Carroll County Veteran Affairs Administrator, Tonia Lietz, brought a contingent of board members and supporters with her to Monday’s Board of Supervisor meeting, detailing the scope of her work since she took over the position last September.
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She says the goal is to get out and let people know about what the office does and programs that may be available to them as well as helping them access that support.
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She is also working with U.S. legislators to develop a veteran appreciation event. Leitz says the outreach is paying off as she has completed around 262 application forms on behalf of local veterans in nine months versus 81 that were completed in the nine months prior to her joining the department. Leitz asked the supervisors to consider moving her position from part-time to full-time status, giving her more time to perform the outreach and assistance duties she believes are much needed. She says the hours are now 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and many veterans who have traveled a distance find the office closed and are forced to make another trip. Too many of our veterans are just not getting the help they deserve, Leitz says. She also provided a comparison with other Veteran Affairs Offices and only two, Carroll and Shenandoah, were open at or under 20 hours per week. The supervisors said the added support Leitz has been able to provide area veterans is impressive and they approved the change to full-time status effective Aug. 1. They also discussed the necessary budget amendment that will have to be completed in the near future. The new Veteran Affairs Office hours will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.