Lubbock County to apply for $25,000 veterans-mediation grant, staff propose regional approach

Lubbock County Commissioners Court voted Nov. 24 to submit an application to the Texas Veterans Commission seeking up to $25,000 to fund mediation services for veterans. County staff said the commission increased its minimum award this cycle and recommended a regional application to meet the new threshold.

Gene Valentini, who presented the item, said the current grant the county had been receiving was $10,000 but that the Veterans Commission raised the funding minimum to $25,000 this round. "The current grant that we have is for $10,000 and ... they've decided to go up to 25,000," Valentini said, explaining the county’s plan to offer mediation services regionally across the SPAAG area so the higher minimum could be used.

Valentini told the court the program would pay mediation fees for veterans who qualify under the application’s definition. Commissioners raised questions about whether $25,000 would be sufficient and who would cover any overages if demand exceeded the award. One commissioner asked, "If we exceed the 25,000, who picks up the bill?" Valentini replied, "It should (be covered by TAC)" and acknowledged the program is experimental and demand in outlying counties is uncertain.

Miss Williams (auditor’s office) reminded the court that staff should not spend more than the grant amount. The court approved submitting the grant application and designated the county judge as the authorized official to accept, reject, alter or terminate the grant if awarded. Commissioners asked staff to coordinate outreach to regional judges and courts if the grant is funded.

The motion carried; no roll-call tally was recorded in the public record.