Bruce Severson

Bruce SeversonVeterans Service Officer

Telephone: (608) 685-6219

Fax : (608) 685-6242

e-mail: bruce.severson@buffalocounty.com

Bruce Severson407 South Second StreetPO Box 492Alma, WI 54610-0492Phone: (608) 685-6219 ~ Fax: (608) 685-6242e-mail: bruce.severson@buffalocounty.com

MISSION:Assist veterans and their families to obtain local, state, and federal benefits.We can help veterans discover the benefits to which they are entitled and assist them with the application process.The Buffalo County Veterans Service Office is committed to advocate for veterans, provide quality services and programs for them and their families.

ALMA , Wis. - The proposed hiring of a part-time clerical employee to assist Buffalo County Veteran Services Officer Bruce Severson might draw mixed support from the county board.
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Severson said increased services to a pool of nearly 2 , 200 veterans in the county required him to do more outreach contacts than in past years.He also is concerned about an $ 8 , 500 annual grant from the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs that's supposed to be used for improving services.
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Severson said he has increased the amount of money coming into Buffalo County for veterans pensions and medical benefits , but there's more to be done in other areas.Buffalo County was ranked 49th among 72 Wisconsin counties in terms of efficiency and effectiveness of veteran services in 1999 and improved to 43rd in 2000 after Severson was hired.With clerical help , Severson said he could do more outreach one-on-one with veterans and show them the kinds of services they could use.
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Balk recommended that Severson compile statistics describing the number of veterans now receiving services from programs that are offered.
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Severson said grant applications are supposed to detail planned uses , and Buffalo County hasn't been doing that.The county board has viewed the grant as a general improvement that makes it affordable for the county to offer a full-time veteran services officer and furnish an office in the courthouse.Severson questions whether prior vet officers read and understood the grant law and fully explained its parameters to the county board.The state grant money is channeled into general county revenues without explanation of use , Severson said.I've been told it's been done this way for years. Drazkowski said he doesn't see a problem with the grant.Just tell them the grant is used to improve services and leave it at that , he said.