Does Crow Wing County board vote mean VSO office move?

Where the veterans service office will be located within the Crow Wing County complex in the future remains unclear following Tuesday's county board meeting.

Commissioners voted 3-2 to separate the office from community services structurally, meaning Bob Nelson, veteran services officer (VSO), no longer reports to supervisors there and will instead report directly to the county board. There was not, however, any direction from the board on what exactly that means when it comes to physical location. The VSO office is currently housed within the community services building.

"The action (to separate offices) was very broad," said Tim Houle, county administrator. "The devil's always in the details, so now we're just trying to sort through the details and what are the implications."

---

"The action (to separate offices) was very broad," said Tim Houle, county administrator. "The devil's always in the details, so now we're just trying to sort through the details and what are the implications."

---

The motion to make the VSO office stand-alone came after the county board acted against a recommendation from Nelson's superiors in community services and reappointed him to another four-year term. Veteran services was its own department until 2008, when a reorganization placed it within community services as a program.

The move faced criticism at the time for likening veterans to welfare recipients and the revised structure was one of the things Nelson's supporters pointed to as something they would like to see changed.

Houle has said the reasoning behind the move came from both a desire to streamline county government and a recognition that some veterans also need assistance from other areas of community services.

"What I would suggest is there were some veterans in the audience who thought that the board's action included physically moving the veteran's office away from community services," Houle said. "There's a variety of views of what was done in the room."

This is why Houle said he has suggested Nelson go before the board at an upcoming meeting to resolve some of the logistical details. Typically, this level of detail would be resolved outside of the boardroom, but since Nelson now reports directly to the board, Houle said he as county administrator does not have the authority to make decisions on the matter.

Nelson said he plans to look at available office space in the historic courthouse over the next week but nothing has been decided.

---

"It's a lot of moving pieces. ... We're just moving with the flow," Bob Nelson, veteran services officer (VSO) said. "It (the board's action) caught me by surprise. I wasn't planning anything different. Now we are."

---

"It's a lot of moving pieces. ... We're just moving with the flow," Nelson said. "It (the board's action) caught me by surprise. I wasn't planning anything different. Now we are."

The variety of views did not stop within the veterans in the boardroom. County board members who spoke with the Brainerd Dispatch also shared differing opinions on how they would like to see the motion interpreted.

Chairman Paul Koering said he agreed with Houle the motion was broad and attributed that in part to emotions running high at the meeting. Koering, who voted in favor of separation, said although location was not clarified, he believes the office should be moved from the community services building.

"There's a lot of other empty space on campus," he said.

There are numerous details to be worked out within the next couple months, Koering added, including how often Nelson will report the board and how to measure results within the office.

Commissioner Rachel Reabe Nystrom, who also favored separation, said she felt the issue was left open for Nelson and his employees to decide where they would be most comfortable.

"I don't think that we're going to tell them where they're going," Nystrom said. "If they want to move, then we'll just explore with them what the space needs are and what they think would be appropriate for their work."

Commissioner Doug Houge, who opposed the motion, said there was not enough thought given to the action.

---

"We should have taken some time and probably thought through that," Commissioner Doug Houge said.

---

"We should have taken some time and probably thought through that," Houge said.

He said in his opinion, it would be best for the VSO office to remain in the community services building until all factors have been considered.

"I'm not in any rush," Houge said. "Until we run some numbers, I don't want to spend a ton of money, taxpayer dollars, just to move that office because they don't want it where it's at today."

Houge said the costs of moving an office, the bulk of which would likely come from technology setup, are not in the county's budget. He also noted he is concerned about accessibility for disabled veterans. One of the areas with vacant offices is the third floor of the historic courthouse.

"We do have elevators, but is that going to be the easiest way to get to that office?" Houge said.

Commissioner Rosemary Franzen, who introduced the motion to separate the offices, and Commissioner Paul Thiede, who opposed the motion, were unable to be reached for comment.

CHELSEY PERKINS may be reached at 855-5874 or chelsey.perkins@brainerddispatch.com . Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchChelsey .