(Juneau) The Dodge County Veterans Service Office is currently closed due to a staffing shortage. The department has traditionally been a two-person team which had been helmed by Tom Fischer who left the post last month. Benefit Specialist Joseph Terrell, or Benji, had been there for roughly six years before also leaving recently to take a job with Veterans Affairs.
Dodge County Board Chairman Dave Frohling says efforts are being made to hire staff and re-open the office.
“We interviewed six candidates last week and we plan to have someone in the office soon,” says Frohling. “We’ve extended an offer and hope to have two people working in the office in the very near future.”
Frohling says it is not yet known at this point when the county board will take action on filling the vacancy but hopes it will happen at either this month’s or next month’s meeting. He notes the county will first fill the department’s top position and will then look into the possibility of hiring a second individual.
In the meantime, anyone who does call in seeking veterans service help will be directed to resources in neighboring counties.
“The clerk’s office is taking calls and then directing them to other veterans service offices in other counties to help,” says Frohling. He adds that filling the office is a “definite priority” for county leaders.
Contact details for veterans service offices in neighboring counties can be found on the Dodge County website. Click HERE to visit the site.
