Seneca County Veterans Service Commission (Tara S. Balliet, CVSO / Director)

Every Ohio county has a veterans service commission under Revised Code chapter 5901; see the Ohio entry for the statutory scheme and what the commission may do. The commission's own site opens with its history: "The Veterans Service Commission in Seneca County operates under the provisions of the Ohio Revised Code, Title 59 and has been in existence since 1886. The Commission oversees the operation of the Veterans Service Office, which is staffed at this time by four full time office employees, one full time driver, and three part time drivers." The board. "The Seneca County Veterans Service Commission is a five member board appointed under the provisions of Title 59 of the Ohio Revised Code. Each member is appointed by the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Seneca County for a term of five years. Each is appointed to represent a specific veterans organization - in our county, currently The American Legion, AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, and one at large member. Even though their appointment is from a specific organization, they represent all Seneca County Veterans and their families." The members: Arden L. "Skip" Craun, President (The American Legion; Army 1968-1971, Vietnam; since January 2010); Wynn Schubach, Vice-President (Veterans of Foreign Wars; Marines 1963-1967, Vietnam; appointed January 2016); David A. Young (Vietnam Veterans of America; Army 1967-1969, Vietnam; since 1993); Kenneth Stahl (AMVETS; Marines 1969-1976); Jody O'Millian, Secretary (retired Air Force, president of The Tiffin United Veterans Council). The staff. "Tara S. Balliet CVSO / Director - Tara Balliet has been filing claims for veterans since March 2004. She is a US Navy veteran, having served from 1992-1996." "Scott Mareches CVSO / Assistant Director - Scott has been serving Seneca County veterans since October 2013. He is a retired Airforce veteran who served from 1979 until 2005." Kenzie Mitchell, CVSO ([email protected]); "Mark Vittorio is an Army veteran and the Transportation Coordinator." Balliet's own account, from the county's profile of her twenty years: "I have the absolute best job in the world. Every day isn't easy, but every day is fulfilling because I get to help veterans. These people really paid a high price, and some still do." - and of the office's role: "I'm a county employee. I help veterans. That's what I do. I file claims and sort my way through veterans' problems." The leverage. At the Commissioners' October 3, 2024 meeting, "Balliet said the commission brings in $57 of Veterans Affairs (VA) money for every $1 of county money that is spent" (the county's post-meeting release; at the November 30, 2023 meeting the figures were over 700,000 dollars allotted and about 530,000 dollars spent, "For every $1 the county authorizes us to spend, we bring in $51 in VA money"). The office. 920 E. County Road 20, Tiffin, Ohio 44883; 419-447-2885, fax 419-448-5104; "Our office is normally open Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except for holidays. We recommend you call for an appointment." The commissioners' own warning: "The Seneca County Veterans office wants an opportunity to investigate the possibility of assisting you with VA claims filing for free before you pay an attorney or other claims representatives. The Service Officers are VA Accredited Representatives."