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Veterans urge Sevier County to boost staffing at veterans' office amid rising demand
Summary
Speakers at the May 20 meeting told commissioners the county veterans office handles roughly 100 visitors and 1,000 forms per day and urged the board to consider adding administrative staff in next year’s budget.
Two public commenters told the Sevier County Board of Commissioners on May 20 that the county veterans office is experiencing increased demand and needs more administrative support.
Michael Grizzell, representing the Veterans Coalition of Sevier County, relayed information compiled by Jess Inman and said the county veterans office sees about 100 people per day and processes roughly 1,000 forms per day on average. Grizzell asked the commission to consider additional administrative staffing in the upcoming budget cycle because recent federal legislation has increased the number of veterans seeking assistance.
Perry Rucker gave personal testimony about his father-in-law, a World War II veteran who struggled to get help from the VA after returning home and later died by suicide. Rucker said some people who come to the veterans office may need help getting copies of DD214s or someone to talk to and urged the commission to keep veterans’ needs in mind when considering staffing and funding.
The transcript records the public pleas and the request for additional resources but does not include a staff response committing funding or a timeline for any hires; commissioners were asked to consider the requests when preparing the next budget.
