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HomeMy WebLinkAbout35-16 - Res. Amending Res. 13-16 Veterans Advisory Board/Veterans' Assistance:2t__- 1 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION AMENDING RESOLUTION NO. 13-16 VETERANS ADVISORY BOARDNETERANS' ASSISTANCE WHEREAS, Mason County established a levy per RCW 73.08.080 for the purpose of creating the Veterans' Assistance Fund for the relief of honorably discharged veterans or for veterans discharged for physical reason with an honorable record; WHEREAS, RCW 73.08.035 authorizes the establishment of a Veterans' Advisory Board; WHEREAS, the Mason County Commissioners adopted Resolution No. 58-13 establishing the Veterans Advisory Board (VAB) The VAB will consist of ten members; two appointed members of each of the following Mason County National Veterans' Organizations: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 40 et 8 and Disabled American Veterans and two Mason County resident Veterans. WHEREAS, RCW 73.08.010 provides for the relief of indigent and suffering veterans and their families or the families of those deceased veterans, who need assistance and on February 10, 2015, the Board of Mason County Commissioners set the annual limit of cash award from the Mason County Veterans' Assistance Fund to eligible veterans at $800 dollars to be spent on specific types of relief as noted in #2 below and set the catastrophic award at $300; on February 16, 2016 the annual cash award was increased to $1,000 per eligible veteran; WHEREAS, the VAB has requested the issuance of checks to the Veterans be expedited and the recommendation is to amend the process allowing Mason County staff to issue checks without prior Commissioner approval in those weeks there is not a regular Commission meeting. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Mason County Commissioners that: 1. The Veterans' Assistance Fund may be disbursed to indigent veterans and their families or the families of those deceased in the amounts not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) per applicant per calendar year. 2. Approval of the $1,000 dollar assistance shall be granted for only past due rent, mortgage, or utilities: a. Utilities include electric, water, firewood, wastewater (sewer); natural gas and/or propane. b. Necessity Items (Attachment R in Operating Policy) (Not to include tobacco and alcoholic beverages). c, Obtain State ID card (one time only). d. Reinstate driver's license (one time only). 3. Veteran Assistance funds shall not duplicate other available assistance for the purposes stated in #2. 4. If any Veterans' Assistance Committee determines an applicant is in need of assistance due to J:\Veterans\VAB\Resolution allowing check issuance without Commission approval 2016 - with changes accepted.docx Resolution No. Le) Page 2 of 2 any event, catastrophic illness or other significant change in circumstance which comes into being unexpectedly and is beyond the applicant's management or control, the Committee may request in writing that the Board of Mason County Commissioners consider approval of an amount not to exceed three hundred ($300.00) dollars per applicant in any calendar year. 5 All requests for funding shall be approved by the Veterans' Service Officer and the Board of Mason County Commissioners, In those weeks there is no regular Commission meeting, Mason County staff who are authorized signers on the Veterans' Assistance Bank Account are authorized to issue assistance checks without prior Commission approval. Those checks issued will be reported to the Commissioners. 6 RCW 41.04.005 and other provisions of RCW Title 73 shall govern eligibility assistance to veterans and/or families. 7. The County defines "indigent and suffering" to mean the current poverty level as defined by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, for a period of time: previous 90 days or average of previous year. 8. As per RCW 73.08.070, the County shall assist indigent veterans with burial or cremation costs of (3300.00) minimum or up to six hundred (S600.0O) dollars. This is in addition to the $1,000 dollar limitation above in #2. 9. If any applicant knowingly and or unknowingly defrauds or provides false or misleading information, or misuses funds, the applicant will be barred from receiving any further assistance. Effective this 28th day of June 2016. ATTEST: J. Armanzor, Clerk ofjthk Board APPROVED AS TO FORM: Tim Whitehead, Chief DPA c: Auditor Nw VAB BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MASON COUNTY. WASHINGTON Terri Jeffreys, C . • R J (t = 1j J Tim Sheldon, Commissioner Randy Neatherlin, Commissioner J:\Veterans\VAB\Resolution allowing check issuance without Commission approval 2016 - with changes accepted.docx