Harris Eyes New Veterans Service Office

Putnam County officials have begun discussions on the possibility of building a new veterans service office.

Veterans Service Officer Mark Harris said he’s hoping to get the building on the county’s five year budget plan. He said the current facility on East Spring Street is old and requires a lot of upkeep.

“We’ve got two leaders that are very supportive of doing something to help veterans,” Harris said. “We really do need a location so I wanted to at least put it on a budget and start focusing on what the next step is.”

Harris said he’s asked the veterans service organizations to start identifying what would be needed in a new building.

“At least when we start going to planning stages or going after bids in contractual designs we would have an idea of what we would need as far as a veterans service office,” Harris said.

Harris said he’s also discussed a building that would combine the veterans service office and the county archives building. Having a memorial gardens at the future facility would also be something he would like to see.

“It may not be in my time as a sitting service officer, but just to have something started and making progress towards something like that would be a wonderful thing,” Harris said.

Land for a future facility has not been identified and the project would need to be approved by county commissioners and other government entities.