VSO Director shares data from the Veterans Affairs Office

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TN – At the July 6 informal County Commission meeting, Montgomery County Veterans Service Organization Director Andrew Kester presented his annual overview of the benefits and economic impact of military veterans in the community. The data he shared is from the latest information the Veterans Administration (VA) provided.

Montgomery County is in the top four percent of all military veteran populations in the U.S. and ranked 25 for their total known veteran population at slightly over 14%. Out of the 3,134 counties in the United States, Montgomery County ranks number 309 in the overall population and 127 in the total veteran population. 

“When you consider the number of military veterans in the community who may be voters along with the voters in their household, I believe they make up at least 25% of our community,” said Kester.

From an economic standpoint, in 2021, a total of $459,412,000 has come from veterans' disability benefits alone. Montgomery County leads in economic impact over every other county across the state.

“That is not seen directly in our office but in the community in economic impact dollars in education, entertainment, and housing,” said Kester.

The three main concerns identified to VA by the veteran community were healthcare, disability benefits, and transportation. The degree of concern varied with age and demographics. The MCVSO assists and directs those three areas but primarily helps veterans with disability benefits.

"We are fortunate to have a local VA Clinic for healthcare but, if our veterans need to visit the VA Medical Center in Nashville, we have a 501C3 non-profit veterans van service for transportation. We are one of the few VSOs in the state that offers rides. We also provide veterans van service with a computer and phone, which is part of a cross-collaborative effort of the non-profit and public sectors,” added Kester.

Between 2019 through 2021, MCVSO served more than 9,000 veterans each year with no significant difference in numbers through COVID-19. Eighty percent of the veterans they serve live in Montgomery County, 10% live outside Montgomery County, and 10% live out of state.

“We make the biggest impact at our VSO and have the largest staff because of the support we receive from County Commissioners, our VSO board, the Mayor and the community, allowing us to provide the best services for our veterans,” said Kester. 

To see the presentation, visit https://bit.ly/3OSot7z, and to find out more about MCVSO, visit https://mcgtn.org/vso. 

Montgomery County, TN — Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett has appointed Lee Harrell for the position of Montgomery County Government Chief of Staff. He will begin serving in the chief of staff position on June 22.

Harrell most recently served as Vice President of Advocacy for Tennesseans for Quality Early Education leading lobbying efforts, providing oversight and direction of contract lobbyists, and building coalitions.

Prior to his work with Tennesseans for Quality Early Education, Harrell worked as Vice President of State Policy for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce from Jan. 2016 through Dec. 2020. Before that, he served from Nov. 2009 through Nov. 2015 as the Director of Government Relations and Staff Attorney for the Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA).

Harrell holds a JD from Nashville School of Law and became a licensed attorney in 2007. He also earned his Bachelors of Arts in History from Tennessee Technological University in 2002.

"I look forward to serving as Chief of Staff for Montgomery County Government. I appreciate the opportunity to work with Mayor Durrett and the exceptional team of County employees. Montgomery County is home for me and my family. I have spent many years working in Nashville and I’m eager about not only living in my community but now working here as well,” said Harrell.

“Lee is bringing a wealth of unique and important experiences and perspectives to the Chief’s

position,” said Mayor Durrett. “I believe his background will prove to be a great benefit to our staff and the community as we continue to grow and work to meet the challenges ahead,” he added.

The County chief of staff is under the supervision and authority of the Mayor and is the executive assistant and liaison officer for the County. This position is responsible for spearheading key planning, administrative, and organizational development efforts and typically makes recommendations to the Mayor and Commission for action and represents the County’s interests with other levels and agency governments.

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Montgomery County, TN — The first Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) Promotion Ceremony of 2022 is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 24 at 2:30 p.m. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee is the keynote speaker for the event. The Phase V promotion ceremony will take place in the County Commission Chambers at the County Historic Courthouse at 1 Millennium Plaza, Clarksville, TN 37040.

 VTC Recovery Court is a unique program for military veterans and active duty service members that provides needed treatment and services under judicial supervision in order to restore veterans and soldiers to their honored status after they find themselves involved in the criminal justice system. VTC has multiple graduations every year signifying participants’ achievement of meeting all treatment goals and court-ordered requirements. The Phase V Ceremony confirms the participant is prepared to reenter their community in recovery and independent of legal involvement.

“We are honored and thrilled to have Governor Lee join us for this meaningful occasion. His involvement in the ceremony is something we had hoped would happen for quite some time. Not only will the Governor’s presence make the graduates and VTC staff feel special, but Governor Lee’s heart will be touched when he hears the testimonies of the participants,” stated Montgomery County General Sessions Judge Kenneth R. Goble, Jr. 

The ceremony is open to the public and there is a Webex option for those who cannot attend in person. To view the meeting online go to Webex.com, type in 2456 552 9432 as the access code, and qVpyCyUf583 for the password.

The Montgomery County Courts Center was assigned with a new name this morning to honor former Montgomery County Mayor Doug Weiland. The signage unveiling ceremony took place at 10 a.m. revealing the official name as Doug Weiland Courts Center.

Family, friends, former co-workers and associates gathered at the Third Street corner of the Courts Center nearest to the Historic Courthouse to share in the naming tribute of the former County Mayor.

"Mayor Weiland served as County Mayor for 10 years when tough decisions like the building of this Courts Center, had to be made. I believe it is important to show respect and honor to those who worked to build-up our community and we are here to do just that this morning,” stated Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett.

“I am honored to be here this morning. Often, these types of ceremonies take place after the person is no longer with us. I’m grateful to be here with my wife, Mary, family and friends to celebrate this moment,” said Weiland.

Weiland served as Mayor of Montgomery County from 1997 to 2006. During his tenure, he led the efforts to rebuild the Historic Courthouse as well as the construction of the Courts Center, located at 2 Millennium Plaza. Since the Courts Center was completed in 2002, two new courtrooms and supporting new offices have been added. There is space left for two additional courtrooms and offices.

“When we built the County Courts Center, we built it not for only for that present time but also with the future in mind, providing room for growth. I’m proud of that,” Weiland added.

A short video of Former Mayor Weiland and his wife Mary pulling the covering off the signage can be found at the Montgomery County, Tennessee Facebook page.