State Auditor's Staff Releasing Monarch Audit Wednesday

Missouri state auditors' staffers are expected to release audit findings of the Monarch Fire Protection District at a meeting slated tonight at 6 p.m. at Monarch's headquarters building at 13725 Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield. The district serves portions of Creve Coeur.

State Auditor Tom Schweich requested the audit be conducted "due to the serious nature of allegations surrounding the district."

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on Feb. 24 after some, including Monarch board member Kim Evans, claimed on behalf of the district.

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Fire Marshal Roger Herin said Wednesday's meeting will be operated by the state auditors, and that is not a Monarch board meeting. "They are just using our facilities," he said.

Herin said Monarch Controller Michelle DePew will be present.

A watchdog group, Monarch Concerned Taxpayers, posted on the group's website that they intend to ask the state auditor's office and Monarch representatives for an accounting of tax dollars that were expended to perform this audit, citing a concern that Evans asked for the audit in attempt to influence last April's election of Monarch board members.