Is Wellston Fire Chief Top Choice for Monarch Fire?

Tom Vineyard

Chesterfield-based Monarch Fire Protection District's search for a new fire chief has turned up a top choice, according to a self-proclaimed watchdog group, Monarch Concerned Taxpayers.

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 top choice to replace current and retiring Chief Chip Biele.

Monarch's board of directors would not confirm chief search information but in an email to Patch,apologized to Vineyard and others mentioned inConcerned Taxpayers blog.

Chief Vineyard was not available by phone Monday, according to a person who answered the phone at Mid-County FPD.

Monarch has known for nearly a year that Biele was going to retire by January 1, and the 3-member board of directors voted to finance an executive search by firm Grant Cooper & Associates, for a new chief.

Monarch has 125 employees, five firehouses and covers 55 square miles, based in Chesterfield. The 2011 budget appeared to total about $22 million, with revenue from taxes on residential and commercial property, and personal property.