Veterans pushing for expanding county’s veterans services
Proposal seeks to increase office hours, staff to meet growing demand
The Dubois County Commissioners are weighing a proposal to expand the county’s Veterans Service Office (VSO) hours and staffing in response to increasing demand for services. The proposal, presented during Monday’s commissioner meeting, aims to address a backlog of claims and provide better access for working veterans.
County Veteran Service Officer Kenneth “Speedy” LeFevre outlined the need for changes, citing approximately six scheduled appointments per week with bookings extending into May. This doesn’t account for walk-ins seeking immediate assistance or the high volume of daily phone calls and emails he also fields.
“Despite my best efforts, the current limitations in staffing, office hours, and physical space significantly hinder our ability to serve veterans effectively,” Speedy told commissioners.
More than 2,500 veterans reside in Dubois County, with many more from surrounding counties employed in Dubois County. These veterans represent diverse backgrounds and have served in various conflicts.
Daryl Hensley, who leads Disabled American Veterans Chapter 77, presented national statistics highlighting the growing demand for veteran services.
“The volume is expected to remain high due to the increase in presumptive disabilities from toxic exposure during veterans’ military service,” Hensley explained.
The PACT Act, passed in 2022, greatly expanded VA health care and benefits. It has contributed to a significant spike in claims. Hensley emphasized that the VA recently added seven new disabilities to the presumption list, increasing the potential for compensation claims.
To address these challenges, the proposal suggests hiring an assistant county service officer to improve efficiency and customer service. It also recommends expanding office hours, particularly during high-volume months. The office is currently open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They would like to change them to Monday through Friday, with extended hours until 6:30 p.m. on certain days.
If they add the staff and hours, County Auditor Sandy Morton told the commissioners the council would have final approval due to the overtime hours and the additional employee.
David Flynn, a retired Marine Corps officer and commandant of the Marine Corps League chapter in Dubois County, stressed the importance of flexible hours to accommodate working veterans.
“By increasing hours or having flexible hours to be able be open a couple nights a month or be open on a Saturday when people aren’t necessarily working to have that time,” Flynn said.
Flynn also highlighted the economic impact of veteran services on the county. He noted that veterans receiving benefits tend to spend money locally on education and other services, benefiting the community as a whole.
Here is a previous story on this subject.
The commissioners expressed support for improving veteran services but requested more time to review the proposal details. Commissioner Chad Blessinger suggested a private meeting with Speedy to discuss specific changes before bringing a formal proposal to the next commissioners’ meeting.
“I think you and I just on a private level, we could probably start there and then bring it back here for additional approvals,” Blessinger said.
The commissioners acknowledged the issue’s importance and expressed willingness to make improvements. “I do think, at least I think we’ll be able to improvements in this area. I think there’s the will and I think we’ll make it happen,” Blessinger said.
As discussions continue, the Veterans Service Office hours will remain unchanged for the next two weeks until the next commissioners’ meeting. The commissioners and veteran representatives plan to work together to finalize a proposal that addresses the growing needs of Dubois County’s veteran community.
