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Franklin County establishes combined veteran service and relief officer to centralize veterans assistance
Summary
Franklin County human services director Edgar Vega told commissioners the department has combined veteran service and relief duties into a single veteran service officer position and hired John Penny to fill it, with office space at the Columbia Basin Center and initial equipment purchases completed.
Edgar Vega, Franklin County’s newly appointed human services director, updated the Board of Commissioners on May 27 about early steps to build a county human services department focused on local needs.
Vega said the county combined a veteran‑service role and a relief‑fund operator into a single veteran service officer position to streamline access for clients. He announced the hire of John Penny for that role and said the county has established office space at the Columbia Basin Center to serve veterans. Vega said initial equipment purchases—computer and printer—have been completed with assistance from information‑services staff.
Vega also described early work to prepare for a developmental‑disability grant application that, if pursued, would require county staff to perform much of the service delivery in‑house rather than subcontract. He said the county is coordinating internally and with local partners to meet state application requirements.
Commissioners thanked Vega for rapid progress, highlighted the importance of veterans services, and encouraged continued coordination with community partners and the ARC for related disability supports.
