Veterans affairs office needs more help to meet demand

To keep up with the influx of veterans seeking financial assistance and compensation, Jasper County Veterans Affairs Administrator Alyssa Wilson told the board of supervisors on July 25 that she may need her veteran service officer (VSO) to transition from an hourly position to a salaried position.

While presenting the quarterly report for veterans affairs, Wilson said the office is “definitely” at a point where it needs two full-time workers on hand. Keith Thorpe, who works as a the VSO, recommended Wilson change his position to salaried. County documents show the office is putting in the work.

In the past fiscal year, Wilson said her department has handled 1,042 veteran appointments. Within the past quarter, there were a total of 328 appointments between scheduled visits, walk-ins and home visits. Veterans affairs has also brought in more than $2 million this past quarter for veterans.

“Between the volume of appointments and walk-ins compared to the actual case work that goes in to making sure these cases are successful just isn’t there with only one of us full-time,” Wilson said to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors. “Other than that, we’re busy.”

Jasper County Supervisor Doug Cupples remarked that Wilson was handling a lot of appointments. Wilson nodded her head, saying she is tired. She said the veterans affairs office averages about nine to 17 veteran visits a day. The most she has seen in one day is 23 veterans.

Veterans will be coming from outside of the county for case work soon, too. Wilson said a retirement from an individual in the Marion County veterans affairs office has directed veterans to Jasper County. While Wilson and Thorpe can assist those veterans, she is prioritizing Jasper County veterans first.

“If they’re outside of the county, I’m sorry I would be willing to help you but I’m looking to probably schedule two to three weeks out. My calendar is still for actual scheduled appointments is still scheduling a week to a week-and-a-half out,” Wilson said. “I do not schedule more than four, (one-)hour appointments in a day.”

Which Wilson said is because she does not know how many walk-ins to expect. The fourth quarter report shows walk-ins outnumber scheduled visits and home visits. Of the 328 total visits, about 201, or more than 61 percent, were walk-ins. One month in the fourth quarter saw as much as 81 walk-ins.

It’s a lot, she said, especially when she has four appointments in a day and potentially three to six walk-ins — or more — to handle with Thorpe.

“Now I have no time for my case development stuff and responding when there are subsequent development letters to keep those cases going,” she said. “The reason why my cases have been so successful is because I’ve been able to do the work to keep those things going for the veteran.”

Wilson complimented her veterans for being more than willing to do everything they can to help out. But she’s only one person and she has not got “enough time in the day.” Cupples asked if Marion County has a succession plan. Wilson said a new hire is in the works, but there is still training to go through.

“Poweshiek (County) is part-time so we do occasionally have some of the Poweshiek veterans,” Wilson said. “…I hate having to turn a veteran away when they need assistance, but you’re going to have to call Poweshiek and leave a message.”

Jasper County Veteran Affairs currently has 307 open cases or claims. Cupples said he has spoken to Thorpe who has reiterated much of what Wilson reported.

Wilson said, “We were talking again this morning and he’s like, ‘My position needs to be moved to a full-time salaried position, so we can get somebody in here to get them trained.’ Mr. Thorpe is probably looking to retire. But we had a deal. He’s like, ‘I ain’t leaving yet until I know you’re taken care of.’”

Cupples responded, “Sounds like Keith.”

Thorpe is supposed to work 28 hours. But he has been working an average of 30 to 35 hours to keep up with the workload. Thorpe is getting paid overtime for those hours, too. On average, Thorpe earns about 10 to 15 hours of overtime every pay period.

“I am also working on average 10 to 20 hours of overtime each pay period, and our commission has instructed us to start keeping track of all of that on a spread sheet,” Wilson said.

Jasper County Supervisor Brandon Talsma thanked Wilson for keeping track of the data and said budget discussions will be beginning again soon.