KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners has approved their 2017 budget, but not before defeating an amendment that was clearly tough for some commissioners to oppose.
A last-ditch effort to create a new position in the veteran’s services office was proposed by Commissioner Michael Seals because he said vacancies in the department have resulted in long waits for service and they aren’t paying enough to hold on to staff.
“this veteran’s office has not functioned for three years,” Seals said. “Members of the military who have served and now life in this community deserve better.”
Commissioner Stephanie Moore commented that she sees homeless veterans begging on street corners all the time. She says it pulls at the heartstrings.
“And actually I was kind of irritated, because why are all these people panhandling on corners when we have all these resources in Kalamazoo,” Moore said. “But, for some reason, we aren’t connecting.”
But Vice Chair Jeff Heppler voted no, saying there are already five candidates waiting to be interviewed to fill the vacancy that exists. He said, if a study needs to be done, it can be done quickly after the budget is approved and the position filled.
“Then we can review how many people are in that office,” Heppler said. “How many more do they need?”
About a dozen citizens spoke in favor of the additional staffer.
The motion was defeated 6-5, but interim administrator John Faul said they will begin working immediately to determine if pay is an issue and whether extra help is needed.
