Stackhouse explores new home options for Holmes County VA office

Since coming into his official role as administrator for the Holmes County Veterans Office, Dan Stackhouse has become an instant favorite among veterans for his hardworking attitude and dedication to the veterans of Holmes County.

Recently, Stackhouse expressed his desire to continue to work for the veterans when he spoke to the Holmes County Commissioners about finding a new home for the office.

The purpose of the meeting came about when Stackhouse realized private conversations with veterans seeking services and sharing personal information could be heard not only in other offices in his department in the Clinton Building in Millersburg, but also through the walls at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, which resides next door in the building.

Stackhouse said he was in the early stages of checking out possible options for his office, considering the sensitive nature of the discussions that take place within the walls.

“Our office is just too small for everything, and there’s no privacy in that office,” Stackhouse said. “We deal with a lot of HIPAA and medical issues, and if you stand in one spot, you can hear conversations from all three offices and you can hear stuff from the BMV.”

Stackhouse said he has been exploring different options, one of them being the possible rental of offices at the Darb Snyder Senior Center on Glen Drive.

He said he has checked for other possible options within the county’s ownership, but nothing has come to fruition.

Commissioner Joe Miller said they haven’t heard any type of complaints from other departments in the Clinton Building, but Stackhouse said it has become an issue he is aware of.

Stackhouse said in seeking conversation with the senior center board, he has not committed to anything yet and was simply gathering as much information as possible before any decisions are made.

Miller said while he wouldn’t object to exploring a partnership with the senior center, he did have concerns there would be maintenance issues and Stackhouse’s office would have to pay rent there, something it isn’t doing in the county-owned Clinton Building.

Stackhouse said he is going to speak with Holmes County Prosecutor Matt Muzik about what would be involved with creating a long-lease plan in which his office couldn’t simply be sent packing after a short period of time.

He said one pitfall in moving would be he knows once they leave the Clinton Building, that space would be quickly taken up by another government entity, which would leave no opportunity to return.

Stackhouse said in working with his board, they also have expressed concerns over creating a legal precedent that would ensure longevity should they make the move.

Miller reminded Stackhouse the money the county is providing to the veterans office is dedicated to providing for the veterans, and he would be disappointed in seeing it committed to rent when it isn’t necessary to do so.

Stackhouse said any move is not imminent, and the plans wouldn’t see them taking any action for nine months to a year.

“If we did look at making the move to Darb Snyder, there is work that would have to be done to get us set up to what we need,” Stackhouse said.

The commissioners expressed concern because of the questions surrounding the future of the senior center as it currently is.

Stackhouse said the board continues to pursue all possibilities.

“We want to make sure it’s the best fit for us, best fit for the county and best fit for our veterans,” Stackhouse said, adding that while no veterans have complained about the current situation in the Clinton Building, it has become evident to him and others that sensitive information that is deemed to be private can be heard elsewhere.

Stackhouse said one other option they have explored is adding acoustic benefits to the office that would reduce how sound travels through the walls.

He said as they move forward, the board wants to be very transparent with the commissioners as they share information.

Miller did express his gratitude for everything Stackhouse and his office are doing for the county’s veterans, and the commissioners will work toward doing what is best for the veterans.