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Wednesday, April 18, 2007
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Vets service officer finalists named CROW WING COUNTY BOARD Senior Reporter Greater outreach to both aging and recently deployed service veterans will be a priority for Crow Wing County's next veterans service officer.
Tuesday the county board moved closer to naming who will fill the open position. Commissioners met as a committee to interview four finalists for the position before whittling the list to three.
Commissioners interviewed Robert Nelson, Baxter, Brian Goltz, Motley, Dennis Plautz Jr., Pillager, and Ross Simons, Brainerd. The county received 62 applications for the position. A selection committee narrowed the field to the four men.
Commissioners selected Nelson, Goltz and Plautz for greater review with a report expected to come back to the county board. All finalists cited greater community outreach as a goal for the office. Commissioners and selection committee members said the finalists were all strong candidates.
Nelson's extensive experience distinguished him from other finalists. Nelson is the Aitkin County veterans service officer. He has been with Aitkin County since 1998 after a 28-year career with the Army and Army Reserve.
Nelson's experience provided an advantage, commissioners noted. But Nelson also is a candidate for the current search for Aitkin County administrator. Selection committee members said Nelson's experience would help the county get its office up to speed quickly in an environment when services were needed, particularly for returning soldiers coming home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Goltz and Plautz did not have veterans service officer experience but both said they were willing to put the time in to learn and gain certification. Training is available along with a mentor program for those new to the office.
Goltz retired from the Marine Corps after 21 years of service, including active duty in Iraq. Goltz was a training specialist and aircraft maintenance manager stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif. He is the current American Legion Post commander in Motley. Goltz is presently employed as a warehouse manager with OK Tire.
Plautz, a Marine Corps veteran, worked on presidential security from 1989 to 1994 in Washington, D.C. Plautz worked with security for state side and international presidential missions and coordinated transportation of highly classified documents. Plautz, a former Pillager mayor, is presently employed with ABC Seamless.
Doug Morris, county solid waste coordinator, veteran and member of the selection committee, said the veterans service officer is a position largely without recognition for bringing in money and benefits veterans earned and saving county costs in services, such as health care. Those costs, Morris said, could be measured in the millions.
"It's like money saved we don't see and we don't realize it," Morris said, adding the office needs to reach out to veterans to let them know they deserve the benefits with this program because they earned it.
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.
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