County staff reported that a contractor providing veterans services ended that work with only four days' notice after state grant parameters changed in October, limiting allowable grant expenses to wages and benefits, training, office rent and IT equipment rather than contracted services.

Staff told the board they had convened an emergency special meeting and agreed to use millage funds to continue many services temporarily; the transcript records that the contractor was not renewed and the board is exploring next steps, including whether the Vet Center can send personnel and whether staff from neighboring counties could provide limited on‑site coverage.

Officials said two local staff members are currently available to help in the office: Phil Babcock (identified in the transcript as the BSO for the American Legion, who attends the local office on Mondays) and a veteran service officer from a neighboring jurisdiction who offered remote support from her office because she did not want to drive to the local office. The transcript records that both positions for veterans services have been posted; hiring an accredited replacement could take until close to June if the hire is not already accredited.

In a separate environmental note, staff reported that a test well at the Waxford Fairgrounds produced mostly clean results but one PFAS test result was “a little bit high.” Staff emphasized that the fairgrounds do not use groundwater for drinking water; the site is supplied by the Herringer Township municipal water system. A meeting participant (referred to as Joe in the transcript) said a detailed report is on a desk and that he will email the specific number to board members.

Staff discussed training timelines for new hires, noting that required accreditation or training classes (a multi‑day course referenced in the meeting) could delay a newly hired employee's ability to provide full services. They also said federal/state training schedules may be on hold because of a government shutdown, which could further delay accreditation offerings.

Board members and staff described near‑term contingency steps: using millage funds for emergency needs, distributing emergency‑assistance packets, and contacting neighboring counties to secure temporary coverage. No new contract award or long‑term vendor was approved at the meeting; the transcript records prior committee meetings where contract extension had previously been discussed but notes the contractor was not renewed after the most recent grant‑parameter change.

Direct quotes in this article are from meeting remarks: Phil Babcock is named in the transcript as "the BSO for the American Legion" and staff said, "we could only pay for wages and benefits, training, office rent, and computer and IT stuff for that department out of this grant," reflecting the new grant parameter language discussed in the meeting.

Officials also stated they would provide the specific PFAS result via email to board members; the transcript records an offer to email the detailed number but the specific numeric result was not read into the record during the meeting.