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Veterans office to operate as 'Johnson County Veterans Services'; attorney advises 'doing business as' approach
Summary
County staff proposed that the Johnson County Veterans Affairs office begin using the public name Johnson County Veterans Services to reduce public confusion with the federal VA health center; the county attorney advised that the commission must retain its statutory name while the office may use a different public-facing name.
Mandy, a representative of the Johnson County Veterans Affairs Office, asked the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 12 to approve the office’s use of the public name "Johnson County Veterans Services" for customer-facing communications to reduce confusion with the Iowa City Veterans Health Care Center and to emphasize local services.
Mandy said many veterans call the county office expecting medical-scheduling help and that the new public name would better describe the local, county‑level services. She clarified that the request concerns the county office’s public name, not the Veterans Affairs Commission, which state law requires to remain the Johnson County Veterans Affairs Commission. "According to the Iowa code 35B, the commission has to stay 'Johnson County Veterans Affairs'," she said, adding that the office would do business as (d/b/a) Johnson County Veterans Services.
Assistant County Attorney Nathan Peters told supervisors that a "doing business as" or operating‑as name is a practical, commonly used approach and that other counties had taken similar steps. He said Pottawattamie County had moved to a similar public‑facing name without formal board resolution and that the commission remains the statutory body while the office may use an alternative public name to reduce confusion. Peters recommended the board accept the commission’s recommendation by motion after the commission’s next meeting.
Mandy told supervisors the change would entail minor operational costs (stationery and communications updates) already budgeted and that the office proposes to begin using the new public name after the next commission meeting on Feb. 18. Several supervisors signaled support at the work session.
Why it matters: Changing the public‑facing name is meant to reduce confusion between county services and the federal Veterans Health Administration, making it simpler for veterans to find the correct local services. Legal counsel advised that the commission’s statutory name must remain unchanged while the office can adopt a d/b/a name for public materials.
What comes next: The Johnson County Veterans Affairs Commission will consider the proposal at its Feb. 18 meeting; if it votes to proceed, the board plans to accept the commission’s recommendation at a subsequent public meeting and the office will begin using the Johnson County Veterans Services name for public communications.
