Richland County veteran service officer reports increased benefit claims, seeks assistant; committee presses staffing and safety concerns

Karen Knack, Richland County veteran service officer, briefed the combined Health and Human Services and Veterans Committee on the office's recent activity and staffing needs, telling the committee her office helped bring more than $12,000,000 in federal cash and benefits to Richland County veterans in 2020.

Knack summarized the office's services — disability compensation claims, property‑tax reimbursement assistance, help obtaining health benefits, cemetery and burial record support and outreach — and described a range of small local and state funding sources the office and community partners use to help veterans in need. "We bring in a lot of cash, and we put that cash into the pockets of the veterans who go out into the community and spend it," Knack said, describing work on benefits, records and cemetery maintenance.

Knack told the committee she received a state grant that was processed through the treasurer's office; the committee discussed budget notes and how some grant allocations are used for salary and other costs. Committee members asked for details about grant lines and where remaining amounts were allocated; Knack said some grant funding covers salary costs and that she could show the budget breakdown later.

On staffing, Knack said the county requested that she wait 90 days before proceeding to hire an assistant; she said she planned to contact the county administrator on the day of the meeting to initiate recruitment and that the assistant position is intended to provide needed daytime office coverage. Several supervisors emphasized that the office must be staffed during published hours and pressed the county administrator to expedite filling a second position so the office is not closed when a single employee is unavailable.

Supervisors also raised safety concerns after Knack said she posts her personal cell phone number publicly and receives calls outside business hours, including in the middle of the night. Supervisor Don Seep cautioned that emergency mental‑health calls and crisis work can require licensed clinical response and suggested the veteran service office coordinate with the county crisis system and the county corporation counsel to ensure appropriate safety measures and referrals. Knack said the office routinely conducts house visits and coordinates with law enforcement, the DA's office, the register of deeds and other local partners.

Ending: The committee thanked Knack for the report, encouraged her to proceed with recruiting the assistant after the 90‑day period, and asked county administration to ensure daytime coverage and clarify referral protocols for crisis calls.