Veterans Advisory Board member says oversight of funds is lacking

May 05--ASOTIN -- A member of Asotin County'sVeterans Advisory Board said tax money that's supposed to help financially strapped veterans is being used improperly.

At Monday's Asotin County Commission meeting, Sarah Lee of Clarkston questioned county officials about oversight of a veterans assistance fund. She said the program lacks control and needs attention.

"It's apparent there's been improper use of funds, and action needs to be taken," Lee told the commissioners.

After she left, Commissioner Brian Shinn described Lee's remarks as "inflammatory and inaccurate."

Jim Jeffords, the commissioner who has been working with a volunteer advisory board, said he's mystified by Lee's allegations, in light of the work that's going on to update the assistance program.

However, the commissioners agreed the $18,000 annual fund should no longer be used to pay utilities, phone and stormwater bills at the Veterans of Foreign Wars hall in Clarkston. The bills apparently have been covered by the fund for several years.

Jeffords said the current set-up was authorized by previous boards, and new procedures are being established. The advisory board of seven people, including Lee, is working on the changes.

One of the key issues that concerns Lee, a longtime veterans advocate, is a $100-per-month payment to a service officer to administer the fund. That money should go to needy vets, rather than an individual, she said.

"There shouldn't be one person overseeing a fund -- not the veteran's board, the fair board or any board dealing with taxpayer money," Lee told the Tribune. "You just don't do that."

State law does not prohibit paying a person to handle the paperwork, Jeffords said, and some Washington counties have part-time or full-time coordinators who oversee veterans funds. Asotin County has been paying a service officer who used the VFW hall to process the claims.

Plans call for the advisory board to take over the reimbursement process at meetings in the commission chambers at Asotin, Jeffords said. Veterans who receive assistance are required to provide proof of military service and income information.

Sandaine may be contacted at kerris@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2264. Follow her on Twitter @newsfromkerri.

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