An internal investigation looking into complaints against the Duluth County Veterans Services office has been completed and sent to the county administrator for review.
The News Tribune reported on May 20 that St. Louis County has been investigating the office after veterans complained about the service and treatment they had received there. The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs said that it has received complaints for several years by veterans who said they were treated poorly.
County Veterans Services officers are employed by individual counties throughout the country to help veterans and their families obtain federal and state benefits due to them for their military service. St. Louis County has six officers working at four branches across the county, operating at a 2007 budget of $627,118, which is paid for by county property taxes.
Many veterans in the community have said that they prefer to go to other county services offices, such as those in Lake and Carlton counties.
County Administrator Dana Frey said Monday that he had not read the report, but was hoping to do so soon and then meet with CVSO director Rick Blakesley later in the week.
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"I hope to have a resolution on this soon," Frey said. "I can't get more specific than that."
Deputy county administrator Gary Eckenberg said that, under the law, the contents of the investigation are private. If, however, any disciplinary actions are taken against employees of the office, he said that would be madepublic.
