New Putnam Veterans Building Will Greatly Improve Day-To-Day Operations

Putnam County’s Veterans Service Officer said a new Putnam County Veterans building should be a positive for the veterans it will serve.

Some local vets disagree.

The county has started the process of replacing the facility at 90 Spring Street with a new building at the site of the former Doll House museum. Several veterans told county commissioners this week the veterans service office should not be moved the 2.9 miles down Spring Street because veterans would be confused. Representatives said money should be put in to renovating the current facility.

Veterans Service Officer Mark Harris said the current building offers no privacy for clients, which can even result in HIPPA violations in some cases.

“Right now where we’re at, even though we have a door between my office and my counterpart’s office, I can still hear them talk and they can hear me talk,” Harris said. “Or if we’re on the telephone, and unfortunately too if somebody is in the hall.”

Harris said that the office has been incredibly busy recently, and a new facility will better the traffic flow and the service of clients. He said that there will be three additional offices and separation of the waiting area.

Putnam County Mayor Randy Porter said the new facility would be nearly double the size of the current facility.

Harris said that once the office is closer to completion they’ll have signage up alerting clients of the move. He said that they do not have a current estimate for open.