New county Veteran Service Officer outlines caseload, outreach and referral work

John Miller, the newly appointed county Veteran Service Officer, introduced himself to the Health and Human Services Committee and described his office’s day-to-day workload and outreach efforts. “I’m John Miller. I’m the new county appointed VSO,” Miller said as he summarized his background and monthly activity. He reported that the office saw about 77 clients in June (down from 86 in an earlier month) and logged outreach including six in-person welfare checks, 612 phone calls, 723 emails, 295 VA Teams messages and 11 faxes.

Miller said veterans visit the office for many reasons — initial enrollment with the VA, questions about benefit eligibility, or help with processes such as home-buying programs — and described the VSO office as a navigator when claims become “hairy and tricky” with the VA. “We’re kind of the middle area for that veteran to help him negotiate the VA system,” he said.

Supervisors asked how the office connects veterans to local posts and whether retirees must register when they move to the county. Miller said staff point veterans to local American Legion and VFW posts and can help transfer memberships into Wisconsin. Committee members also raised a concern about a shortfall in honor guard volunteers; Miller and supervisors encouraged recruitment so the county’s ceremonial needs can be met.

The committee heard the VSO report after adjusting the agenda to accommodate the officer’s schedule and thanked Miller for his presentation. No formal board action was taken on the VSO report at the meeting.