Garfield County to create county-employed veteran service officer, commissioners say

Garfield County commissioners authorized staff to create a county-employed veteran service officer and place the position on the consent agenda so the county can begin recruitment and hiring.

The move responds to a requirement in Colorado law and to federal rules that, according to state officials, effectively require county-employed veteran service officers rather than contractors. County and state officials also told commissioners that effective outreach and benefit representation can bring substantial benefit dollars into local communities.

County staff explained the county has been without a veteran service officer since mid-January when the previous contractor chose not to renew. Bentley (county staff) told the board staff had worked with human resources and state partners to develop a job description and salary range and that creating a county employee post would allow access to state systems and meet expected compliance requirements. "What we wanted to talk to this morning about was the position of veteran services officer for Garfield County. We have been effectively without one since mid January," Bentley said.

Bruce Cowan, director of the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs, told the board that Colorado Revised Statutes require counties to establish a county…