Reaching out to county's veterans

Meeting the needs of Highland County's 4,000 military veterans is a continuing challenge, says Highland County Veterans Service Commission Executive Director Robin Brown.

But it's a challenge that must be met, head-on, and overcome.

Brown, a retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran with more than 20 years of service, met with Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst at the April 18 board meeting.

Brown discussed the Veterans Services Commission's recently expanded hours (7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays), as well as the more intense case management service provided by the county office.

"We're doing more intensive case management for our veterans," Brown said. "We are case managers, social workers, and fellow veterans. Veterans trust veterans. Sometimes, we relate better to other veterans."

Brown also informed commissioners that beginning in June, the commission will be providing education classes for area veterans. They will assist with employment resumés, application preparation, cover letters and online job searches.

"In my opinion, my agency is the most important," Brown told commissioners. "We would not be sitting here today, enjoying our freedoms, without our veterans."

"Spread the word," she said. "Let people know about our veterans' services. When you see a veteran, say, 'Hey, thank you for your service;' and tell them about Highland County Veterans' Services."

Gerold Wilkin of Hillsboro VFW Post 9094 also spoke out on behalf of veterans. Wilkin expressed frustration with what he described as a lack of coordination among local service agencies, including Job and Family Services, Children Services and Community Action.

"There is no common denominator where they share information and operate (together) as a service to the county," Wilkin said.

Brown said she was not happy with the Job and Family Services office. "Veterans come home from service and they are at the bottom of the list for housing, food stamps, etc."

Horst asked Brown if she had spoken with Debbie Robbins, director of Job and Family Services.

"Yes," Brown said.

"Veterans are losing their jobs and losing their homes when they come back," Wilkin told commissioners. "It's a tremendous burden on a community when a National Guard unit is deployed. They go as an entire battalion. When veterans do come back home, they get discouraged real easily. There's the paperwork and (problems with government agencies)."

Commissioner Shane Wilkin told the Veterans' Services representatives, "Please be assured veterans have strong support from this board. If we can help facilitate any issues, let us know."

"I'd like to see us coordinate all these county and state-funded organizations," Gerold Wilkin responded.

"It will take a while," Commissioner Wilkin said. "It's a very frustrating issue."

• The Highland County Veterans' Services office will hold an open house from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on May 10.

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• In other business, commissioners received an encouraging report from Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley, who presented the April 2012 permissive sales tax report. The April number was $443,388.98, which exceeded the April receipts for each of the past five years. The 2012 receipts are trending higher than last year's numbers.

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• Commissioners met with representatives of the Small Business Administration. Reference material from the SBA was left at the commissioners' office and is available to the public.

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• Commissioners passed four resolutions by 2-0 votes, including: a repayment on the Mowrystown sewerage system, a reimbursement of funds for Job and Family Services, a real estate assessment appropriation for the auditor's office, and an additional appropriation for the engineer's office.

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• Commissioners discussed the application for funding from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for the Greenfield rail line improvements. The grant was not approved as submitted.

According to Commissioner Tom Horst, one of the reasons the grant was not approved was because "We're no longer classified as a depressed area."

"We need to get all the offices, from the U.S. Senate, Congress, state and representatives together and have a meeting," Horst said.

"It's getting desperate. That rail line has to be fixed. Some companies will not expand. Some may not even be here if we don't fix it."

Commissioner Wilkin said he had spoken with a representative from Sen. Rob Portman's office and was informed the decision was "not necessarily the merit of the project."

Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop said the village has until May 1 to update and resubmit its application.

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• The Highland County Board of Commissioners passed a proclamation naming the third Friday in April as Anna's Army Day. Anna's Army brings awareness to the community about Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and the importance of finding a cure.

On Friday, April 20, events begin at the courthouse with an 11 a.m. cookout, with a walk beginning at 5 p.m. There will be food and family activities from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. The auction begins at 6:15 p.m.

Anna's Army also is teaming up with the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

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• Highland County Commissioners proclaimed the week of April 22-28 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week and reaffirmed the commitment of the Highland County Victim Witness Program to respect and enforce victims' rights and observe National Crime Victims' Rights Week.

Highland County Prosecuting Attorney Anneka Collins' Victim/Witness Program will observe the week with their third annual candlelight vigil on Thursday, April 26 at 7 p.m., in the basement of Hillsboro Church of Christ, 155 W. Walnut Street.

Highland County residents who have lost their lives through crime will be honored and remembered. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

For additional information about National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, how to help victims in your community, or how to volunteer, please contact Highland County Prosecuting Attorney’s Victim/Witness Program at (937) 393-5872.

(Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer did not attend the meeting, as he was in Columbus for a Community Development Block Grant training session.)