Veterans Affairs Commission - Regular Meeting

Doesn't know what you

Yeah.

Go. Wait.

I have a fork. Are you ready?

Let me close the door.

I

do call the meeting to order at 12:02 on March 12. Deputy, please sign with your cell phones. And, Roger, if you're listening, airplane mode is not signing your cell phone. I just get ready. Please stand. Remove your hats. Pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all.

At the moment, we need to do roll calls.

District one, commissioner Smith?

Here.

District one, commissioner Fisher? Here. District two, commissioner Reynolds? District two, commissioner Mullins Becker. Here. District three, commissioner Coulter. Here. District four, commissioner Walsh.

Here.

District four, commissioner Thompson.

Here.

District five, commissioner Norton?

Here.

And district five, commissioner Ruthven?

Here. Here. K. At

this time, the commission will

make any necessary additions, deletions, or corrections to the agenda. The matters be added or removed from the consent calendar and the one motion is off the agenda and include the consent calendar. Any changes? Anybody has anything to change at?

No?

We have any public comment?

Sorry. We are now taking public comment on the adoption of the agenda and approval of the consent calendar. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating via Zoom, please make sure you're doing mute yourself when it's called upon, and please raise the hand button. Please voluntarily state your name for the record. Any public comment? Any public comment online? No public comment.

I make a motion that we approve the agenda and the consent calendar for the March 12 meeting of the Veterans Affairs Commission.

I'll second.

I'll I'll vote.

District 1, how do you vote? Aye. District 2, how do you vote? Aye. District 3, how do you vote? Aye. District 4, how do you vote?

Aye.

And District 5, how do you vote?

Aye.

Motion passes. Okay.

You guys have a

guest speaker. The speaker.

Speaker. I'm supposed to introduce him. Caleb, sorry. Then we have a guest speaker from Caleb. Yeah. It was good. From Guns Yes.

People can make you search.

Right? Where do you where do

I stand? You you can It's where we have we We stand here every night.

We have to stand up. If you would. Can you stand just stand up? Just stand up.

We all know who you are, but you can't stand up. Alright. Yeah.

Right. Yeah. And they made that Yeah. Advice. Yeah. Right? Yeah. Yeah.

So just to kind of give an update or my name's Caleb. This is Todd Stevens, and we started Dunsup Waterfall, a nonprofit last year with my cousin Daniel Just in a year's time and interrupt you. You too. Just in our a year's time, the growth has been great. We've we're able to take out 11 veterans this year.

We have a list, I believe, of 15 so far this year. What was it? 20. Oh, no. 20. And then we also have, I think, three or four that have contacted us. So in the month of October, season starts about the October, and then it runs all the way towards the January. With these hunts and you guys feel free to flip through the the pages. With these hunts, we contact the vets usually when the storms are bad. That's when that's when we we go out because we know there's gonna be movement.

So, basically, we'll meet up at what we call the farm. We'll meet there about 05:30 in the morning. Everyone kinda get dressed. We have snacks. We have gear if they need it. We were able to get four pairs of waiters donated this year. They all got used. And then we'll go to either it's called the goose Pit, which is kind of right behind the farm, or we'll go out to another blind. And, basically, we'll do we'll do the hunt, try to have more than one veteran in the blind. I do most of the calling.

They do all the shooting, and it makes for a makes for a good time. When we get back to the farm, eat breakfast burritos, water, sodas, other snacks, coffee. And if they need help cleaning the bird, then we'll go through the whole process. So usually, we're done around maybe 12, And then we'll kinda go down our list, and we'll see who's who's next. And that way, we try to give everyone the opportunity, watch the storm or the storms within two to three, maybe four days, try to get a schedule, and we were able to get everyone out this year, which was amazing.

One of the one of the things as far as being here, these guys, if you all have walking in the rice mud stuff. So that's one of the reasons why coming here, presenting to where needing the availability to try to get these guys or girls out to the blind. Because like I said, it's it's very tough walking in the rice mud.

So some of some of our vets are physically challenged and or even if some of them may be old. We had a couple who'll be at home or a little older, and then so we'll talk to them and get it on its

own. One

one of the things so a side by side with cracks, we put it in the we had a presentation last year. It's kind of the same idea of what we would need to go from basically the parking lot. I mean, literally, if this was a line, I could drive them right up to the line. They could get out, and we could or we could set up depoys first because I have I have numerous times, hey. I wanna go help set up depoys or, I wanna go help pick up depoys.

But, I mean, sometimes it was a little it was a little tough just because I know what they wanna do. But but, again, walking in that mud, now I might have to help them there, and it just makes for a situation that might be a little bit easier to where we could drive around, pick up depots, and go and put

them back in the

blind or hang them up on a on a little wrap that we could fabricate for for the side by side. We did have a we did have enough gear. There's some things that we could provide better blind bags to put gear in waterproof blind bags. There's a couple like Todd was mentioning, there's a tough a couple that shooting a sub gauge. So it's like a 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and then possibly getting a a 28 gauge because that's gonna be less on their shoulders.

So that was just some of the things going from this year to this year from last year, I'm sorry, to this year. We did provide another professional guide. I saw I also guide. So we were able to bring people out to the line that had an experience. We were able to call, set up decoys in certain positions. So that was always something to where they never went out on their own. They always had someone that actually knew what they were doing and making sure that, hey. These these guys are over in this blind. Hey. These guys are over in this blind, and now we can all kinda check-in and and see what's going on.

That's something that's unique to us. There are other vet programs, but they basically take you out and set you free. If you don't know what you're doing, you're not gonna have success. You're it may or may not be safe. You may or may. And the whole point of this is to get the vets together so they're getting that camaraderie and they're communicating, sharing resources, etcetera. Because our our vets, we that's another difference is we have them back every year. Once you enter the program, you're welcome back until you no longer wanna come. And then you bring in new guys again next year. And the whole point of that is the guys that are established, they help bring in new guys, help them open, help

them access these. I asked a question.

Oh, yeah.

The people you have out there, I am a Vietnam vet. To be honest with you, it's eleven months and twenty eight days. Those are twelve forty, which is a combat engineer's. These gentlemen or ladies that you take out there, are you guys qualified if one starts to do something really silly?

What I mean by that, he's got

a 12 gauge. Maybe it's an eight seventy Remington, whatever he has. He starts to move that gun in some different direction instead of a high flying goose. That's the question I was looking

at all.

I used to duck hunt at Susanville through

his. Mhmm. That's Well, something that we've adjusted. When we first started, we gave them

a we gave them a gear.

And he said, you know, maybe that's not such a good idea. Send a guy home, and we'll get him. So now we loan we loan them a gun. Mhmm. And we make sure that there's a professional guy with it.

That's what I'm asking.

So if

there's somebody qualified Yeah. That this person does something woah. Wait a minute.

And he he got No. Usually usually in a blind setup, there's usually four or a three man. I'm usually in the middle. And so when I'm calling, the rest of the rest of the people in the blind, I always tell them, hey. Look. When we're calling at birds, birds start coming in, eyes are down. Right? Like like, make sure because we wanna stay hidden. So being kind of in the middle of the blind, I'm within hands reach because I'm always looking around to where if I see something go in that direction, yes, I would say that I'm qualified to handle a situation if that were to arise. And my my cousin because we've talked about that kind of situation if something like that happens.

There's usually another and we did it this year. There's another veteran that came out with us two or three times. My cousin is a veteran. My his brother-in-law is also a veteran. So we kinda had an idea of, like, look. Hey. If something does happen, I'm going to be on a hunt with someone I trust and that I know. There was one other time I went out single with another guy, which was it was fine. And, again, I'm within arm's length like I did because I'm doing all the pawing. They're looking down, and then I care if they shoot birds. Whatever I don't I don't really care. As long as they're having fun, they can shoot, whatever. But I'm always, like I said, within arm's length of

that that situation. Other steps we take too with our operational rules is, you know, you all heard the Chris Powell story. Right? But they were Yeah. Filled in the car. We, for sure, hirers, private owned vehicle to get through. They don't sit in the back seat behind us with a gun. You know, guns are not accessible and our vehicles until they get to the point anyway, but we don't allow ourselves to be put in that situation. So that's another safety step that we

That's what like he said, he's looking 360 degrees every second he's out there.

Actually, he's not finding what he's working. Yep.

Of the things that was really cool this year, and I and I'll leave it with leave it with this and take questions, was the there was two different times. There was a chili feed that that happened, and it it was great. I mean, I got pictures. And one of our other veterans, they they just caught some, I think, a blue That's just crab. Yeah. Crab. So they brought up a big bag of crab, and they had a they had a crab feed at the at the farm, which was pretty cool after after

the hunt. And you'll see on the presentation there, we have a little a lodge. Mhmm. Little place for the. Yes. First year guys, we don't allow them to stay there. Second year guy that we can trust, but we built with belt. He built some trust. We allow them to sleep in

that

bunkhouse, and Al could be the guy that brought the crab the night before because they're not from the morning. So if they're coming from far away, they can bump there. And and, generally, we're we're not we're making sure that they all decked and so on. Know, they're they form the bonders. We don't mix the groups. And

then they're not by themselves. My that's my my cousin's place. He's he's always there as well. So, yeah, I mean, that's that's kind of our update for year two. Guns up.

Nice. We

picked up a lot of sponsors that will start giving out swag bags next year. I'm pretty excited at the table. There are piles of things that vendors have given us for free, and they'll they'll be allowed

to go take one one of

each item as a take

home. You

guys are stationed. Is there a game ward or anything? Like, at Suzanville, there's signs everywhere what you can and cannot shoot. There

there are game wardens that will patrol the area. There's Howard Sloop. So there's we're basically if if I'm sitting in the blind right now, the road out there upon Rifta Road, is Howard Slough, and the check-in station is maybe 800 yards up.

So Is

that in in Williams?

It's right off the 162 in Aqua Street. It's about a half an hour south of Richfield. So then you go down the 162, go west, and Howard Slough is is right there. So there's always game wardens around that that area. But then there is just because of the amount of time our guys have been duck hunting, hopefully, we know what to shoot. Yeah. That's that's yeah. It's the key. Right? Yes. Hopefully, we know

what to shoot. So this program is open to veterans. Right? Yeah. Yeah. Well, veterans and their families. Because there's one picture you gotta either have reading all of this kid's reading.

So that so we have that is my Daniel, that's his brother-in-law, Taylor and Taylor and his son.

And so if there Yeah. I mean, that's I'm just curious.

Yeah. If there I mean, if there has been or if there is an opportunity for something that a dad and and Dad. Or daughter, we're a 100%. Like, we come up to the farm, you know, let's have a bonfire. Let's do something. I mean, even if the weather's not very good and they still wanna come up, Daniel has access to pheasants. And so outside of his his farm, on the backside, there's an area to where if we wanted to, we could go get some planter pheasants and go plant the pheasants. And then all of a sudden, mom or dad, right, can can go out and and and maybe shoot a pheasant. So, definitely, it's it's it's open to

the the higher set.

And you've of your own dogs when you talk to them?

So we have a gentleman this year, John Dool. I took him out this year. Great, great man. He's been raising dogs for thirty plus years over I think it's called Buzzard Hill Buzzard Hill Kennels over in Lincoln. And he he's actually he's gonna donate a dog to the program, but, yeah, he he has if if we need the

access, he's the one here.

Tell you a horror story. My being

unbelievable when he talked to you.

And I went dead enough. They told me don't miss. Run off the vest. Missed. Bane's dad turned around and looked at me. Then we went down to another and shot, and I missed again. That dog turned and went to another group. And he didn't know the different color of physic, female or male. He brought back a full life physic, and he's sitting there

looking at This is what you do. So

I heard you say about the donated waiters. Mhmm. It sounded like they were are they issued to that person, and they take them with them,

or are they reused?

Reused. So our goal is to we call it the duck room. Our goal is to have basically, if someone comes up with us, what size do you do you have gear? That's one

of the first

questions I usually always ask. Do you have gear? Yes, no. It's fine. So once we go into the duck room, we have waders that can be used. And then as we grow, there's probably some jackets that I'll need I'll need to get, or we will need to get some blind bags because I when the weather is tough like that, I mean, I don't they brought bags, but they weren't waterproof. So, I mean, you're gonna get your stuff soaked together, wall in there, car feed. So the gear is reissued. We'll we'll clean it and then hang it back up, dry it, and we'll we'll get ready for the next time. So the same same thing with the shotguns and and ammo.

So we try to have everything ready for them. We'll check-in around five, 05:30, somewhere in

the room.

Okay. Can you some people in the room don't know if Daniel is. Can you just do a quick little just real quick something?

So he family his farm up in Richfield, they've been they've been farming for four years. He went to the Marine Corps after high school, spent, I believe it was four years I believe it was four years in in in the marines. He got he got blown up a couple times. Everything everything's fine. And we were just in a duck line one day, and he goes, hey.

We should do this. And I'm okay. So we started we went down with Todd's help. And, basically, I'm the first line of contact where Todd is. And then here, Daniel, and I don't wanna say he vets him, but he'll have a conversation with him.

He'll be able to you know, I I'm not I'm not a veteran, so I I can't say that I can speak the same language that that they, you know, they all do, but he's does a great job in allowing his household to be a second home, especially after the hunt or the night before if if guys need a set. So there that's obviously, it's very, very good that there's someone within our group that can speak per se the same language as as the veterans. Because, again, I I I

have been. And one thing we're trying to do is point them towards resources and help if needed. If not needed, they would be. But we give every I give you a resource card.

Mhmm.

And it has all the numbers that we pull down. So we give that to every vet who comes. Well, very

Can you expound a little

bit on your this one item for your growth goals? You said initiating a kids' services of veterans hunter ed classes. Are you actually teaching them

how to

fire a rifle or a shotgun and a little bit more about that?

We're we're one of our veterans, Charles, he's a hunter ed instructor for Fishlea, and he volunteered to hold a special class just for our our group. And so the idea is we don't want guys to come hunting and then go away. And so one of the ways to get people to come back is you bring your son or bring your your spouse or spouse bring your husband. And, you know, so we're gonna we're planning a barbecue this summer where they can take the online course, which is their eight hour requirement. Then they'll come in and do a four hour course on gun safety. Once that's done, we'll do a little barbecue afterwards, and we'll be planning on planting some pheasants and letting them go out on a pheasant for that.

I've got

a question.

This card right here

Yeah. Well, they they graduate. And I have

a family member that also called me. Oh, I'm sorry. Did I interfere or something?

Oh, that's okay.

I just let her get to allowed to qualify at the same time so that, you know, they they actually

Yeah.

They have to pass the test. If they pass the test, then they'll be allowed to go. I

didn't hear her. Yeah. Anyway, we have and then I have a family member that owns what you guys are talking about up

in that area. And I'll

be happy to get Michael. He actually lives outside of Phoenix, but his brother works than that club, if that's okay with you. Mhmm.

And, actually, we'll give you another card with our

contact information. Okay. That one

is meant for them to access for the vets.

They own the land. It's all theirs. And that's why you hear it because, hey. These gentlemen here are helping with this. Plus, we'll double check if that's okay if we Raising

funds for sure.

So I think we've raised well, we raised around $3,500 last year, and most of that just went to gear. And so we're gonna host our first dinner in July, and then that's when we'll see what happens for that side by side.

And then that also that dinner, the funds will allow us to buy additional shotguns and waders and parkas. And then we also try to give the people, if they don't have it, thermal underwear or Wilsox at, you know, smaller things, things that touch their skin, they will picky picky.

Hey, Caleb. What's the what's the rough price on the side by side? I know, obviously, new versus shoes is different.

Yes, man. It's I know I know I know just, like, the tracks are anywhere between 5 and $7,000. Just the tracks. But we were looking at used ones right around the, what was it, 15 to 18,000 mark. And I don't care if it's in Utah, Idaho, man. I'll just hook up a trailer and go get it kind of thing. So somewhere yeah. Obviously, the new those are, like, 30, like, 30. Yeah. That's not something that we would go after.

We just we just need because, I mean, everyone's dressed up in gear anyways. Right? So we need something with some doors on it and a hood, but the most important piece of that whole equipment is the Trex Mhmm. Because that's what gets us literally up to this table where they can walk, you know, into the levee or whatever, and then

boom, be done.

So on your your page, it says, so you've got you've got the side by side at seventeen five. You got wheelchair boys 4.5, some additional bar stools for the for the actual wine, and then some addition here. So you're looking at perhaps maybe somewhere around 25,000. Approximate.

Yep. Yep.

Daniel Daniel's a farmer, so he had welding skills. So we'll we'll modify the ATV to accommodate you. Yeah. Whether we go One other lift or, like, I said, put a picture. An organization did a ramp on the side.

Mhmm. Yeah.

I saw that too. Yeah.

Was I think the ramp was our kind of, like, really cool idea. Like, a ramp that could be almost like a door. And then once we need the ramp, then it'll flip down. Yeah. I mean, I can see it in my head, but that doesn't mean

that. Yeah.

I'm not trying to weld weld it or not. So

The seventeen five doesn't include tracks.

No. Yeah. Correct. And those tracks can be those tracks can be taken off, right, and then cleaned, whatever. And that way, they're not used, you know, year round. But, I mean, as as we grow, turkey might be on our our kind of So

bloodiest of it.

It it correct. That's correct. Correct. Yes. So of your of

your 20 members, they're all El County veterans? What percentage is El Dorado County? What percentages are outside of it?

Probably a three to one. Generally, we try to go for El Dorado County residency, but we're not gonna exclude somebody just because they're not from the county. Right.

And that's all been word-of-mouth. I mean, we haven't really I mean, obviously, this dinner, I think, will help, but it's it's kind of been just word-of-mouth as far as who we've been able to to get.

Is that

when it's gonna be the better?

Just, like, the advert I don't wanna say advertising, but I think I think we'll get a bigger and we'll cap it. Right? And in my opinion, we have to cap it. Right? Because I want the experience I don't want the experience to be, hey. You're going to this blind. I can't have that happen. I I gotta be able to supply a professional with them so their experience is the best. Like, I don't know. I don't think I would let that happen. Oh, no. We duck hunt. Cool. But I I don't think I would let that happen. Right. So I we we have to cap it because we have two two two professional guys. If I get another guy, maybe. But I

do not

catch Did you get any support from Jackson Limited at all?

Emailed them emailed, but there's there's there's times, like, even CWA.

They have their own programs?

Yes. They do. Alright.

You know

what I heard was that all of what they they do their fundraising, it all goes into a national plot. Yes. Yeah. And so it's not like, let's say, plastic buildup to Liberty can give you $5,000. They didn't do that because it has to so I was just curious to know if you've gotten any because they think I gave you resource up there in your area. Of course, you were sitting in that sort of area. We've

had a lot of good with the people that we took out this year. We've had a lot of good, hey. You guys you guys do a very good job in meeting. It's not just because Todd mentioned it. It's not just, hey. You go to Blind 6. Hey. You go to Blind 10. And then, okay, is there decoys there? Is there is it camouflage? Do you don't mean I can go down a line? We do a little bit different. So that's that's all I'm gonna say. I don't wanna say anything else. Yeah.

On your on your guides, what do you what are the criteria for them to be deemed professional guide necessary?

It's it's yeah. Experience, first and foremost. The other guy that we have, I've actually hunted with him. So calling wise, he's been a guy for years. Another buddy of mine, he works for Mantra Farms. He, like, takes the he's, like, the owner's, like, own guy. Like, he only does with you.

So you're you're you're looking at somebody who's lobby.

There's no Yeah. You gotta have your guy's license. You gotta go bond it. You have to have all you have to have all the paid I'm just a 100%. You have to have of them. Yes. Correct. And then but then you also have to like, I have to know you. Yeah. Or I mean, Todd, like, there have you you can't

because there's a there's a veteran that I know that is in Doug County, he's a fanatic Mhmm. For thirty plus years. Mhmm. And I I know that he has helped out in other organizations. Don't think he has his license, but I'll I'll ask you to get

it through the fishing game program. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. It's, $280

or something. Yeah.

Yeah. Does everyone else bond?

I do mine through I think it's.

Does she give you

guys a sign off on it?

You have to turn in so you have to have correct. So you have to turn in all your paperwork and with that bond. And I think it costs 50 or $75 up up for that million dollars. They require a million dollar bond. So I had to turn all that in, and then I think a couple weeks later,

I got

I got my response.

And I'm gonna go back to before our venture in El Dorado County. We fund things outside of El Dorado County also, and those funds are how we take those people. Oh, thanks. We had a a customer this year donated a thousand dollars. He was from.

Cool. So

but we took out his his Yeah.

The do the candidates should go out if they get a hunting license? All the people?

They they have to have they have to have everything. Okay. So that's with gear, I asked them with gear with do they have their license? That's one thing that we can't take care of. Like, Duck Sam. Do don't have a Duck Sam? Like, you can buy as many Duck Sams as as as you want. So, like, we can take care of that, but they have to have their license. Because that's the last thing that I'm I mean, because that's my only hobby I I looked at. That's the last thing I want to have happen if the game warden stops us. All of sudden, you get a driver's license, and then I probably get busted. I'd probably lose my guy's license. So I don't wanna do that either. And so then that brings us back to making sure we shoot the proper waterfowl. We don't walk out with or something. Right? Like yeah.

That's And if they don't have a license, our vet, Charles, he will pull a special class.

He will let the one person class for. Great.

Thank you. So you can help him get out there. Oh, that's good. On the spot up.

Well no.

You got two, I

should say.

Yeah. Prior to two.

Yeah. Yep.

Don't do any pigeon shoots? No.

I don't.

I don't I mean, I I could so. But Well, just what what if Is this all you? Back in back? No. No. No. No. Back in

the way, man. That I'm talking about he's a army guy. He retired sergeant. He does pigeon shoots. And that guy, he goes out and goes shoot 1,100 pigeons. Really? Well, what what

yeah. I said, Saturday. What the hell

are you talking to?

He goes he goes to Farmers. I guess a pigeon. Like, one pigeon is, like, three pounds of feed.

So they're like, we I have seen. Yeah.

They just I'm like, what are you doing? 10 pigeons. But, anyway, yeah, just another option of of an activity that you could do. If done in the summertime, then it's it's a it's a dry activity, so to see. And I'll I'll give you his name. Yeah. So he's he's got he works in the wild somewhere up in the Mary Colleen City area.

I see

that's something that where you would take the graduates of the hunting class that gave this house.

Yeah. I said

And to wipe out the hitches. And Rob says to farmers, please, every day, you wanna come out and plastic it.

That's a good idea. I'll I'll give you I'll give you his name, and you can I'll let him know

to reach out to him. Yep. Right.

Appreciate it.

That's the first thing he does. Yeah.

Thank

you, gentlemen. Yes.

Well done. I appreciate it. Thank you. Any public comment?

We are now making a public comment on our guest speakers. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then from those participating. For those participating by Zoom, please make sure you would meet yourself and vote upon, and please raise a hand. Please voluntarily state your name for the record. Alright.

Always has a very important alcohol to cook. Is there any cooking?

I so okay. So I know. Don't I know because I'm very I literally I breast them out, and I make duck poppers. Okay. That's that's that's all I do. But I don't do that, but that's that's a good idea to Thank you. You know, some recipes or whatever to put out either on our Facebook or to to give, you know, the. For sure.

So

this year this year, we have his name's Tony Anderson, and he is donating a commercial duct cleaning. I I've never done it, but he it's you hook a vacuum up to it. It'll deep better it. Yep. And then leave.

Better be gone. And That's one thing also

I wanted to say is some of the guys don't bring out their duck balls, and sometimes they don't sound very good. But there's there's one of the guys, Tony, he he and, again, he runs Sweat Line calls. He's gonna help this year in helping, you know, do some some lessons per se on on how to call this. But he's he has to vacuum

sealers this year prevents you use at our at our location. We're just looking at.

Alright. There's a way to make Doctor. Bradley always for you. Just do. What is it? Alright. I'll get you the name of people.

You've got all that story. Don't know the name.

We

started a website this summer, this year, and we also started a Facebook page. I think we're up to a 130 followers now. But we're post all of our results for the people who are comfortable being put on their socials. If you tell me you don't like your picture up there,

we don't put you. You are comfortable, we

put you out there. We we share what we're doing and a lot of anything we can share and put out there. So if you follow us, you'll constantly be able to see, you know, this person doing this or this, that. Oh,

that's what

you're getting.

Is there any other public comment? Oh, Jeffrey. Any public comment online?

Sneak it out of the weeds.

No additional public comment. Okay.

That's good to hear. And I will this guy's name is Rob Gallagher, so

I will put him on that with you

in case he's busy. What pops up? Yeah. Okay. I'm sorry. Moving

on. Moving on.

One of the agenda items, first agenda items we have is two six dash zero four three five, the Veterans Affairs Commission to review the duties of reporting requirements of the Transportation Committee. And that's can I just combine these two agenda items?

No. We'll wanna keep them separate just in case there's public comment over either one. Sorry.

So one of the things we're looking at is reviewing what the duties and responsibilities are gonna be in each of these committees that we have. And so the first committee we're gonna look at is the transportation committee,

which is done by Mr. Thompson.

You, like, stand up, or you can sit from there and speak. Sure. Whatever whatever works best for you.

We also have Tim. I for some reason, he got put on the transportation committee too.

Oh, okay. You didn't consider it well. Off with

board of

supervisors, what they wrote down for the transportation committee. It says the transportation committee is established to conduct a review of county policy, procedure, the programs affecting veterans of the county and to ensure adequate implementation of veterans affairs programs are in compliance with the county state federal mandate. Transportation committee will meet at the call of the committee chairman. Transportation committee vice chairman will keep an informal record of the proceedings of the committee. Transportation committee will report all activities at the commission meeting.

So first off, I I this is not my strong area, and I was voluntold to this committee.

I I Oh, that's okay.

Yeah. Didn't make it to a meeting. That's the next thing I know.

I determined I was just board. By the way, I've been a member since 2006. It's my twentieth year.

You're getting a medal? Yeah. Another one at that heart. Yeah.

Much of it was being done by family support groups. There wasn't a need. And Dave Dave has helped out quite a bit. Problem with Casey now is you don't have enough drivers, and the restriction or the requirements to be a driver goes above and beyond of having a good driver's life insurance, driving record.

Well, the the problem is the the problem is then that military family support from the department that you have to access your DMD records and the and then pass that along to Yeah. To cover up their resource center, which is a program. And so my sons of the American Legion, we've got a 100 names, and I thought we can put it out there. But that that that was one extra obstacle that they just. So the license and the insurance is still a problem, but I guess that was technological. We have to go online with a piece.

That's true. So

we've been that's that's made it harder for us to everyone's. Yeah.

A lot of would be drivers, they don't don't want their entire driving record given to the committee. So I can understand that. I did a few things right at 16 when I first got my license. So the plan going forward is I'm gonna be meeting with Dave and Tim Whelan, and we're gonna see about recruiting more drivers. The only driver we have right now is is actually Tim Page. Mhmm.

And he's great. So it so it sounds like the original goals of transportation was committee was to ensure compliance with county policies. Correct. Is that my understanding?

Yeah. We can't be out of compliance.

You can't be out

of compliance. You know what county policies are on transportation? It

it seems like

in my understanding of it, the transportation committee would be more beneficial per se to be a how how could you assist organizations in getting more drivers? Would it make it easier if we got rid of

that requirement? I mean Right.

It seems like the the transportation committee should be a go between between the county and the organizations that are trying to provide, you know, transportation for veterans.

And that was gonna be one of my next stops.

I was gonna

go supervisor at District 4. Okay. That's where I am. And see if she could get changed. So it it I guess what I'd like to

see the transportation committee do for the upcoming month would be to come back in April. Are you listening, Tim?

I hear you. Okay.

I'd like to see the transportation committee come back in April and say, hey. These are the obstacles we are running into to providing transportation. And then maybe the Veterans Affairs Commission can either remove some of those or streamline the Okay. Basically, make your job easier. Right.

You know, what are you what are you guys running into?

Look at you, David.

I don't know. Want me to answer that question?

No. No. No. No. No. No.

Focuses more on the use of county vehicles Mhmm. More than it does about A private. A private. Yeah. Someone privately provided transportation for a veteran or something like that. So I I don't think there's any county policy there that governs what we do for transportation. You're mentioning that it was military family support group, so they have their own set of guidelines. But I don't think that I really don't think the county has anything that says

Not as a private citizen, though. Right.

Right. So there's know? But, David, do

you remember Tim, I know you mean something this, that years ago, we had a back and forth with the insurance issue. The mill military family support group and the county and guidelines and liability. Remember that whole discussion? We got the van donated from Thompson's. And then we had an issue with, you know, with the with the military family support group. What's the insurance policy? What how does it have to be written? What does it have to govern and protect? And that you we had those issues went back and forth.

It was actually easier for me to just drive me on the car.

That's what we decided. Remember? Yes.

Yeah. It's it's the band that was

Gep gifted from from Thompson.

But it was ticketed to the county.

No. And I think it was the military family. Correct. Yeah.

But they're not a cloning organization.

So No. We're not. No. They're they're they're in. Yeah. They're just

interested why they why the county would get involved in that.

Yeah.

Resources. Yeah. Yes. The Monroe County Veterans Resources is also military family school. Right? They're one of

think if I remember, there was something because there was a linkage or next between there was potentially some county funds going to MSFG and the resource center, and there was, okay. If we have $1 that goes to that, that I think that that's what came up when we went back.

So that's the next

That's what they got. Okay.

You do have two. Okay. Right.

Alright. Here we go. That makes sense then.

Yeah. Let

me ask the question. What's around the transit?

Sometimes it's extremely high heart area. You know, we need agility. And so you try there's so many rules. But first of all, the bus is fine. I gave out bus passes at Veterans Treatment Court. I just passed Monday. I'm gonna shoot it over out Veterans Research Center. So that's great. But sometimes if you're trying to arrange a ride, there's rules like, well, you have to call by Thursday if for your Monday appointment, and and then you don't know still if you have the ride yet. I mean, it's just it's just the is not very.

And so sometimes we get almost last minute notice. We have to take some day to meet their Friday at 03:00, and it's too late to do with So that that's why you need the agility of somebody who can just hop in the car and go.

Well, they've got all kinds of quick. Transit? No. At El Dorado Transit, if you ever went out there, they've got vans, minivans, big vans,

you name it. They do, but things have to be done.

John, you you get any request at your your options? For transportation. For for transportation. Yeah. So we should be coordinating coordinating with you too. Right. But we we refer them over to the EDR. We need

to take care of that because Yeah. Well, I think that comes back around to the point we've started with is that I'd like to see the transportation committee come back with these are the obstacles that we are struggling. Okay. And I think that that would give the equipment's permission at least an ability to go in

front of the board or in front of

your organizations and and try to kinda scream on it, make it easier for you, make it easier. Is there a way we can get around the insurance issue? Is there a way can we get can we get somebody to donate a car?

Not two kids.

Trying to. Alright.

You know?

When when you

get time, I'll I'll chime in here.

We can reach out again to to talk to the the dealership. Well,

Gil Gilmore Heroes who sees the other business. He doesn't turn. Oh. I I'm just it's a it's a it's it's situation. And the Thompson's van, it it so we saw the problem of the insurance. And it it just wasn't it it didn't answer the question as well if people deceased their own car right now. I don't know. Tim might remember this treatment better than I do where somebody's brother is just he just ended up paying family. I think he's innocent.

Well, that It's like a free horse. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want a free horse. Right? Yeah. Yeah. The cheapest thing is the horse. But that again, that I you know, I would like to see the

Tim.

Yeah. Tim, I'd like to see you guys come back with a this these are kind of the problems we run into, and this would make our lives easier. Go ahead, Tim. Hand

up. Okay. Thanks. Yeah. I just wanted to get a break here. Just a couple of key points, and I was gonna give you a briefing of what has happened in the past with military family support group slash EDVR, El Dorado Veteran Resources, and our awesome well, I'll call them, like, for this purpose, they're basically dispatchers transitioning the calls to the volunteers. So in the last calendar year, we were requested 34 rides. We gave 20. The ones that were not given came up with either they found a ride from family members or neighbors or somebody, or they canceled their appointment or whatever. Right?

So it's not a whole lot that we're dealing with. But when we do again, Tim Page is outstanding. Dave Zelensky has been outstanding and answering the call when they're in town and available. So it's amazing. The other alternative that we talked about was the Eldorado Transit MyRide reimbursement program.

The volunteers at the EDVR office found that the veteran clients, who are the ones that basically manage their own MyRide reimbursement program, found it too tedious or complicated or whatever the reason was to access that, which is it's very simple. You just have to do it once or twice to get comfortable with it. And then the person that would give them the ride would ultimately receive the money from Eldorado Transit. So we went through that, and it turns out that, you know, people just don't want to use that service. And then when you go with the Eldorado the Paratransit, that's very difficult because a lot of times, it won't take them to where they need to go.

And then on the other on the VA side, the VA can provide rides to medical appointments to to veterans that are enrolled in the VA health care system. However, they need to go through the VA, and it has to be determined that it's medically necessary. Like, if you're doing dialysis, you can get a contract through the VA to take you back and forth paid for by the VA if you're eligible for that for that transportation service. So a lot of times, you know, it gets complicated up front, and the veteran says, well, I'll I'll just do it myself so they don't have to go through the bureaucracy it takes. You know, you need lots of patience and understanding of the system to deal with it.

So those are just items that we can consider. And as far as the car have having a dedicated vehicle goes, that throws in complications that, you know, that that it's just frustrating to deal with all of the known and unknown entities like self insurance or, you know, do we carry the insurance and registration and all that for for vehicles and the cover umbrella coverage. So that's what we'll figure out in this, subcommittee, which I'll say with Tim Thompson. I'm I found out that I'm voluntold to be on that subcommittee. I'm not even a member of the commission, so thanks a lot, guys.

Appreciate it.

Bye.

Any other comments? Did you have public comments?

Yep. You can read from it.

Okay. Please.

You're now taking public comment on agenda item two six dash zero four three five for the transportation committee. Individuals will have three minutes to address the decision. Public comment will be taken first from those first participating in the submission rooms and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating by Zoom, please make sure you unmute yourself and called upon, and please raise a hand. Please voluntarily state your need for the record.

Military families for veterans readiness for resources had a meeting on Thursday, the nineteenth at 04:00. And so we didn't want to put that on the agenda at that time to bring up what our issues have been trying to get drivers our our policy. They're not been blocked, so to speak.

Yeah. I mean, so

So, yeah, we'll address it on the nineteenth at 04:00, and we did nine 04:00 because of yeah. That'd be fine.

That's when you wake up.

Any public comment online? No additional public comment.

K. There there is no further discussion from the commission. Remember for this item? Make a motion that

oh,

you're working to come back. It won't alright. Oh my gosh.

Well, I guess, yeah, I would I

would like to make a motion that the Transportation Committee report back to the Veterans Affairs Commission on any obstacles or items they have found that has hindered their abilities to provide transportation to the veterans.

District 1, how do you vote? District 2, how do you vote? Aye. District 3, how you vote? Aye. District 4, how do you vote? Aye. And District 5, how you vote? Aye. Perfect. Motion passes.

Yeah. When you hear go to the order, they're like, sneak out. Alright. Moving on. Agenda item two six zero four three six, Veterans Affairs Committee to review the duties and reporting requirements of the legislative committee. Legislative committee seems to be chaired by Mr. Smith.

You want me to comment

on it?

Sure. So

I I Chair committee? Yeah. Sir?

This is what I think. I think that Jonathan

Oh, boy. Does a

great job with with disseminating the information coming from the state level regarding legislature and current bills, soon to be offered bills, projected bills, what the trends are going on in

the past less than we

have discussion. So, really, I still think that we need to have that as definable place on the subcommittee. But, really, it seems like we're getting most of our data on a regular basis that's coming through either CalVet or the other resources from the state level through the VSOs. Same way.

I agree.

So makes sense. What do you think? I mean, I'm not I'm

not giving you another bag

to handle. I'm just saying just in general I I get

the community and the CACBSO, and I get all my information from them. Right. So it's it's a good pipeline thing here.

I mean, that just it just seems

that that's where it's coming from, especially now back to each other. Yes. Yeah.

But I can we can talk about

agenda

item two six dash zero four three six, which is for the legislative committee. Individuals will have three minutes to address for commission. Public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating by Zoom, please make sure you unmute yourself and hold upon, and please raise an input. Please voluntarily state your name for the records. Any public comment?

All of you should sign up for Caldet emails and and the VA. Yeah. So So that's it.

I tell Caldet asked another one.

Yeah. No. It's just

you very much. Moving

on to the ex official report.

Did you not wanna make a motion? Yeah.

Actually, actually, I was gonna make a real quick motion. All was gonna say is that we leave the legislative committee as is with little caveat that the legislative committee will defer to the ex officio report.

Like that? Like that. Yep.

And you can you can also have it. I will assist. That's what I mean. Yes.

You're you're so over with your bar.

You That's

all we love. Delicious.

Anyway, I yeah. I do.

I make a motion that we keep the legislative committee in our reports, but defer to the ex officio report from

the BS. Yes. I second that motion.

You do a roll call?

Roll call vote, please. District 1, can I give a vote? Aye.

Four Aye. And District 5. No. Passes. Thank you. Thank you.

Moving on to the ex officio report.

Alright. Veterans service and updates. BSR, and myself, the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers' conference

at the February and evening. I was good at training, and he's got the lady of

the passenger SB694. Yes. Now it just needs to be enforced. One thing we can all help is be sure to educate others. If you hear about someone paying an individual or a company to apply for their VA benefits, let them know that it is illegal for someone who charge a veteran or their dependent for assistance in the VA claims process.

And anyone who does assist the VA assist somebody with their VA claims process must be accredited with. Mhmm. With the passing of s p six ninety four, it doesn't mean you get a break. Now we're joining the fight for SB 14 o seven. This bill will remove the tax liability for military retirement and survivors of benefits. And it it's gonna lower the taxes and try and feed veterans in our in our in our state. Other new facilities has started.

Yeah. Real quick on that tax bill that's the whatever. What that is for all California residents that are veterans? They're retired.

Okay. Not retired. Paid. Military retirement paid and then survivors been

Okay.

Other areas facilities has started construction on the office build out located in veteran services office. This began last Monday, and they expect to be finished construction by Friday, 03/20. Monthly contact report for February, we had 300 phone calls, 77 scheduled appointments, eighty six eighty six walk in business. Semiannual audit, we received the semiannual audit report from the January 26 audit. It showed that other than an occasional misdemonstrate, we have been doing a great job assisting veterans in our community.

South Lake Tahoe services, there's no change. Dish all the system in my home

until the weather weather will be agreed again.

Like now?

Yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah. But it can be

it can change. Sure. Sure. That concludes

my report.

Thank you.

Moving on to community reports.

DOT, you had there?

Met this morning at UNT, and our focus today was to talk about the new language that is in the contract with the overall community foundation, which we could possibly or may be able to provide some urgent funds on a onetime basis. We'll worry about the many kind of process that they already take care of for us. So we went through a lot of discussion about how that might look and what we may do. We are going to be meeting in April, a special meeting to go through a form that an individual or a nonprofit would have to complete to request those kind of funds and how that would look. We're hoping to bring that to the commission for approval, and then we will see about pushing that.

But right now, we are focusing on our TOT mini grants that are coming up. By the way, it'll open in March, and it's closed somewhere on May, on which time TOT will work through all of these. The ones that meet the criteria is through the. The TOT committee will meet then in May to go through them for the approval process and bring it to the VAC for their approval in June so that we comply with the federal government. Our fiscal year will be getting 2627 Mhmm.

In July. The good news is is the board did approve our onetime funding with discretionary funds of 175,000 for fiscal year 2526. Is what we're in. So of that money, we have approximately 90 some thousand that we've already committed to yearly grants and to staffing for the veterans resource. That leaves us with about approximately 58 or 56,000 that is starting to go into our mini grant fund.

Our balance with the foundation right now is in excess of $200,000, so we need to spend this money down. So So we are gonna focus really strongly on getting these mini grants out and trying to provide a way that we can also get urgent funds out to the community for veterans so that we can bring this balance down. Because if we don't, we are subject to the board saying, well, if you can't spend money, then we're not gonna give it to you. And we don't want that to happen. We want this moving because we feel that there's a need for veterans out there.

The different various veterans organizations. Yeah. So that's where we're at with TOT, so we'll have more for you in April and then again in May.

And the county's given us a huge opportunity.

They are. They are. And they can they can continue to give us. But we know that budget constraints are out there Yes. Not just county wise and state wise everywhere. So we need to be fiscally prude about not spending our money and getting where it's going to make sure that it's the best buck is going out for our veterans.

Rules?

No, sir. Thank you.

Housing. Nothing to report. Legislative, we eat that one today. Transportation. Do you report for transportation?

No. No report.

Budget?

Well, I kind of covered that with the TOT thing. Our budget, it did pass so that we do have a 175,000 in the way. So that's

pretty much.

Education unemployment.

Thank you. I was tasked to look into CalTAP, background transition assistance program, March webinar series, and it's been on through CalVet. And, Bob, basically, it assists California veterans with questions about benefits in regards to college tuition fee waivers, GI Bill benefits, education, entrepreneurship, and employment. Veterans can also check out videos, webinars put on for the state of California with experts to get your questions answered real time to help navigate through benefits that you have that are out there. The webinars themselves are free.

There's for this month in March, there's really a And the first one was March 5. It was for discharge upgrades. The second one was March 12 today for state employment. And the third one is up and coming, March 26. I'm just gonna go through this real quick.

California Veterans Entrepreneurs Workshop. You have a veteran owned business. Do you wanna learn about disabled veterans business enterprise opportunities in California? Please join the California transition and assistance program, analysts from the CalVet DBED unit as we discuss leadership, potential resources available to you, business, as well as discuss veteran benefits available for you, your family, and the state of California. This workshop is open to all established veterans owned businesses, veterans, service members, and their families.

Register today on Zoom. You'll be able to log in. There's also in person workshops, and I have some contact phone numbers and email, basically, just vet services at calvet dot c a dot g o b to be able to assist you also. And that's just quick and dirty. I just wanna do it real fast.

But, basically, Calvet is trying to remember the gentleman that came and talked to us last year from Calvet? He does a video at the starting of this presentation, and they're trying to reach out to veterans as much as they can to be able to give real time answers to their questions. I think it's amazing. I think, you know, we're just trying to put another tool in the toolbox of the vets that are out there that are trying to transition, and that's what we were talking about with

employment and and our to go forward with these type of programs. Yeah. Thanks. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thanks, sir. Thanks, Trevor.

I think it'd be kinda nice for you to get ahold of Outreach and somehow get this on our on your web page.

Yes. When Roger gets back, I'm gonna sit down with Roger, and we're going to look at our website, and I'm gonna learn the ins and outs of it and. We've got the and all of that. So, yes, that would be an excellent way to get that out there. It might be an excellent way for you guys to promote yours too. We're gonna have a a section there where you can post things that are upcoming for your organization and things like that. So Yeah.

Yeah. It'll be open to you guys. Yeah. All

you gotta do is just hit Pablo. And so, yes, I'm meeting the. When he returns. Yeah. But if you don't find out, there's a sin. Well,

if you need any further information, just email me. Sure.

I will. And I I did pull up the CalPAC. And that's why Yeah.

Yeah. I saved

all my notes. I got everything. So I Okay. Should should

be whatever it may be.

We're done together. Thanks a lot.

Do you have any public comments on We

are not taking public comment on the committee reports. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. The comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission room and then from those participating in Zoom. For those participating via Zoom, please make sure you limit yourself and call upon, and please raise the hand button to as well to really state your name in

the room.

Can you follow-up on the room? Okay. And then we can talk to one.

Hi, everyone. So this is actually not really part of public comment. But, Courtney, can I wanna go back to the legislative committee motion that was made? Can you please read that back to me? I wanna make sure it's in line with the language in the bylaws.

Okay. Okay. Let me see if I can pull it up in here. I know it was for to keep it on

Yeah. We were in in general, Tim, we were gonna keep it on. We're not gonna change make any changes to it, but that we would just defer to the VSOs official report since he is more in line with the legislative. And So,

yeah, that's that's that's what I'm questioning. Because the the bylaws state that the legislative committee is established to conduct reviews of state and federal policy mandates and to determine compliance in county policy, procedures, and programs affecting county veterans. The legislative committee will meet at the call of the committee chairperson. The committee vice chairperson will keep an informal record of the proceedings of the committee. The legislative committee report will report on appropriate activities at commission meetings.

So I think by by putting something into the record that you're deferring to the VSO is essentially changing the purpose of the committee without a formal change of the bylaws. I would I don't think that there needs to be any formal action to defer to the VSO if you're wanting the VSO, the ex official report to update you on policy mandates, state and federal policy mandates changes and things like that. But should the committee meet because, again, it's not a required regular meeting, like, for example, the TOT committee. Right? That's a more formal established committee meeting.

This one is the chairperson will call when there's a need, and then they will report out based on whatever that need was for them to meet, if that makes sense.

That makes sense.

Yeah. Thank

you, Tibilant.

Tibilant, do you want

me to make a motion to rescind that action?

I think we should.

Okay. May I make a motion that

we rescind the action that was brought forward on the legislative, committee report?

Go, please.

District 1, how do you vote? Aye. District 2, how do you vote? Aye. District 3, how do you vote? Aye. District 4, how do you vote? Aye. And District 5, how

do you vote?

Aye.

Okay. Motion passes to resend the previous motion.

Thank you, Timlin.

Thank you, Timlin.

Guys, thank you.

Keep all these gas on line.

Yeah. I've done that. Is

there any other public comment for committee reports? Okay.

Moving on. Communication reports. That's the Memorial Building. That's gonna fall on me. We had our meeting here on the first Thursday of the month.

Biggest issue two big issues came out. We were presented to the building manager the cost to replacing the chairs and the dining rooms since they are actually, they're they're starting to get moldy and trying to get dirty. So there's a bid. It's come out to approximately $3,000 to replace 100 chairs with a vinyl type of a chair. Question was raised. Is that used for TOT funding to cover that since it's a used by all well, health and safety, but all organizations as well. It's used by the BMWs, the American. It's used by everybody. The chairs would have two inch vinyl padding. But, also, for an initial $100, they would become a statue work.

That was that was one of the issues. Also, the it was a motion was made not to go forward with the $54,000 bar construction tab. That was the house counsel voted that down, and it said they're gonna look into possibly redo it before using that money that they have for. You have my those are kind of the big the big items. And then you have the big I guess I could save it for good of the order.

I'll save it for good of the orders. And that completes the house council report. American leading service officer, David Flinsky.

I'm sorry, guys. Sorry. Have to. There it is. Okay. So South Lake

Yeah. Anyway,

I reimbursed Commander Milbam. So the city of South Lake Tahoe Housing has been jumping on us on this matter. The South Lake Tahoe School District's have been jumping on us. Coalition for the homeless has been jumping on us. We've been working on a veteran.

I believe he has Lou Gehrig's disease and also his autist autistic almost 25 year old son who's still in the high school system, and they're trying to wrap their arms around that one. And so Tom was able to, even during the expensive time, let the snow just go down, find some motels for them and negotiate a veteran discount. And those $1.19 reimbursed $7.95 for that. I appreciate the agility of seven ninety five in doing getting it done. And then I participate in the collaborative of people who help homeless veterans throughout the county.

This includes the VA and the county and the volunteers of America, lot of people. And and I'm always checking the arrest records of this sheriff's record that our father got arrested, and it might have been child neglect and something like that. And so that blows that up. But today, he's not in custody. So who knows what happened? It was a very peculiar situation. We don't know what the facts are. We're still trying to I have someone over at the jail even now trying to figure it out. We'll see if we can do that. So a lot of things are keeping There's a marine who behavioral health that was jumping on us, getting help in a towel collision again.

Fortunately, he got arrested, but the bad news was they couldn't I wanted to take him to where we take people for detox and and rehab. Instead, they put him in some kind of restive thing, and he's drinking. He can drink all he wants. I was like, okay. Just shoot him while you're at it. So I I I I and about this just happened Tuesday. Can't remember. I, you know, I told Anne about a few things up in the divide. We've got an elderly more than an elderly household. We're trying to figure out how to get them out of there because they're not safe from that.

Also, I've been having a lot of adventures in the criminal justice system. Tomorrow, I'm gonna be an expert witness for a gentleman in custody. We're trying to get him into vet court. So deputy DA is new deputy has been assigned to the veteran criminal matters, and she's taking kind of a hard ass approach to it. And so we've got more challenges in that court and and things like that. I will be coming by to get some more papers. Yeah. So I'll I'll come back. So, yeah, also probation through some of that neighborhood, same problem. So I'll just go consolidate them.

These are combat veterans and criminal justice, and with the. So three one hour sessions with the fellow in custody. I always like my people. Always say if I can get along with murderers and sex offenders, I can get along with anybody. So, anyway, they're always lovely. Anyway, this isn't he's

not that good. These are Mhmm.

We'll let they're appropriate we'll look at appropriate things for veterans. So combat veterans, survivors rewards. By the guy who was carrying my back, am I sleeping? Why that guy drowned, and he never had to see his child. Why am I sleeping? That's why I'm sleeping. Moral injury. There was a child playing beside the building. So he was What does it lead to? Suicidal ideation.

It's a form of violence but it's self directed, but sometimes there's a lot of collateral collateral damage when you have all that self destructive behavior. It's part of why I'm often have people interested in suicidal ideation. And I anyway, been a little challenge with the jail. Not about me personally, but over someone else created a problem, but they had to use a general approach. Smoothie it all out to him. Smoothie it all out. And so Sunday afternoon, I went up to see

him because I was worried.

I actually cleaned up things enough from the suicide of my age, and we shared it with him. He he's a bible person, so he said, I we use Psalm 91 o. It's a good warrior song, and I'm now he said every evening before I go to bed. But I laid out something to him. This from the dude brought me. I set before you today a blessing and a curse, life and death. Therefore, life for the sake of your children and your children's children, and he has on his arm a tattoo of his daughter's name.

Cool. Thank

you, David. You, David. I got something to

add from South Lake Tahoe that I have

nothing more to add.

Hey. I'm sorry. EEC Veterans Alliance. I don't see them up there. Medicare Family Support Group.

Hello.

Hello. Hello.

I just got off this phone with another vet. So MFSG, we're meeting well, Mac said when we're meeting, so that's the nineteenth. And we're working on various and beautiful causes. We've got lots of deliveries and issues of mobility equipment. We just well, Seth knows we did this household retrieve project that was kinda cool.

And we'll let you know when it comes with the meeting.

Thank you, Tim.

I'll open it up to regional veterans events. Anybody have anything going on?

Real quick. The military family support did food distribution yesterday, and then we'll do

it again on the twenty sixth. So we do it the second and fourth Wednesday. What what time is it? Starts at eleven and goes to, like, one or two. Depending on the number of votes.

Good. Also, Christmas cheer up in Tahoe is trying to do like, do the food that is here. They're trying to deliver food to veterans' homes. They're running into logistic problems, but but just, you know, business chair is trying to deliver food bank type of.

Thank you.

We'll open up public comment.

We are now taking public comment on the communication reports. Individuals will have three minutes to address the commission. Public comment will be taken for each of those participating in the machine room and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating by Zoom, please make sure you wanna meet yourself when called upon, and please ring the bell button. Please voluntarily state your name for the record. Any public comment? Any public comment online? No public comment? Thank you.

Open up. Go to the order.

One thing. Yes, sir. I don't know how many of

you got the email from Rick Buchanan, but the the American flag that's flying at at the monument His own script in half. And I contacted John Palmer, really. He said that the alliance does not supervise that part. It's that the county does. Does anybody have we need to replace the flag. Do we contract at

the county? Do we need

to get a flag? We just need to have them hoisted.

It can replace themselves. Do we need

a It's almost ripped in half.

I did. So we need what? We need a Yeah.

Yeah. I think you need a I'd love that can take your contact and They can contact.

Okay. Thanks, Tim. Yep. So

you wanna announce it. Yeah.

I was I was gonna be I was

gonna that was the next time

to go to the order.

I'll go to the order. Post 10165 and Post 2680, the VFW are going to combine the into the same post. We're both doing good for the county, and it's just kinda silly that we're both paralleling to better jobs. So we have started the process. In fact, post twenty six eighty's meeting would be Friday where they'll place the vote. 10165 has already voted for it, and from there, it'll go forward to the district. And the district will come back and go through the process. We're hoping to have it done by June. Right? It's our goal. So June. 1165 and 2680. Two DFW.

Yes, sir. Oh, I'm the commander of one zero one six five. And so Yeah. I mean, I say that.

I did this past Tuesday, and we were unanimous as far as combining the two posts. Nobody even remembers why they who was mad at who all. It's a good time to do it. I'm the senior vice for the District District the state commander is from District 17. We are District 17. I'm the senior vice for District past commanders are the District 17. We are the big dogs in this yard. Yeah. The only one bigger than us is San Diego, but you got all of the military, navy and brave and all. But so we have a lot of clout.

And for the last nine years, the state convention has always been in SoCal. This June is gonna be up here, and it should be in Sacramento. So I've identified that all of the posts up here need to be there, because we can stagger that far. Why in LA is a lot different.

You know? And it's been

all all over down there. It's important that we go ahead and combine these two because, like I said, nobody knows why they split. I know when one up in Pollock Pines that have closed down, and that's when Camelorato came about. So it's it's time that we just see one post. We're taking the older number from the thirties, which only makes sense. We're both doing good things in the county. Most folks didn't even know where it was two, but we are. So we're gonna combine the two, Hopefully, I'll be at the meeting on Friday on Friday the thirteenth, and that that should be lucky, though. That should be lucky, though. Keep your fingers crossed. Alright. Thank you.

Thanks, Matt. And Seth and Matt, it's really important that 2016 puts in for the TLD funds because that's what's gonna be the. Yes. Right?

It's gonna stay that one?

Yeah. It's gonna be It's that's $2,600. Okay. Any other good of the order? No? Moving on to open forum.

We are now making public comment for open forum. Individuals will have agreements to address the commission. Public public comment will be taken first from those participating in the commission group and then from those participating through Zoom. For those participating by Zoom, please make sure you sure you and me yourself and follow-up on, and please raise the hand. Please voluntarily state your name for the record. Any follow-up comment? Any follow-up comment online? No follow-up comment.

Right. Thank you, everybody, for enduring the meeting. The next meeting will be April 9. Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. Thirteen thirty three.

We closed up the meeting. Next meeting

is April 9 at the

Thank you.

You Okay. Thirteen thirty hours. Thirty. We

did it. Let's know. We did it. Yeah.