County Veteran Affairs office to offer more hours

Jim Henrich, Plymouth County supervisor chairman, read a letter describing those new requirements to the board during its Tuesday meeting.

Legislation passed this year requires Veteran Affairs offices to be open a certain number of days depending on the county's population.

That means the office at the Plymouth County Courthouse must be open 20 hours a week. It's currently open 12 hours, six on Tuesdays and six on Thursdays.

The legislation also requires all counties have Veteran Affairs offices and all Veteran Affairs' employees be nationally accredited.

That new mandate won't be a problem in Plymouth County as Martin Balmer, director of Veteran Affairs, is already on staff and accredited.

To assist counties that will have additional costs and training associated with the new rules, a $1 million appropriation has been provided in this year's budget.

Each county will receive $10,000 of a $1 million allocation in this year's budget to help pay for the new changes like additional hours and accreditation requirements.

Counties that already have the new rules can use the allocation to maintain the Veteran Affairs' office. That could pay for items like office rent, utilities, salaries, outreach and training.

The $10,000 county allocation cannot be used for direct assistance to veterans. That help should come from county expenditures.

Supervisor Craig Anderson asked how long the $10,000 would supplement Balmer's salary for the additional hours he will work.

County Auditor Stacey Feldman said probably about a year. She would have to check his actual wage.

"At that point we will essentially have an unpaid mandate," Anderson said.

Supervisor Don Kass thought the $10,000 shouldn't be used for salary anyway, but for equipment and the like that Balmer might need.

The new Veteran Affairs' requirements become effective July 1.

In other business, the supervisors discussed purchasing a defibrillator for the courthouse.

The cost and yearly maintenance would be about $1,500 a year according to Feldman.

Anderson wondered if Local Option Sales Tax money could be used to pay for those costs.

"This is something in my vision that LOST is meant for where it is for the entire population of the county when they are in the courthouse," Anderson said.

Feldman will look into that and also check with the county's insurance company to determine if there would be any ramifications to having a defibrillator.

Using a defibrillator would mean training and certification for individuals. Instructors of an upcoming CPR class have indicated a willingness to provide that certification at no additional charge, Feldman said.

The supervisors decided to look into the matter further before making a decision.