Columbiana County Veterans Service Commission

The county's commission. "In 1886, the Ohio State Legislature passed the Soldiers Relief Act establishing the Soldiers Relief Commission now called the Veterans Service Commission. Each of the eighty-eight counties in Ohio has a board of five or more (honorably discharged) veterans appointed to the commission who administer the program for their respective county. Operating expenses and benefits are provided through county tax payer dollars. Board members and Service Officers are trained by the Department of Veterans Affairs and accredited through the Ohio Department of Veterans Services (ODVS)." The commissioners: Thomas J. Scahill (Vietnam Veterans of America), G. Roger Bacon (VFW), Rodney A. Hughes (AMVETS), Donald E. Butream (American Legion) and David A. Oesch (DAV). Claims. "We help veterans, survivors and dependents prepare claim forms and gather evidence for: Disability Compensation, Veterans or Survivors Pension, Death and Burial Benefits, Government Headstones and Markers, Education Benefits, VA Home Loan Guaranty, Applications for VA Medical Treatment, the Ohio Veterans Homes, and much more." Temporary financial assistance. "The Veterans Service Commission provides temporary financial assistance to needy Veterans or their survivors. The financial assistance program offers a short-term safety net for a veteran with no other resources who is seeking VA monetary benefits and/or pursuing gainful employment. To be eligible for financial assistance, a definite financial need must be verified." Transportation. "We provide transportation to and from medical appointments at the Cleveland VA Medical Center Monday thru Friday and the Youngstown VA Clinic on Wednesdays only. Eligible veterans must schedule with the VSC in advance to secure transportation from pickup points in Calcutta, East Liverpool, Lisbon, & Salem. Wade Park appointments must fall between 8am - 12:30pm. Call (330) 424 7214 to make a reservation." Where and who. 7989 Dickey Drive, Suite 1, Lisbon, OH 44432 (at the corner of Saltwell Road and Route 45 in the County Government Services building); Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; 330-424-7214. Staff: Executive Director Debra Smith CVSO, Senior Service Officer Kevan Wain CVSO, Lead Senior Service Officer Joseph Cattell CVSO, Service Officer Lance Ritchie CVSO, Benefits Support Specialist Teresa Burton, Accounts Payable Clerk Lisa Fix, Intake Clerk Deborah Kanos. The ID card. "To receive a Veterans ID Card, you must be an eligible veteran by the State of Ohio and have your discharge recorded at the Columbiana County Recorders Office. The ID Card may be useful to prove eligibility for a number of services and benefits including: identification, employment applications, student loans, home loans, or discounts at participating retail establishments & restaurants. The cards are valid for 10 years." The Recorder (James Armeni Sr., 330-424-9517) keeps "military discharge paperwork" among its records. The county's own money. The commissioners' bill lists journalize the VSC's cash grants monthly, and the July 8, 2026 minutes record the VSC's 2027 tax-budget request: "Executive Director, Ms. Debra Smith, presented a budget brief and the impact of inflation on key expense categories: training and transportation costs; financial assistance programs and overall budget implications. They are asking for their full budget of $1,463,500 to operate in 2027."