MONROE — Monroe’s elected officials are speaking up about the lengthy process for finding a permanent fire chief to lead the vital city department, which has a history of turmoil and drama in its ranks.

Following a long search, Monroe Fire Chief William Erb of Iowa abruptly resigned from his new post on Monday, April 11 — just 3 months and 1 day after taking the job. 

But way before that the fire department has struggled with leadership issues. Al Rufer has served as interim chief twice and has been praised for his ability to keep the department operational. Daryl Rausch was chief for 11 years, leaving in 2016. Lane Heins was the interim chief until Dan Smits was hired, eventually serving for four years, ending in August 2021. Rufer took over as interim a year ago until Erb began, and after Erb’s abrupt resignation, Rufer again took the reigns. Once a new chief is hired, it will be the seventh person in charge of the department in seven years.

According to a press release from the City of Monroe, Erb cited personal reasons for tendering his resignation. He had been named the Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director for the city in late 2021 and officially took over Jan. 10, 2022.

“The Fire Department will continue to operate under the existing chain of command until the Police & Fire Commission is able to appoint a successor,” the press release from the City Administrator’s Office stated.

As a critical public safety department of the city languishes without leadership, the issue came to a head at the Sept. 19 meeting of the council, during which Ald. Chris Schindler questioned a motion to add a $7,500 payment onto the roughly $25,000 charged by GOVHR, the company that helped Monroe search for and hire Erb.

“I’m just curious why we would have additional charges when we were already told there would be no changes, since our last candidate didn’t last the required year,” said Ald. Schindler. “Are they going to guarantee that the next will last a year?”

That started the council on a lengthy discussion of the issue that ultimately led to the defeat of the motion to further fund GOVHR. Ald. Mary Jane Grenzow and Ald. Tom Miller voted for the funding.

“I agree with Alderman Schindler,” said Ald. Andrew Kranig. “We were told it wouldn’t cost anything additional and here we are…I’m not going to vote for it.”

The additional money is ostensibly to continue building an Assessment Center for future chief candidates, a request of the Police and Fire Commission. The 3-member PFC runs the hiring process for fire chief, but the city has to provide any funding related to the search. 

Grenzow said the GOVHR contract is a useful tool that could still help the PFC and council find the right fire chief for Monroe, saying it was a just one “tool” that they could use again in the future.

But she acknowledged the drawn-out fire chief selection process, saying she’s aware that it’s a “very, very difficult hire.”

Mayor Donna Douglas shared that sentiment in a recent phone interview prior to the council meeting. 

“I’m anxious for this to be resolved,” she said. “It’s gone on far too long.”

For his part, Erb was unanimously selected by the PFC to “continue the tradition of providing prompt, reliable fire and life safety services to the residents and visitors of Monroe through teamwork, communication, and professional career development,” officials said at the time.

In an interview after his selection — and prior to his arrival in Monroe — the veteran Iowa firefighter talked about his desire to serve the broader fire community in his new post. The biggest draw to emergency services for him and any potential new recruits in Monroe, he said, isn’t the financial reward but the ability to help others, neighbors; and to join what he considers an elite group.

“It’s (first-responder family) like no other family that you could ever have,” said Erb.

Attempts to reach the members of the Police and Fire Commission to discuss the issue have been unsuccessful. When they meet periodically to discuss personnel issues, they are allowed by state law to go into closed session — so much, if not all, of their deliberations over personnel matters are done privately, before they make an official recommendation to the council.

The commission’s membership includes Green County Board Chairman Jerry Guth, Robin McLeish, Amanda Fields, David Deininger and Chuck Koch.