Goodhue County Veterans Service Office (Justin Kent, CVSO)

Every Minnesota county board appoints a county veterans service officer under Minnesota Statutes 197.60 (see the State entry on the county veterans service officers); Goodhue's office is a department of the county with its own section of the county site. The office, from that section: "Compensation and Disability Claims", "Death and Burial Benefits", "Employment and Small Business" - the three service lines the office lists - with the county's pages sending benefits questions to the office at 651-385-3256 or [email protected]. The State's veteran property-tax routes run through the office: the CVSO "certifies each July 1 the rating of every veteran holding the homestead market value exclusion" (273.13, subd. 34; the State entries carry the exclusion and the surviving-spouse exemption), and the county assessor takes the application. Where and who. Government Center, 509 W. 5th St., Lower Level, Red Wing, MN 55066; 651-385-3256; fax 651-267-4881 (the county's own footer; the MACVSO directory lists 651-385-4881); [email protected]; "Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but calling beforehand is recommended." The team: Justin Kent, Veterans Service Director (the CVSO), Marissa LaCourt, ACVSO - Veterans ([email protected], 651-385-3255), and Elizabeth Friis, Administrative Assistant. The find-a-CVSO directory lists Kent (CVSO, District #1, NACVSO-accredited, member since 2022) and LaCourt at the same address and phone. The appointment. The board appointed Kent on September 6, 2022: the assistant CVSO had been acting since July 27, 2022, and the September 6, 2022 minutes record the oath - "the Board Chair administered the Oath of Office to appoint Mr. Justin Kent as the Goodhue County Veteran's Service Officer for a four year term, with the first term being September 6, 2022 - September 6, 2026. Upon positive performance, Mr. Kent would be eligible for future re-appointments." No re-appointment item appears in the window's 2026 minutes read; ask the office or the board. The grants. Each year the MDVA offers every county a CVSO operational grant under 197.608 "to provide outreach to the county's veterans; to assist in the reintegration of combat veterans into society; to collaborate with other social service agencies, educational institutions, and other community organizations ... to reduce homelessness among veterans; and to enhance the operations of the county veterans service office"; the board must approve the agreement before MDVA processes it. Goodhue's packets carry the pattern - the FY2023 resolution adopted September 6, 2022 and the FY2024 resolution (Grant Award "$12,500", grant period July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) adopted with the June 20, 2023 consent agenda - in each case authorizing Kent to execute the contract (see the board entry).