By Michael Simmons, Madison County Journal
CANTON — Madison County’s Veterans Services office has helped over 6,000 veterans in the last 12 years and expenditures to local veterans and widows was over $44 million in 2015.
Dr. Tom Logue, director of Veteran Services, presented an annual report to supervisors on Monday and thanked them for their continued support of the outreach program.
“The most one veteran has received is $102,000 and $3,000 for the rest of his life,” Logue reported.
Two U.S. marine veterans spoke to the board and thanked them for the investment in Veteran Services.
One gentleman said Dr. Logue has an in-depth understand of the changes in VA policies and is very sincere in his efforts to help veterans.
Another said that he only received 10 percent disability despite having five removed vertebrates, a prosthetic knee cap and more injuries from the Vietnam War.
“I have been fighting more than 40 years,” he said. “I came to this office and within two years I was getting 100 percent. This office is a God send.”
District 5 Supervisor Paul Griffin said he’s encountered many widows of veterans who were unaware they were entitled to veteran benefits.
“Keep doing a good job for us veterans,” he said.
In other county news:
• Supervisors tabled approving a trip to Pennsylvania for Election Commissioners until they could look at the budget and see if the money was in there for travel expenses.
• Supervisors approved a preliminary plat for The Shore at Caroline II.
• Supervisors approved a new countywide elevator maintenance contract that will save over $18,500 per year. Previously the board contracted out with different companies for different elevators.
• Supervisors awarded a bid to JWH for $173,946 for two mini excavators.
• Supervisors awarded a bid to Tri State Truck Center for $199,597 for a knuckle-boom truck.
• Supervisors awarded a bid to Covington Sales for $187,600 for a pothole patching truck.
• Supervisors approved County Engineer/Road Manager Dan Gaillet to implement a formal process to move forward with speed bump placements.
• Supervisors approved a general services contract to Burns, Cooley Dennis for geotechnical engineering.
• Supervisors approved the purchase of two replacement vehicles for the Madison County Sheriff’s Department.
