CREVE COEUR, Mo. — The Monarch Fire Protection District serves several different municipalities in west St. Louis County, and right now, it's facing challenges. Among them is not having enough equipment or equipment that's too old. So the district formed a community-led effort is called "Monarch NEXT."
The district says some residents have to more than 10 minutes when they call 911.
The district serves 80,000 residents in a nearly 63 mile radius. Areas include in Chesterfield, Wildwood, Maryland Heights, a portion of St. Louis County near Maryland Heights, Clarkson Valley, Creve Coeur and Ballwin.
The district has five fire houses and they're all situated about 20 miles west of downtown St. Louis.
Fire Chief Russ Adams said in addition to cutting down on 911 wait times, the district also hopes to add one ambulance to their fleet and get new uniforms because the current ones contain PFAS, which is cancer-causing materials.
"We are in dire need of improving our response times. Minutes matter. Seconds matter," Adams said.
Residents have three choices:
- Do nothing.
- Approve a 15-cent personal property tax increase, which comes out to an extra $10 a month for a $400,000 home.
- Approve a personal property tax increase of 19 cents, which means an extra $12 a month for a $400,000 home.
Adams says the department has been living below its means since its inception.
"I do agree that taxes are a terrible subject. Nobody wants a new tax. But we are in dire needs of improving our response times. Minutes matter, seconds matter. Brain death starts within five to six minutes. If we are not to you or your loved one in a certain time, then the outcome will not be very well," Adams said.
The fire district says since 2000 EMS calls have nearly doubled and they expect an additional 25% increase in calls over the next decade.
They site things like new developments and growth along Olive Boulevard.
"We currently have five engine houses. And in those five engine houses, we only have four that have ambulances, we have seen a dramatic increase in use for EMS services. We foresee a bigger need coming with the newer developments that are coming in," Adams said.
The fire district wants to hear from residents.
"They have my vote," said Tim Long, who's lived in the area for 19 years. "The firefighters and the paramedics do an amazing job in this community. They do the best they can, and now, I'm learning that they're doing it scraping the bottom of the barrel in terms of revenue and proper equipment."
The Monarch Fire Protection District is holding three different meetings to get public input. About a dozen people showed up at the first meeting on Monday night at Riverbend Elementary School.
The second and third meetings will take place:
- 7-9 p.m. April 30 at Chesterfield Mall on the second floor next to Macy’s.
- 9-11 a.m. May 4 at Wings of Hope in Chesterfield.
"We need this to be worked out with the community and see where we're going from here," Adams said. "We need to get at least one new ambulance if not two ambulances, the personnel to run them and that way we can better serve this community.
If residents wish to take the districts community survey, they may do so here.
After the public meetings, a three-person board of directors will tally what the public wants to see then decide if the issue will go on the August ballot.
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