When you got out there.
>> Okay.
>> All right. Meeting of the
Clark County Veterans Advisory
Board. Come to order.
>> Comrades, would you please
take a moment to join me in the
invocation? Oh, heavenly father,
thank you for joining us with
our meeting today as we
deliberate and hopefully take
after our veterans to provide
the services that they deserve
in our community, and that you
may help us make the wisdom of
decisions at this meeting. In
God's name we pray. Amen.
Ladies and gentlemen, at this
time, would you please give a
moment of silence and
reflections to the 25th
anniversary of nine over 11?
May they all rest in peace for
the sacrifices that they have
made for our country on the war
on terrorism. Thank you, ladies
and gentlemen.
>> Okay, Bruce. Roll call.
>> All right. Roll call of
board members. 48 Bob Brennan
here. American Legion Post 14
Jean couture, American Legion
Post 44 Jim Bowen here.
Alternate. Darren Wirtz,
American Legion Post 168 board
chair Bob Nichols, American
Legion Post 176 Michael Gibson.
He's online. Jonathan Frederick.
American Veterans Post six.
John Lovejoy. Vanise Pratt DAV
chapter four. Board Secretary
Bruce Moss here. Roy de. Korean
War Veterans chapter 321.
Patrick Locke, Earl. Edwards.
Marine Corps League, 826. Steve
Slegers, VFW post 4278 Thomas
Brandt.
>> 20 years ago. Simply because
he does have this.
>> For online folks, could you
please mute your mic? Thank you.
Deborah Proctor, VFW post 7824.
Greg Gilbertson.
>> Here.
>> Stuart Bauer, Vietnam
Veterans of America 512 chapter.
Greg Whitsett here. Nick Herber.
Members at large. Bryan
McGillis. Board vice chair,
buck Marr.
>> Here online.
>> Larry Smith here. Lloyd
Bowman is excused. Michael
Langsdorf present. Mike is here.
Tanya walk here. Tanya is
online with us Clark County
Representative Abby Malloy here.
And I'm going to go through the
list of Clark County Veterans
Assistance Center
representatives that are here
today. Board President Kelly
Jones, vice president Samantha
Whitley, interim executive
Director Craig Pridemore is
here in the audience with us
today. Diana ARP, County
service officer, is she is here
as well. Gary Wood, outreach
coordinator, Tonya Woods,
program coordinator. And last
but not least, president of the
Assistance Center, Judy Russell.
>> I'm here. Bruce online no
longer president.
>> But it's a fitting passing
title. Mister chair, you have a
quorum.
>> Thank you.
>> Bruce.
>> Where's your budget person?
>> Need a motion for the
approval of last month's
meeting minutes.
>> Move for approval.
>> Second.
>> Second. Moved and seconded.
All those in favor? I.
>> I.
>> I suppose motion carried.
Reports. Appeals. Gene. Okay.
Policies and procedures. Greg.
He's not here today.
>> Do not have any.
>> Oh, okay. You don't have
anything?
>> I don't have anything.
>> All right. Thank you. Greg.
Nominations. Bruce.
>> Okay. Mr. Chair. We're
getting to the time of year
when we will need to start
thinking about running for
board chair and vice chair and
secretary positions. We're not
taking anything right now, but
just as a just as a reminder
for everybody to start thinking
about those positions as we get
into October, November time
frame. And then, of course, the
final election will probably be
done in December for the board
officers.
>> Okay.
>> And, Mr. Chair, I'm going to
turn it back to you about the
vice chairs position. If you
want to take it up at this time
or later on in the meeting.
>> I guess it doesn't make much
difference.
>> Okay.
>> For for those of you on the
board who don't know it, Buck
is going through some pretty
trying medical problems, and he
is asked that maybe we consider
somebody to replace him. I
personally don't care one way
or the other, because I intend
to be here for the next three
months. But in case something
happened, maybe we need a vice
chair to fill in for him. So
think about it. We'll move on
through the the agenda. And
when we get down to new
business, maybe we should think
about electing a temporary vice
chair until December meeting.
>> That's all I have, Bob.
Thank you.
>> Patrick, you're up on budget
workgroup.
>> Yes, the Budget Committee
has not met this month and will
not. We're looking at January
to come back together and then
start on the 2028. Once we
complete the strategic plan.
Okay. And then.
>> I don't know what he said.
>> How are we doing on the
strategic plan.
>> Dealing with the strategic
plan? So our committee has had
three meetings.
>> Our makes sense.
>> The things that we have done
are dealing with our purpose
and statutory connection. So
the Strategic Plan Development
Committee develops a long range
plan through which the VA can
understand and represent
indigent veterans and their
families. Examine available
resources and beneficial
programs, advise the county
counsel and guide the
responsible recommendations
concerning fund 1019. The
Committee grounds its work in
chapter 7300 8CW the County
governing materials and
firsthand veteran voices,
verified evidence and
measurable results progress
during August. So we
established a weekly committee
meeting and planned remote
attendance when available. So
we're meeting over at the 488
boxcar room. We have the
capacity to be on Zoom, and we
have done that already. We
began to work with the VA be
member education, veteran
listener preparation and
referral resources, and the
strategic plan. We adopted
committee ownership, covenant
governing, evidence,
deliberation, reporting,
statutory learning,
accountability, and committee
ownership of the planning
process. We adopted the working
Who and why Foundation
statements for the plan. We
reviewed the county website
document update process, and I
would like to say that Abby has
updated all the documents on
the website. So those have been
taken care of. So all what the
the one document that you did
get today is not the actual
updated document for the 2.29,
but it is up on the website. So
I want to encourage everybody
to download those documents and
put those in your binders,
because we will be going over
some of those more in the
coming months here. We received
our county guidance indicating
that the completed plan should
be presented at the February
11th Baugh be meeting in
connection with the county
budget process. So our goal is
to have the plan completed in
January to review during the
month of January and to have it
set for February to actually
bring to the board for
acceptance, and then March, we
will start the process of
budgeting for the two 2028 year.
Okay. And we are also going to
be working with the assistance
center because from what I
understand, Assistance Center
is putting together a strategic
plan also. And we would really
like to have those coordinators.
So we're all moving in the
right direction. So that will
be happening. I know that Larry
has met with Craig and so has
Buck, and I'll be meeting with
Craig very soon here also. And
we'll be coordinating what
we're doing with these
strategic plans. The sources of
evidence we examined. So the
committee considered chapter
7300 8RC, W and the bylaws, the
handbooks, the code of conduct,
all of the documents that are
pertinent to what we're doing
here, to be sure that we're,
you know, doing the right thing
in the right way for the right
reasons. So that's all in
process there. And what the
committee learned that the
strategic plan must begin with
a shared understanding of the
Vannis advisory purpose before
the board fixes program
priorities or recommends
expenditures. And what that
means, in essence, is that
we're looking at everything
that exists now, the
environment that we are
operating in right now to see
if there if it's working the
way it is and what areas might
need change. And then look at
those areas and see what the
need is. So the current county
statistics and provided
information alone may not
reveal the veteran's present
experiences, barriers, unmet
needs or outcomes. Structured
listening and corroborating
records are necessary. The
county's public facing VA B
Materials and Resources
directory require updating,
which that has happened, and
the. We're also looking at
possible grant developments, so
we have some information that
will be presenting to the board
to have someone, either another
committee or ourselves, to look
at the grants that might be
available and how that would
interact with what we're doing,
because the veterans that are
outside of the fund eligibility
need help also. So we're
looking at possible ways to
have that funded as well. The
planning schedule must align
with the county's budget cycle
while allowing enough time for
research cost development,
veteran input, deliberation,
and a review. So the statutory
reasoning for the A B is a
reasonable recommendation
requires more than a list of
activities. Because the VA B
advises the County Council
concerning veterans needs,
resources, beneficial programs,
and the use of Veterans
Assistance Fund. The board
needs a record showing what
evidence the committee examined
and what it learned, and how
the learning connects to the
governing authority. What
remains unresolved and what
action to be a B is asked to
take. The committee therefore
includes statutory reasoning
and board learning in its
monthly reports. So we also
have put together the a pathway
for putting the strategic plan
together, and we will be
meeting weekly. Our meetings
are now set for Tuesdays at 630
at the 488 Boxcar room. And if
anyone you know does want to
come in there online, we'll be
able to have people do that. So
that is my report for that. Is
there any questions that anyone
might have?
>> Thank you. Good.
>> Okay. That is my report. And
you will have a written report
turned in also.
>> Okay.
>> Your next on the CW tutorial.
>> Okay. Yes. That's back. Okay.
Everyone has a copy of the 7308
as well as the 2.29. So first
of all, the reason that I want
to start going through some of
these things and doing a little
bit of tutorial, I guess we
would call it, is that as we
move along with the strategic
plan, I want to make sure that
everybody understands the
regulations, and I'd like you
to do your own homework on this
as well, and bring any
questions that you have so we
can talk about and discuss the
questions. So we get everybody
on the same page as we're going
through this whole process. In
particular, looking at
definitions. Typically, this is
the first paragraph of most
laws and regulations. They go
into definitions of how they're
using particular words or terms
in the body of the regulation.
So most of it is pretty clear.
But I want to get down to
particular one here where it's
defining indigent, right? So if
you look on your 7308 on the
first page down at the bottom,
it's actually the last couple
of lines in there. Number three,
indigent means a person who is
defined as such by the county
legislative authority using one
or more of the following
definitions. So essentially
they have three paths to
eligibility under this
particular item of indigent
defining the the person. The
first one is receiving one of
the following types of public
assistance. Temporary
assistance or need for needy
families aged blind or disabled
assistance benefits. So what
that's saying there is that if
a person is receiving this kind
of a benefit from either the
state, county, federal,
whichever agency it's coming
from, that that is a qualifier
for a person to receive
benefits under the CW7308
pregnant women assistance
benefits, poverty related
benefit veterans. And if you go
to the next page, benefits,
food stamps or food stamp
benefits transferred
electronically, that would be
the e t cards that are given
out and refugee resettlement
benefits, Medicaid, medical
care services or supplemental
security income. So under this
particular path, a, it's saying
that a person receiving any
kind of assistance of this type
can qualify under the state C w
right. The second qualifier or
eligibility requirement, if you
would, receiving an annual
income after taxes of up to
150% or less of the current
federal established poverty
level, or receiving an annual
income not exceeding a higher
qualifying income established
by the county legislative
authority. Right. So this
particular one has to do with
income. It's saying that if the
person meets a certain level of
income, that they would be
eligible for the fund. Right.
Does that make sense to
everybody? Okay. And I want if
you have a question or even
want to comment on it, I'd like
to hear from you as well. Okay.
The third path is if a veteran
is unable to pay reasonable
cost for shelter, food,
utilities, or transportation
because his or her available
funds are insufficient. Okay,
so there are those three paths
towards eligibility. So now
when we go to the county, if
you look at the counties
requirements, it's you go to
the 2.29 document and on page
three. Item number three on
there under. Five nine, it
would be under the 2.29050.
Item three. Proof that the
veterans and or their families
income does not exceed 200%.
Now, the document you have says
100 and 150, but that was
changed back in 2019. So the
updated document is on the
website. But this particular
one that you were handed is not
the most current document.
>> I also have the current code
up on the screen here.
>> Okay. And although it's
there, I don't think they can
read it up there. But it is. So
it's, it's a proof that the
veterans and his or her
family's income does not exceed
200%. So in 2019, that was
updated to 200% and 250% of our
I believe it's housing and
dental. Right. That brings it
up to 250%. So what that did
was in 2019, it essentially
lowered the eligibility
requirement because it raised
the percentage on the income,
which allowed more veterans to
receive services. Now, this is
the path that the county, Clark
County, has chosen. They didn't
choose path A or path C, they
chose path B. So one of the
things we have to look at is in
path B, does that cover the
need in the way that we would
like to see the need covered.
So that's something that we're
going to be looking at. And
this is something that I would
like all of you to take a look
at. Also to look at the
different paths, because the
way the state C, w is written,
the county can choose one or
all or any of those paths. So
they can do a combination of
them if they decide to. So what
we're looking at is saying,
okay, we have to find out what
the need is. If you look at
path C, path C has to do with
need, not necessarily financial
qualification. So if a veteran
had income that was over the
requirement of B, that 200% but
still had a need that they
couldn't pay for something for
whatever the reason might be
that that could be a qualifier
also. Right? So we have to look
at what the need is here in
Clark County now. And
understand how these three
equations affect particular
needs.
>> You know, how they decided
to pick on. Percentage. Oh,
sorry.
>> Yeah, yeah. Turn your
microphone on.
>> Yes. Do you know how they
chose B the percentage decision
as opposed to being eligible
for services under all those
programs or unable to pay
reasonable costs? How did the
county decide that?
>> We're researching that. It
appears that that decision was
made back around 2005. And the
documents are we can only get
documents back about seven
years. So we're we are doing
some research on that to find
out how that decision came
about. And we're looking at
what the need is in Clark
County and what the best mix of
this is. Now, if we would like
the county council to change
what they've done right, what
they've selected here, then
we're going to have to put
together information and take
it to the council to advise
them on why it would need to
change, and it would be up to
us to show them what the need
is and how that would serve the
need. G okay, so this is what
we need to look at. This is
what we're doing as the with
the strategic plan, we're going
to be looking at things like
this. And the first thing again
is defining the need. And to do
that, we're going to be putting
together a, I don't want to
call it a survey, but we're
going to be interviewing
veterans. So that is something
that we're going to put
together. We have put some
information together. We're
going to have that reviewed by
the county to make sure that
the way we're going to go about
it is within all of the laws
and regulations and whatever
might apply to it. Right. And
once we do that, we're the
first part of it is going to be
just a we're going to get ten
people, ten veterans, and do
that, and then take that
information and see where we
need to go with it. If it's if
it's going to tell us the
things that we need to know and
then go from there on a larger
scale.
>> Patrick, I was on the board
in 2005, and I believe, if my
memory serves me correctly, we
chose B because it gave more
veterans the ability to use the
fund.
>> Yeah. I've got the documents
from 2005 and that was a
Veterans Assistance Board that
put that there for the council.
So if you look at the documents
of what went through to get
that part done, but the thing
that we're looking at also is
to go back because what the
what the board had done then
was just raise the percentage
because the that path had
already been selected. That was
done some time ago. Right. So
we're just looking at how and
it may not be too important of
how it happened a long time ago,
as much as it is looking at the
current need and seeing what
the best way to serve the
current need is.
>> That's probably.
>> Best, right? So that's where
we're going to put our effort,
is looking at the current need
and going from there. Yeah, I'm
going to get to that one. Yeah.
Right. Okay. And then the other
the other element which. I want
to go to also, if you look at
the turn the page back one on
the 2.29 to the beginning of
that paragraph, where was I at
there? I had that open here.
Well, I'll just use this. Yeah.
Okay. So at the beginning of
that paragraph, item one reads
no veteran or member of his or
her family shall be entitled to
receive veteran's assistance
unless they and or their family
have been legal residents of
the state of Washington for not
less than 12 months.
Immediately prior to the
application for assistance.
Okay. So we're going to be
looking at this also and seeing
if that 12 months is something
that needs to be looked at and
see how that stands up to,
again, identifying the need and
seeing how many veterans are
not being able to be served
because they haven't been here
for 12 months. And what the
aggregate effect of that is,
okay. So that's, that's one of
the elements that's on our list
to review. Okay. And again,
something like this would have
to go to the county council to
get changed if it's going to be
changed, right? It's not our
place to change it. It's our
place to recommend a change
based on our findings and what
the need is of the veterans.
Okay.
>> And I believe there was some
thought back then when that
came out that because we're so
close to Oregon, the 12 months
was designed to keep Oregon
residents from coming over here,
using our funds and going back
to Oregon.
>> Yeah. Okay, I hear you, I
hear you.
>> The biggest problem we have
with that is that people can't
prove they've been here for 12
months, is what I've seen.
That's just my just in helping
veterans, they don't have any
way to prove they've been here
for 12 months.
>> Oh, okay. Is that Judy?
>> Tanya.
>> Tanya. Utility bill,
checking account. Things like
that can prove your residence.
>> If you're indigent, you
don't necessarily have those
things.
>> Yeah. Really? So that whole
that whole thing really needs
to be looked at. And we need to
have some discussions and some
input on it. So what you're
just saying though, is really
important. And we we need to
get the information and we will
be working closely with the
assistance center in some of
these areas to, to define some
of this. Right. What is what,
why, why is that? What and what
effect is that having and how
does it actually operate? Right.
So we're going to be looking at
things like that and doing a
thorough, you know, digging
into it, do our due diligence.
Okay.
>> Perhaps looking at what
proof would be acceptable. Yeah,
you mentioned some kinds of
proof, but perhaps attestations
from 3 or 4 other people would
work as well. I don't know, but
just a suggestion.
>> Yeah, yeah, I hear you, I
hear you. So there's a lot to
all of that. So in conclusion
here, what are the thing that I
would really like the whole
board to do is really
familiarize yourself with these
laws and regulations. And when
we bring things to you that
you'll have a base of
understanding of what we're
talking about and a place to
really be able to discuss it.
And so we can get to the best
place for our veterans. Okay.
And then again, you know, all
of the documents that are on
the website are up to date now.
And Abby has done an absolutely
great job in taking care of
that. And I really appreciate
it. So if there's, you know,
make yourself a binder with
these documents in it and a
place where you can make some
notes and think about it and
whatever thoughts you have to
bring to the committee would
greatly appreciate that also.
Okay, one other thing. Frank
Wilson is here today as as a
guest next month, I'm going to
be putting his information in
to bring him on to the board
from the Korean War veterans as
the alternate. And he's I'm
going to ask for him to be
appointed to the committee as
well. Okay. We also. Are losing
a couple of our committee
members that have, you know,
while Buck in particular, and
Larry, because they have a lot
of other things that
commitments and, you know,
bucks challenges, medical
challenges. So I'm bringing
Frank on board as one, but I'd
like to replace, you know, the
other member also. So I'm going
to be looking for somebody else
to bring in for that. I am
talking to another gentleman
that some of you may know to be
part of the board here and
participate on the committee.
And he's a financial person.
And I think that input, you
know, knowing financial side of
things to having that input on
the committee would be good
also. So I'll be talking to him
and seeing if he's open to
participating in this and to go
from there. And then I'll bring
that next month to see what we
need to do with it.
>> Okay. Thank you Patrick.
>> And that's my reports and
tutorial for today. Does
anybody have any other
questions on anything? Okay.
>> Thank you. Patrick. Veterans
Assistance Center update. Craig.
>> Hand me a microphone up
there. I want to sing something.
Okay. Well good afternoon
everybody. I have known some of
you for decades and some of you
I haven't met before. So I'd
like to give just a brief
introduction so you know who I
am and and what I'm about right
now. I am a native of Clark
County, graduated from Fort
Vancouver High School in 1979.
If you're not too good with
math, I am 65 years old. I.
After high school attended the
University of Washington, where
after three years I had less
than two years worth of credits
and a 2.14 GPA. I was also
president of my college
fraternity. Seeing that I was a
bit lost, I opted to drop out
and enlisted in the United
States Army, where I served
from 1983 to 1987 as a 96 Bravo
Intelligence analyst, and
through sheer military
brilliance, I rose to the rank
of sergeant.
>> All right, no army.
>> After the army, I. After I
the Army. I returned to the
University of Washington, got
my degree in political science.
Economy was a bit slow, so I
moved to Los Angeles, where I
served as a firm administrator,
essentially a business manager
for a certified public
accounting firm. In 1992, I
moved back up here and was
hired as a financial analyst
and then manager for the
county's public works and part
time community development
departments. I did that for six
and a half years. In 1998, I
chose to run against my boss,
the incumbent county
commissioner. I defeated him
and served from 1999 through
2004 as County commissioner,
which was when we built this,
and I was the lead commissioner
for capital projects. So we
built this, the Public health
Center, the Fairgrounds Event
Center, and some other things.
So a time in my life I was
proud of from 2005 to 2012, I
served as state Senator
representing Vancouver in the
in the Olympia and 2012 I opted
to run for state auditor was
defeated in that race, and so I
was hired then by the. I be a
little messy here. I was hired
then by the Washington State
Department of Licensing as
their chief financial officer.
Didn't. Didn't care for that
job, and I didn't care to live
in Olympia. So I came back here
in 2014 and was hired as the
chief executive officer for
Columbia River Mental Health.
Prior to that, I had done two
six month stints with Columbia
River Mental Health as an
interim executive director
while they were hiring a
permanent executive director in
2020. In the midst of Covid, I
opted to retire a bit earlier
than I probably should have,
but I did and had been in
retirement until last year,
when the agency asked me to
come back and help deal with
the kind of financial crisis
that they had. Then, about a
month ago, the board of the
County Veterans Assistance
Center asked if I would be
interested in serving as
interim executive director. As
you know, Judy is preparing to
move on to bigger things here
by the end of the year. And the
board, having had some turnover
and things, was really looking
to take the center and move it
to a new age, essentially place
it in preparation for the
future and where that that
center would be. I've been on
the job now for about three
weeks and, and learning a great
deal about how the center
operates and what its
aspirations are. The center is
in a fundamental rebuilding
phase. We have literally
already destroyed, torn down
the financial reporting system
and are rebuilding that so it
can provide better, more
accurate, detailed information,
not just financial information,
but data collection. So we know
the effectiveness of the
programs that we offer. We are
the board is, as was said
earlier, is working on their
strategic plan for the next
five years. It they're all of
the positions in the center are
being reevaluated. New org
structure, new job descriptions,
quite literally every single
thing at the center is being
reconsidered and put in a
position where it's able to
best serve veterans in the in
the coming years. As part of
that, and as a result of that,
the board did recently make a
decision that I know some of
you worked very hard on and
will not be pleased with, but
we have opted to postpone
pursuing mental health services
at the center for the near term.
I have a great deal of interest
as hopefully my background
would suggest in mental health
services, particularly for
veterans. But the center is
simply not in a position right
now where it can do that with
with surety that it will
provide the best services for
citizens. So we'll be working
on that here. My expectation is
that my interim gig will end by
the end of the year, and a new
executive director will be
hired. However, I've told the
board that I am willing to
serve until March and to just
to provide that extra time, so
we should have some things done
there. While I'm here, I would
like to work on the mental
health proposal, hopefully in
partnership with some community
organizations like Seymour
Columbia River Mental Health,
the Veterans Administration,
people who are already
providing mental health
services. So we make sure that
what we do adds to that,
doesn't replace or duplicate,
but really augments the
services that are, are
currently available. And so I
hope before I leave, we'll have
a proposal that we can work
with the county on and
hopefully have their blessing
and your blessing to have a
program that's that's going to
be most effective for our
veterans. I think that's about
it for me, but I'd be very
happy to answer any questions
you may have. I know Judy, is
is paying attention on remotely.
So any questions you have, I'd
be happy to answer. And any of
you I haven't met, I'm sure
like, as Patrick said, I
already have him on my list to
come contact and met with Bob
and Larry.
>> And have you met with your
board members?
>> Absolutely, yes.
>> Individually.
>> Not all of them individually.
>> But some of them you have.
Yes. Okay. And have you find
there's diverse opinion in a
lot of areas. Are there
consistent?
>> I they seem to be all on the
same track.
>> Okay.
>> If, if that's what you're
referring to.
>> Yeah, yeah. Just wondering
what you're dealing with as far
as, as you move forward, do you
have a sort of a consensus
there to, to for support?
>> Yeah. No, I feel very, very
good about the relationship. We
had some uncertainties in the
beginning when they brought me
in. I don't know that they were
fully accustomed to having an
executive director who takes
charge and makes the decisions
and gets things done. And so
we've we've worked through that
and they clearly that is what
they want. They want a strong
executive who can who can make
those decisions. So that's
going along very well. We did
have our full board meeting
yesterday, and I was I was real
pleased with how that went.
That's good to hear. I should
have made note to remind you
all that September 25th is
stand down. That is looking
very good. I think that's going
to be an excellent event and
urge you all to come. We are
still looking for volunteers,
so if there's folks out there
who are looking for something
to contribute to, they could
give us a call at the center
and we'll we'll find something
for them to do that day.
>> Judy, do you have anything.
>> I do? I just want to say
that it's a pleasure having
Craig here. He is a very strong
leader, and I think that he's
going to take the the
assistance center in a great
direction. I don't see any
issues with him moving forward
at all. He's everyone respects
him and he's been very good for
us. So I want to welcome him
with open arms.
>> And Judy has been wonderful,
as has all the staff, I think I
think we've we've got off to a
really good start.
>> Just for curiosity and
follow up, have you talked to
any of the county counselors?
>> I have not.
>> Are you going to do that? Is
that on your list too?
>> Absolutely.
>> And see where they are. Okay,
good.
>> And I yeah, miss Miss Otto I
yeah, I haven't actually talked
to a county councilor and.
>> Yeah, that will probably be
some very interesting
conversation.
>> Undoubtedly. They always are.
All right. Thank you very much.
And do feel free to contact me
anytime if you want to just
talk and hear what's going on.
>> Thank you. Thank you.
>> Bob. It looks like Buck has
his hand raised online.
>> Yeah, I do know we're having
a little trouble here in
Montana with this system. AM I?
AM I hearable by the people
there? You know, the in any
regard, if you can hear me,
Abby, tell me.
>> You're good.
>> Yes, we can hear you.
>> Okay. Thank you. Yeah. It's
a little tough here in in the
middle of Montana. I had lunch
with you the other day, Craig,
and I was very, very impressed.
Judy and I took me to lunch
with her. And you very
impressed with your background.
So I just had a couple of
comments. We we on the V a, B
have been working for some time
to become a professional
organization, one that can,
that can establish itself
within the county as a viable
entity for the needs of
indigent veterans. I think I
was very impressed with what
Patrick had to say. And I think
that Patrick's demonstration
today shows that we have been
working very hard to
professionalize the V, a B, as
a matter of fact, Kelly, you're
in the room. Kelly kind of
convinced me to to take this
vice chair job. And both of us
talked about where we should go.
And it was we needed to
professionalize it. And so we
have worked very hard to do
that. So then that brings up
the subject of budget. I just
want to say that we worked very
hard with Judy last year on a
on the number one by
acclamation. Number one need at
the center was some sort of
mental health capability at the
center. Now, we we worked hard
on that. I matter of fact, got
pushed in front of the council
and it. Well, it was not
unanimous. The consensus. The
Council agreed with us
regarding the need with mental
health. Now we. Now, having
said that, we all are very,
very happy to have you and your
expertise there so that you can
possibly, in concert with your
staff, tweak the mental health
issue. I got a we got a preview
there in your comments, but my,
my comment is that it's that
both V, A, B and the center
appear to me after working with
both for a number of years to
be on the right path. But I
would say that if you redo and
modify your your budget, please
bring it to the V, A, B ASAP.
Community services will want
your details very, very quickly,
but the v, a, B will need a
quick overview in order to
support you and your views. So
with with that, I thank you,
all of you, for being present.
I'm sorry I cannot be, but I'm
very impressed. By what? By the
proceedings today. Thank you
very much.
>> Buck, are you still there?
>> Yes I am.
>> What do you want to do about
your position?
>> Well, I talked to you about
it. I said, you know, I'd give
it to you. I do what you needed.
We need to do what's best for
the board.
>> Okay. Well, what I'm
thinking is that if you could
resign, if you could resign
your position, we could elect
somebody to fill the last three
months of this year.
>> Yeah, that's what I
recommended to you before, I
think. You know, I just think
it'd be good for the good of
the board. And we have. I mean,
what you saw today with Patrick
shows the momentum that has
been building to what I call
professionalized.
>> Right.
>> Well.
>> We're going to do that with
the board here, but I want your
permission to have you resign,
and then we can elect somebody
to fill your position through
the year. But we want you to
remain on the board.
>> Okay? I'll do what you want.
I'm pleased to do. Pleased to
serve. As they say in my former
business.
>> Okay. Thank you. Buck.
>> Yep.
>> Abby. Contractor reports.
>> Thank you. Bob. All right,
so this is the July 2026
contractor and fun reports. You
all have this information in
your pockets at the Clark
County Veterans Assistance
Center. There were 894 visits
to the center for Essentials
and Food, with 1315 Sek
breakfasts and lunches and 119
food boxes provided, for a
total of 6896 total pounds of
food, provided they had 500 and
51.5 volunteer hours, totaling
$22,214 in value. There were 47
veterans served through the vet
fund in July, with services
totaling $39,359.90. Of these,
43 were male veterans, four
were female veterans, and there
were zero widows and zero
others served, and there were
ten denials, zero of which were
subject to appeal. The free
clinic did not serve any
veterans in July because they
didn't receive any referrals.
So services totaled $0 in value,
and they build $726.18 to the
fund to maintain their staffing
for the Veterans Assistance
Fund. July revenue was
$3,717.03. Expenditures were
$125,923.72, and at the end of
July, the fund balance stood at
$366,963.73, which was a
$122,206 decrease from the
previous month. Any questions?
All right. Back to you, Bob.
>> Well, you're next with
community forums.
>> All right. Thank you. So if
you all recall, I spoke to you
all back in January about the
Clark County Community Needs
assessment. This is a project
that the Department of
Community Services does every
three years to help us
understand the needs of people
with low incomes in the
community. We conducted a
survey from January through
March of this year, and ended
up breaking our record for
survey responses. Sorry, I'm
just going to mute online. And
we received over 1700 responses
to this survey, which is
awesome. We have now analyzed
this data and are ready to
share it back with the
community through a series of
community forums. We're hosting
four community forums.
>> Sorry.
>> If folks online could please
keep themselves muted. That
would be fantastic. Thank you.
All right, sorry about that. So
there are four forums. Three
are happening in person and one
is happening virtually. The
first is on Monday, October 5th
at the Battleground Library.
The second is virtual on
Wednesday, October 14th. The
third is on October 22nd at the
Vancouver Library, and the
fourth is October 26th at the
Camas Public Library. We would
love if any of you want to
attend. There will be
opportunities to view the data
that we collected through the
survey and provide feedback
through comment boxes, as well
as facilitated discussions and
any additional information that
we get through these forums,
through discussions or comment
boxes will be analyzed and
incorporated into the final
report to help us understand a
more nuanced picture of the
needs that we're seeing in the
community. So we would
obviously love to have the
veterans perspective there. And
any information that we collect
through this process, we can
share back with the board to
use in the strategic planning
process and any other processes
that would be helpful for you
all. So I will include this
flier in the follow up email.
And we do encourage
registration for these forums
just so we can get a sense of
how many people we can expect.
There's a link on the flier, as
well as a QR code to scan for
that registration. Does anyone
have any questions? All right
then, I'll pass it back to you.
>> All right. Old business and
I think. Emily, do you have
anything for us? Since it's
budget stuff that we've talked
about previously. All right.
>> I don't have anything new.
>> Hi, everyone. I don't have
anything new, but I just wanted
to be here to support. If you
guys did want to look at that
six year forecast. Oh, can you
hear me now? Sorry. Just wanted
to be here. I didn't know, Abby.
If we were planning on bringing
up the six year forecast and
reviewing that, or if that
should be maybe punted down to
another agenda.
>> I.
>> Will defer to the board. We
are still.
>> Waiting on a revised budget
request from the assistance
center, so it might make the
most sense to have that
finalized request of the most
accurate numbers in the six
year forecast. But I'm also
happy to pull up what we had
based on their previous request,
with the mental health
professional and case manager,
costs were moved.
>> I would support the proposal
to wait to see what the
assistance center comes back
with. Maybe in the next month.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you Emily. Okay, well,
we're still on business. We
>> Discussed. Buttars going to
resign his position as the vice
chair. I guess we need to, one,
nominate somebody to fill in
for him until. December or
actually January 1st. So, Bruce,
take nominations.
>> Well, Mr. Chair, my
suggestion was more of an
appointment for the remaining
months of this year.
>> Can't appoint. It's like a
position.
>> Okay. So I'll just leave it
back to you to if anybody on
the board wants to nominate, be
nominated or nominate
themselves for the chair for
the position of Vice Chair, go
ahead and speak up now. Mr.
Chair. Just for the record, I
want to mention that when Buck
sent his resignation through,
Greg Gilbertson and Larry Smith
were on that email, and I had
also made contact with Patrick
Locke to let him know that the
vice chair position was open.
So those are the only three
names that I have at this time
for the position, and I'll turn
it back to you.
>> All right. So Greg
Gilbertson.
>> Greg, are you online?
>> I am online.
>> Are you still interested?
>> I'll have to decline that.
My USO position is turning out
to be much busier.
>> Okay, fine.
>> Oregon, Idaho and southwest
Washington. So I will have to.
I will have to decline that.
Thank you, though, very much.
>> And, Larry, you said you
can't do it.
>> Yeah. I'll be more than
happy to do it at the end of
the year.
>> Till the end of the year.
January 1st.
>> Yeah, yeah, that works too.
>> Patrick.
>> Yes. I'd be. I would accept
the nomination.
>> And Mike, you mentioned it.
You mentioned that you might do
it.
>> You don't want me.
>> Okay. So we've got a choice
between Larry and Patrick. So
you two gentlemen are going to
have to exit the room while we
vote.
>> What are we going to do?
>> We're going to vote between
you and Patrick.
>> Are you only one person
voting.
>> At this time with Patrick
and Larry Smith? Please excuse
themselves from the room while
the board quietly makes a vote
on who we would like to become
the vice chair for the
remaining months.
>> Yeah. Do we come back?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Only the winner. No. Go
ahead and go to lunch, Larry.
Go ahead. It's about happy hour,
Larry. You know.
>> When you go. Patrick.
>> I thought it was. I thought
Larry said he wasn't going to
go until January.
>> He will go into January. So.
>> Marchel. No.
>> Okay.
>> So Larry said he would he'd
be willing to accept it until
January.
>> Right. So Larry Smith. All
right. Patrick Lock.
>> There you go.
>> Okay. Patrick. It is. Bring
him back in.
>> Bob, did you want to give
folks online a chance to vote
for the position?
>> Oh.
>> Well, Greg's the only one I
see online.
>> There are a number of folks
online. If you want to hear
everyone's vote. I can do a
roll call vote so that people
can call out who they would
like to.
>> Okay. Go ahead.
>> All right. Let me pull up
the participants list really
quick. All right. So I'm just
going to call out folks names
online. And if you could say
out loud, if you would like to
vote for Larry or Patrick or
abstain, I'm just going to go
down my list. First is
Buchmeyer.
>> I have a question. Abby.
>> Yeah. Go ahead.
>> Larry said he could do it
until January.
>> Yeah, that's my question too.
>> Yeah. After. How about after
January? You know, is he in do
we have to replace him in
January?
>> Well, replace everybody in
January. That's correct. Me.
>> So executive team positions
are elected annually. So at the
January meeting the board will
be voting to elect a new
executive team. Anyways, this
replacement is just to get us
through the end of 2026.
>> Okay. In view of that, in
view of Patrick Locke's
incredible tasks that he's
doing for us, I'll vote for
Smith.
>> For Larry.
>> For Larry.
>> Great. Thank you.
>> Patrick's going to be busy.
>> All right. Next I see Greg
Gilbertson.
>> I'll vote for Larry as well
since this is going to January.
Larry Smith.
>> All right. Next I, I believe
is Mike Gibson. All right.
Jonathan Frederick. Abstain
abstain. All right. Lloyd
Bowman.
>> So she's going to be.
>> Lloyd would you like to vote.
All right. I don't hear Lloyd
Mark Lacey.
>> I'll abstain.
>> Abstain. Okay. And then who
has the email. Jala
kolke@yahoo.com. All right. I
don't hear a response. Next.
Going around the room, Bruce
Moss.
>> Patrick Clark.
>> Okay. Jim.
>> Jim. Bowman.
>> Larry.
>> Yeah.
>> Larry.
>> Jim. Larry.
>> Okay.
>> Larry.
>> All right. Jean. Patrick.
Bob. Brennan.
>> Patrick.
>> Okay. Steve.
>> Patrick.
>> All right. And Bob Nichols,
you don't vote, okay? Right now
I have five for Larry, four for
Patrick. All right. You can
call them back in.
>> Okay. The voting.
>> Has been announced. To start
January. January elections.
Okay.
>> We've still got a seat.
>> And, Larry, you're our vice
chair until January 1st.
>> Oh, my God, how much is it
going to cost me?
>> Well, we'll try to figure
that out.
>> One sweater.
>> Okay. Any more old business?
If not, I'll move to new
business. New business? Not.
>> I just want to mention
tomorrow at 9:00 at the
waterfront is nine over 11. You
got a big turnout. We got about
25 different agencies involved.
And the 142nd Fighter Wing
commander is a speaker, and he
happened to be in New York City
at nine over 11. And after the
the bombing and everything else
were to entertain, he joined up
at the National Guard. So it's
been quite a story, but got a
big turnout PT boat there. He's
got a couple flyovers. So 9:00
parking at the big parking
structure at the waterfront is
free. It's free parking down
there. So come on out.
>> Thank you Larry. Any more
new business if not open forum,
we've got stand down on the
25th, 10:00 in the morning.
>> Or.
>> That'll be at the Reserve
Center out on Fourth Plain.
>> Okay.
>> 9:00 Bob.
>> 9:00 for vendors or forever.
>> Everybody for everyone. 9:00,
9 to 2.
>> 9 to 2. All right.
>> And Mr. Chair, under open
forum, just a reminder for our
area veterans, we will be
having the Interstate five
closure at the Rose garden
starting tomorrow. The VA is
making adjustments and
flexibility for veterans who
have appointments at the VA or
that can be rescheduled.
There's also going to be some
extra services that are being
brought to the Vancouver VA
campus to help keep people on
the Washington side of the
river with their appointments
and things like that. So that
will also help as well. There
is one outpatient clinic over
over in the Portland area that
is also accessible to Vancouver
residents, and that's the East
Clinic for Fairview, Oregon,
off of Interstate 84. As you
make your way into Gresham,
that's another location. I
frequent that location quite a
bit, and it's not as busy as
per se. The other locations in
Hillsboro or West Linn. Okay,
that's all I had.
>> Okay. Anybody else?
>> I see Greg's hand raised
online.
>> Sejad.
>> Oh yeah. So actually I was
going to say the same thing.
Larry talked about the nine
over 11 tomorrow, and Bruce
talked about the I-5 closure
starting tomorrow night as well.
The one thing I was going to
bring up, and Patrick did a
great job of explaining things,
what we've been doing on the
strategic plan and, and whatnot.
My question would be, do we
have a, a written document of a,
of a, of a position description
of a board member and what the
expectations are. That's so
it's consistent. So we're not
because I, because I need to, I
need to try to, to find a
secondary in my VFW as well.
But I want to be able to
provide them with something
that they can take home and
read through and decide. So I'm.
>> Just a handbook. Look in the
handbook, download those
documents that are on the
website, download that and.
>> Okay, I understand we
already we, Patrick, we already
went through that. That was old,
right? That wasn't that was
like 2011 last year.
>> The has updated all of the
documents that are on the
website. So everything there is
all up to date.
>> Okay.
>> I'll get with you later.
>> I'm still old, but okay.
Thank you.
>> Yeah.
>> Anything else from anybody?
If not, I'll entertain a motion
for adjournment.
>> So moved. Second.
>> Been moved and seconded. All
those in favor?
>> Aye.
>> Meeting adjourned.
>> All right