CVSO will attend National Conference for valuable training and continuing education
Tue, 05/07/2019 - 12:39pm
admin
By:
Karen Edelbach
The Clearwater County Board of Commissioners authorized the County Veteran Service Officer Hutch Hutchens for travel out of the state to attend the 2019 National Association of CVSO Conference at Cleveland, Ohio June 3-7 (NACVSO) at their April 30th meeting .
CVSO Hutchens explained why he felt adamant as to the value of this conference.
“The position of County Veteran Service Officer (CVSO) is not only a County and a State Association, but much of what I do is governed by a Federal Association. We are trained, mandated, and guided Federally,” he stated.
“The second part of Veterans Services is regarding health care, and the third is the cemetery care provided with grave markers by the Department of Veteran Affairs from the State, which are also dictated from the Federal government. The Transportation Program is the only service that is just used in the County.”
Since the issue was brought up at a previous meeting, at which the Board declined paying for the trip, Mr. Hutchens was able to receive a second source of funding from the NACVSO Scholarship Program. This has granted him $1,000 toward the Conference Registration, travel, lodging and meal expenses, leaving no cost to the county for his attendance.
He said the Minnesota Conference in May has been cut back to two days, which gives work place updates. The National Conference covers much more, including the standards, maintenance, continuing education for accreditation, and Office of the General Council, as well as Federal and State benefits and appeals.
“This conference is priceless,” he said. “I will be prepared to give you a report when I return.”
“I believe this Conference will be beneficial for Hutch to attend,” Chairman John Nelson, who is also a veteran, commented. The motion to approve his trip passed with a split of three to two in favor. Both Commissioners Neal Illies and Dean Newland voted against it, believing that he might receive the same information online.
Several visitors who were in attendance came to give support for his attendance at the National Conference. Rose Surdez, who worked nearly 43 years for Clearwater County Memorial Hospital, said Hutch responded quickly whenever they called him regarding a veteran's needs.
Leonard Stinar and another visitor, both veterans, said Hutch has been extremely helpful in researching and helping them secure needed benefits since he became the CVSO here.
“This is a big job, with all the rules and regulations to learn. This helps the County, and will save money in the end,” said Leonard Stinar.
“I am a veteran also,” Commissioner Newland said, “ and this is not about whether he does or does not do his job. I don't think he should go out of state.” Mr. Hutchens has attended the National Conference in the past at times at his own expense when denied expenses by the County.
Safety Program Policy for 2019: “We consider accident prevention to be of prime importance. Hazard control is key to our culture of safety awareness,” states the Safety Program Policy Statement the County Commissioners have approved for 2019.
This includes reasonable safe and healthful working conditions; maintenance of equipment; development and training of safe work methods; and compliance with Federal, State and Local laws regarding safe working conditions in order to enhance accident prevention efforts.
Environmental Services Director, Dan Hecht reported to the Commissioners of a damaged compactor that is in need of repair. While the trash compactor saves a great deal in shipping costs to the County Commissioner Illies said it was a washout when they purchased the used compactor.
“It saves a lot of money in transportation,” Dan said, “by shipping 18 tons (at a time) instead of 5 tons to Crookston.”
Some townships are in need of higher fences since much trash in lost to the wind at all the sights.
Engineer Dan Sauvé received approval to hire Mr. Shane Huschle to the Heavy Equipment Operator position at the salary of Grade 12, Step 1 or $15.39 as identified in the IUOE Local 49 Union contract.
All Commissioners were present at the meeting: John Nelson, Neal Illies, Dean Newland, Mark Titera, and Mark Larson.