Kimball County Seeks Shared Veterans Service Officer

Kimball County is asking for help, in the office and service variety, from someone who is still finding his way in the process.

The Cheyenne County Commissioners Tuesday met with Veteran Service Officer Fred Wiedeburg regarding a petition for assistance. Wiedeburg said Kimball County had contacted him about helping with the county's veterans. They have a veteran service officer. However, she is not certified. Wiedeburg said she will be attending the same classes he will this spring.

One of the questions to be addressed to reach an agreement is how often will Kimball County need Wiedeburg to visit.

“One day a week is too much. One day a month is too little,” Wiedeburg told the commissioners.

He said the frequency of visits is yet to be determined.

Nebraska State Statute 80-410 requires county veteran service officers to be veterans who have “served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States, other than active duty for training.” A county veteran service officer is also to have be discharged honorably and be a bona fide resident of the State of Nebraska continuously for at least one year prior to assuming duties as a veteran service officer, according to the state statute.

Wednesday afternoon, Darcee Wheeland confirmed she is the Veteran Service Officer assistant but she is not a veteran.

In other business, the commissioners met with Dave Dickey regarding scheduling a county surplus auction. The auction will include surplus inventory from county departments, including a trailer home that has been at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds. Discussion included when to have the auction, and if some of the items can be promoted by photographs instead of transported to the auction site. Dickey said because some of the items are sensitive to dust, the auction should be held in the 4-H Building.

The commissioners and Dickey debated on having the auction as soon as March, and possibly as late as April.

The commissioners also met with Cheyenne County Chamber of Commerce president Hope Feeney. She said the Chamber assembles 20 newcomer packets each month. The Chamber is considering a PDF newcomer fact sheet that can be distributed by email or hardcopy. She said she worked with Economic Director Melissa Norgard and Western Nebraska Community College Campus Director Paula Abbott delivering recognition certificates to manufacturers. In doing so, she learned some of the needs of the county businesses. She said they hope to design a collaboration with the department of labor to provide necessary training for employees.

She said the Chamber is “in a good rhythm” with the number of businesses becoming members. She said the Chamber is wanting to do “Community Business After Hours” events that could promote a community instead of just a business.