chief Cary Spiegel and battalion chiefs Fred Goodson and Mike Davis were the officers removed from their positions. A fifth officer, Captain Edwin Woods, was given the opportunity to stay, with a reduction in rank, and he accepted. Following is a list of the interim positions and the personnel assigned to fill them, according to details released by Monarch Fire Marshal Roger Herin. He indicated each of the …
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Two battalion chiefs, a deputy chief and an assistant chief will not be replaced.
The President of the Monarch Fire Protection District Board of Directors says service will not suffer despite the board's move Tuesday to remove four senior officers. The officers included two battalion chiefs, a deputy chief and an assistant chief who were identified in an employment discrimination lawsuit against the district which was upheld earlier this month in a state appeals court. The verdict, which includes $200,000 payments to a pair of plaintiffs in the case, will mean more than $1.5 million in total costs, including attorney fees. Board President Kim Evans said a total of five officers were identified through the suit. One was given the option of a reduction in rank to keep his job and accepted. Four others were given the …
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Monarch Fire Protection District
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Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Tom Vineyard, Mid-County Fire Protection District chief, cited by citizens' group as frontrunner replacement for Monarch's retiring leader. Monarch board president said it is infuriating that potential search details may have been prematurely discussed.
Monarch Fire Protection District's search for a new fire chief turned up a top choice, according to a self-proclaimed watchdog group, Monarch Concerned Taxpayers. The group states on their website they are citizens and business owners within the district. Tom Vineyard, chief of Mid-County Fire Protection District of St. Louis County, was identified Friday by Concerned Taxpayers, in a blog on the group's website as Monarch's leading candidate to replace current and retiring Chief Chip Biele. Monarch Board President Kim Evans said the board of directors engaged the services of Grant Cooper & Associates as their search firm to ensure a professional and confidential process to find a new chief. "It disturbs me greatly to know that [Monarch] …
Friday, October 21, 2011
Monarch Fire Protection District's Clifford Biele counts down to last day at the helm. Monarch's House No. 2, at 18424 Wildhorse Creek Rd., services Wildwood residents.
While Fire Chief Chip Biele counts down the weeks until his Dec. 31 retirement, a look back to 1964 when he began volunteering with Monarch Fire Protection District shows how much West St. Louis County has changed. According to the district, there were only three firehouses five decades ago, and now there are five firehouses plus a separate headquarters office, and a separate maintenance/training center. Monarch, which is based in Chesterfield, expanded over the years to also answer calls in Wildwood, Ballwin, Clarkson Valley, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights and portions of St. Louis County—for a total of 62 square miles and more than 60,000 residents. Where now there are 125 firefighting staff, back in the day there were only 12! By the …
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Chief Cliff Biele has worked in the Monarch Fire Protection District for 47 years. Monarch's House No. 2, at 18424 Wildhorse Creek Rd., services Wildwood residents.
After 44 years of service to the Monarch Fire Protection District, Fire Chief Cliff Biele will retire, effective Dec. 31. “It’s been a great experience,” he said. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do as a kid. I was around the fire service all my life." Biele's childhood wish came true; he followed in his dad’s footsteps by becoming a firefighter and eventually the fire chief. Beiele began as a volunteer in the Monarch district when his father was fire chief. He spent three years volunteering before formally beginning his 44-year long career in the district, which covers Chesterfield and parts of Wildwood, Ballwin, Clarkson Valley, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights and unincorporated St. Louis County. Before Biele became chief, he also …
robert gilliam
10:48 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
No, actually she tried to address the problems before it cost the District that money, which is opposite of the what the other directors were doing at the time. Also, before you make accusations about stupidity, proof read your own work. Your not helping your case. more ›