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KITTITAS COUNTY <br /> VETERANS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES <br /> BOCC AUDITORIUM, 205 WEST 5TH ROOM 109 -ELLENSBURG <br /> Regular Meeting <br /> THURSDAY 9:00 AM July 11 2024 <br /> Board Members: Chairman Brett Wachsmith,Bill Dehaven, Ruben Cardenas, Ronald Ness, Dennis <br /> Court <br /> Absent: Kristin Ashley, Gayle Scott, Jeff Leichleiter <br /> Staff. Candi Blackford, Clerk <br /> Others: Timothy Paxton, Kittitas County VSO, Eddie Vader, Washington State(WDVA)Veteran Service <br /> Officer <br /> Meeting Called to order at 9:00arn <br /> Citizen Comments <br /> None <br /> Minutes <br /> Brett asked for a motion to approve the following minutes: <br /> April 11, 2024 <br /> May 9,2024 <br /> June 13,2024 <br /> Motion 07.01: Dennis Court moved to approve the April 11,2024,May 9,2024,and June 13,2024 <br /> meeting minutes as presented. Bill Dehaven seconded the motion. All approve.Motion 07.01 <br /> carried to approve the April 11,2024,May 9,2024,and June 13,2024,meeting minutes as <br /> presented. <br /> VSO Update <br /> Timothy Paxton updated the committee on the following: <br /> ■ The program has 4 vouchers left this month and will be transitioning from two vouchers once a <br /> week to two vouchers every other week due to high demand. <br /> • To date the program has used $26,135.00 of the $48,000.00 budgeted for the program. <br /> ■ Storeys gas station in upper county is now a part of the county voucher program. Upper county <br /> Veterans can now utilize this gas station. <br /> • No grocery stores have been onboarded yet. We are still working on this for upper county. <br /> • Our County VSO has processed 62 claims to date with a return of$850,000.00 for veterans in our <br /> county over a 10-month period. September will be Mr. Paxton's one year mark and will have <br /> annual numbers at that time. <br /> • The Veteran Services Program is making its way into the public. The first farmers market was a <br /> success and will be doing more outreach in the community. <br /> Mr. Paxton asked the committee what they would like the program to report on during this meeting in the <br /> future. Ruben Cardenas noted that he would like budget-related information and anything beneficial for <br /> the committee. The committee discussed outreach to upper county and possible locations. Brett <br /> Wachsmith will explore a couple options and report back at the next meeting. There was discussion about <br /> communicating local events to help spread the word to Veterans. <br /> 1 <br />