Ash Grove Fire District readies for new ISO; Chief Monnig claim challenged

Good news for Ash Grove insurance payers as it was announced at Monday night's meeting of the Ash Grove Fire Protection District that a new ISO rating is one step closer, and so too may be pocketbook relief.
"Tomorrow I expect to submit the final documentation that we have to turn in to ISO, that would be the training reports that we have gathered together," said Chief Anthony Monnig. "All other documentation has been submitted. We have an inspection scheduled for Wednesday. So Wednesday, ISO will be out, and they will do the inspection. … So all documentation will be turned in tomorrow morning, after that we're waiting for our inspection and then we're waiting for our score. … I don't have a date on when they're going to do the score. They don't tell me that. But I know they're aware of the importance of this."
 
Memo challenges Monnig's claim
Although Monnig's news was positive at the well attended Oct. 26 business meeting, his case for forgiveness took a new hit since the body's September meeting, thanks to a 13-page memorandum submitted by community members Andy Robinson and Casey Benson, that states ISO purportedly doesn't require a records management system, as Monnig claimed and cited as his reason for not meeting the deadline, which resulted in the spike in ISO rating and home insurance rates.
 
"I got an email that said they needed the data in a raw format," Monnig said. "I submitted a training document on an Excel spreadsheet he came back and said he needed it in raw data. So, I read raw data, and to me that is raw data produced out of a records management system, that's what raw data is to me. And so I fixate on a records management system as a fix for the problem. And I fixated on a fix that I thought was the answer and I stopped looking for solutions. That's my fault 100 percent. I'll never say anything other than that."  
 
Included in the memo was an ISO document titled "Pre-Survey Items needed for Review". In four different categories listed on the document it specifically states: "These can be in whatever format you have: Paper or electronic.
 
Monnig matter discussed
After the dust settles from this week's new ISO submission and inspection, Monnig's fate as chief is ultimately held by the district board, comprised of Tom West, Hunter Pendergrass, Jesse Irwin, Seth Carter and Ron Monnig (Chief Monnig's father). Still compiling facts, the board wouldn't comment on Monnig's future status.
 
"I've reached out to our ISO our representative Chuck, and requested all documentation, communication that was recorded to be brought over to the board of directors," said Pendergrass, secretary of the board. "They immediately shut me down and referred me to legal. I'm going to be completely transparent here, the frustration part of the board that's sitting in front of you is, we have a memorandum with all this evidence and all this stuff between Chuck (Chuck Copple, ISO representative) and several community representatives, however, we have been referred to legal. So until they get back to me, and our lawyer, or whatever process we need to continue to take in this, I don't feel like we can accurately answer the question." 
 
Ash Grove resident Jim Whitesell, in attendance with wife Cheryl, addressed not only Monnig but the board as well.
"I feel for you guys because you're not very well thought of right now."