FAYETTEVILLE -- The Washington County Veterans Service Office has moved to a building on North Street near the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks campus.
The office is open, but renovation continues on the 1980s building at 62 W. North St. The former office at 2682 Brink Drive is closed, County Veterans Service Officer Josh Medina said.
At a glance
Six-month goals at the Washington County Veterans Service Office:
• Ensure the Washington County Veterans Service Office activity is being accurately tracked
• Buy claims management software
• Use scheduling software to record every consultation
• Build a plan for grant proposals
• Begin services around the county and at the University of Arkansas
Source: Director’s Report, Veterans Services Office
On Wednesday morning, the office smelled of fresh paint, and blue carpet squares recently had been installed. Medina stood at the glass door in the lobby and shook the hand of a veteran leaving from a consultation.
About 34 veterans per month used the office last year, according to a report by Medina. That number should be about 55 in the next six months, according to the report.
Washington County has roughly 14,400 veterans, Medina said. He said he expects to see more veterans coming to the office at the new location.
County veterans service offices statewide help veterans file claims and connect with other services, said Sarah Jones, public affairs director at the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs.
"It's so veterans can get the services they need in the communities where they live," Jones said.
The county expects to spend about $15,000 renovating the building, said Building and Grounds Superintendent Dwight Gonzales during a Jan. 31 committee meeting. The expense is covered in Gonzales' budget, he said. The employees are from several departments, all of whom report to County Judge Joseph Wood.
Gonzales later referred questions about the project to County Attorney Brian Lester.
The new office is in a building leased by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for $1 a year from the county, Lester said. That lease wasn't set to expire until 2029, according to county documents, but Medina said UAMS agreed to let the county take the building back.
The building has been vacant for about nine years, Gonzales has said.
The county can take the property back if it benefits the U.S. "Veterans Administration," according to a lease amendment in 2009. But that means the county must pay to maintain it, Justice of the Peace Eva Madison said. Madison is a Democrat representing northeastern Fayetteville.
Washington County is struggling with a tight budget, justices of the peace have said. The county expects to have $61 million in revenue this year and expenditures of $66 million.
"I'm just not sure we need to be taking on another facility," Madison said.
Still, some justices of the peace said they are excited about the possibilities for increasing services for veterans.
"My understanding is that it's going to be a huge step forward," said Justice of the Peace Bill Ussery, a Republican representing northeastern Springdale.
The county is looking for underused resources -- such as the vacant building -- to bring better services to residents, said Justice of the Peace Harvey Bowman, a Republican representing northern Springdale.
Bowman said Medina plans to increase use of technology -- including filing claims online. Previously, there were complaints processing took too long, Bowman said.
One of Medina's objectives is to add software to process more claims quicker and to increase accountability for the office, according to Medina's report.
The Washington County office wasn't accredited to use the federal Veterans Affairs Department's online system to file claims, but Medina filed for that accreditation Monday, Jones said.
Medina also plans to ask justices of the peace to hire another paid employee, he said. The employee's cost would be part of the 2018 budget, Medina said.
County officials have been reticent about the veterans service project, but documents show the project is expected to be completed by the end of April.
Medina, who said he served as a Marine from 1997 to 2001, was hired by Wood after Wood didn't rehire Wayne Haines in December. Medina referred further questions about his professional background to Lester. Lester has declined to provide a resume or work application for Medina.
UAMS spokeswoman Katrina Dupins said the hospital had no information about the county using the property.
NW News on 03/03/2017