March 28, 2024

Vets Affairs plans ways to finish out budget effectively

Director wants department to have presence at more public events

Jasper County’s Veterans Affairs Department doesn’t exactly have baskets filled with cash lying around, waiting to be tossed to the first veteran to come through the door.

However, the department does have some funds that must be spent, and much of Wednesday’s monthly Jasper County Veterans Affairs Commission meeting was devoted to discussing effective ways to spend about $52,000 in earmarked use-or-lose funds that must be depleted by the end of Fiscal 2016 on June 30.

Veterans Affairs Director Chris Chartier said his department’s budget has many usual government restrictions, limiting spending to areas that further the goals of serving veterans.

“We can include our logo or a flier or a plug for our services, with our contact information and maybe a little about what we do to help veterans,” Chartier said regarding spending on events or products. “But we can’t simply donate money to an organization or cause, as that would show favoritism. All our spending in that realm has to be outreach.”

Chartier said some of the funds will already be spent in ways not shown on the balance sheets he presented at the meeting, such as the upcoming May 20-22 Warrior in the Woods retreat hosted by a New York organization.

Other projects mentioned included helping do outreach through a project intended to place small American flags around veterans’ graves in local cemeteries, such as Union Cemetery of Newton. Projects set to happen in fiscal year 2017 will also hopefully include appearances at more large public events, such as the Thanks With Franks event hosted by the Young Professionals of Jasper County each September.

The other main item of discussion at the meeting was about logging hours of phone and informal walk-in office conversations with veterans, rather than simply fully completed claims or written applications.

Commission chairman John Billingsley and commissioner Sue Springer weren’t at Wednesday’s meeting. The commission agreed Billingsley is the one who should represent the board in advocating with the Jasper County Board of Supervisors at an upcoming meeting to renew the part-time assistant position that is only funded through April 30.

The commission meets again on May 11.

In other business at Wednesday’s meeting, the commission:

• Was updated by Chartier on Jasper County’s efforts to earn a Home Base Iowa designation designed to attract recently discharged veterans to the community. Chartier said a board meeting is set for next week and he great appreciates TPI Composites, Inc. for its recent commitment to hiring veterans as part of helping earn the designation. He expects a designation ceremony, involving an appearance by Gov. Terry Branstad, to be scheduled soon.

• Discussed plans to update the department’s web presence and get current on social media with the aid of a Central College communications student, who is taking it on as a class project. The commission agreed Billingsley will be asked to appear in a social media video to help explain the aims of Veterans Affairs.

• Was informed Chartier will be attending a national training for veterans affairs personnel the week of May 16-20 in South Carolina.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com