Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The Post-Dispatch interviewed both the remaining candidates, who once held high-profile offices in Jefferson City and now are running for the relatively obscure three-person fire board.
One was once a candidate for statewide office, the other a high-profile member of the Missouri state senate. Now, Cole McNary and Jane Cunningham are the sole candidates for the relatively obscure and low-paying job on the board of the Monarch Fire Protection District. The election is April 2 and both candidates are already getting a little nasty in their campaign for the open seat on the board, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Both are from Chesterfield and they're the only candidates left in the race for a six-year term. The newspaper quotes Cunningham referring to McNary as "the union candidate" and warning: "You don’t want the union bosses picking who their boss will be." In turn, McNary, who was the GOP …
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Monarch Fire Protection District Chief Tom Vineyard attended Monday night's Wildwood City Council meeting to personally meet city reps. Monarch's House No. 2, at 18424 Wildhorse Creek Rd., services Wildwood residents.
Monarch Fire Protection District new Chief Tom Vineyard attended Wildwood's city council meeting Monday night to meet council members firsthand, and to reaffirm the district's commitment to Wildwood residents serviced by firehouse No. 2 located off of Wildhorse Creek Road. Vineyard took over the Monarch district on Jan. 3, and instituted some new initiatives. See previously related articles: New Monarch Chief Has 23 Years of Experience New Fire Chief Brings Fresh Style Monarch Chief Vineyard Voted President of Area Fire Chiefs Association Monarch Firefighters Reach New Contract He told meeting attendees a Monarch employee recently was reassigned to being a public education officer. "We're getting back into schools, and teaching CPR at …
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Monarch Fire Protection District board approves payment, plus progresses with plans for new website.
Taxpayers will contribute $1.73 million into firefighters' pension fund, after approval in a unanimous vote by the three-member board of directors of Monarch Fire Protection District last Wednesday. The Monarch district, headquartered in Chesterfield, also covers portions of Wildwood, Ballwin, Creve Coeur, Clarkson Valley and Maryland Heights. The $1.73 million was paid to DWS Sudder, according to the district documents projected on a screen at Wednesday's meeting. The board had a closed pension meeting prior to the regular meeting. The district pays into the pension an average of $14,000 per person, board member Robin Harris said. Apparently, the pension payment is the same as the prior year, because it is not an "assessment year" when …
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Monarch Fire Protection District's fairly new fire chief, Thomas Vineyard, was voted by his peers on Tuesday to head the St. Louis metropolitan region's group for all fire chiefs.
Tom Vineyard, who recently became the chief of the Monarch Fire Protection District, added a few more new job responsibilities to his plate on Tuesday when he was elected to preside over the Greater St. Louis Area Fire Chiefs Association (GSLAFCA). Since 1958, the association has served as a group through which fire chiefs share best practices, fire education trends and certain committee work, such as handling of hazardous materials (HAZMAT). Previously, Vineyard served as the association's secretary. The association includes fire chiefs from St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson counties, as well as the city of St. Louis. As president of the association, Vineyard said one of his goals is to encourage fire chiefs to collectively …
Monday, December 12, 2011
Monarch Fire Protection District's new leader, Thomas Vineyard, steps in as chief on Jan. 2. He transfers to Monarch from one of St. Louis County's busiest districts. New chief says Monarch firefighters have been drug through public image mud.
Thomas Vineyard takes over as Monarch Fire Protection District chief, effective Jan. 2, replacing retiring Clifford “Chip” Biele. Vineyard was rumored to be the frontrunner for the position in early November, based on a six-month executive search managed by Clayton, MO-based Grant Cooper & Associates. Vineyard, a St. Peters resident, has been with the Mid-County Fire Protection District since 1988. Mid-County was incorporated in the 1950s, originating from the Wellston Fire Protection District established in the late 1800s. The district serves St. Louis County, Greendale, Hanley Hills, Pagedale, Vinita Park, Vinita Terrace and Wellston. Vineyard became fire chief/fire marshal at Mid-County in 2004, and was responsible for the day-to-day …
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Tom Vineyard was declared as Monarch's new fire chief Saturday by a 2-1 vote among the district's three board of directors.
Tom Vineyard, chief of Mid-County Fire Protection District of St. Louis County, will replace current and retiring Chief Chip Biele for the Monarch Fire Protection District, per a 2-1 vote by Monarch's board of directors at a Saturday meeting at the district's headquarters in Chesterfield. Biele is set to retire Jan. 1. Information about Vineyard being a top candidate for the job circulated publicly via a self-proclaimed watchdog group, Monarch Concerned Taxpayers. (See related article from Nov. 8: Is Monarch Fire District Chief Replacement Chosen?) Monarch board of directors engaged the services of Clayton, MO-based Grant Cooper & Associates as their search firm to find a new chief. Board president Kim Evans moved to accept the employment…
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] …
Cynthia C.
4:59 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Sheesh, like every election, such a quandary as to who should get my vote. Why does it always boil down to the lesser of two evils, instead of the best candidate for the job? more ›