Partch questions use of vet's relief funds

Indigent veterans in Whitman County were given $3,926.84 in aide by commissioners Monday morning.

Roy Lord, adjutant for the Codd-French American Legion Post in Colfax, said the money was used to bring a pair of veterans current on their rent.

“The important thing here today is that we helped keep two veterans from being evicted from their homes,” said Lord, who asked the veterans not be named, though Commissioner Greg Partch read their names aloud while reviewing the payments.

Almost half of the payments went to one veteran whom Lord said is currently living in a bus. Lord said the funding was used to cover back rent, as well as to repair a truck the veteran used to attend commercial truck driving school in Post Falls.

Another veteran’s back rent was paid, as were bills for prescription medication.

Partch questioned whether the veterans given aide were taking advantage of the system.

“The only concern I have is that we have a couple of individuals who keep coming back and coming back and coming back,” said Partch. “I don’t know that we’ve ever had four requests at once for one person.”

Lord said he had worked hard to verify the veterans were not abusing the fund.

A portion of property taxes are used in the veterans’ relief fund. Auditor Eunice Coker said the fund now has $47,000.

Assessor Joe Reynolds said a portion of taxes is diverted to the fund every year, but commissioners determine how much money the relief fund will have in it. The rest, said Reynolds, is directed into the county’s general fund.

Through Monday, the veterans’ relief fund had been tapped for $9,487 in 2011.

In addition to veterans’ aide, much of that funding has been used to pay rent on halls for the county’s four American Legion posts.

Lord urged all veterans to contact their legion post if they are in need of assistance.