Stephens Co. Commission Issues Letter of Support for Veterans Office

The Stephens County Commission weighs in on the temporary closure of the Toccoa Department of Veterans’ Services office.

County commissioners sent a letter to the department expressing the full support of the board for the Toccoa office.

Last month, state officials said that the Toccoa office of the Georgia Department of Veterans Services closed in what they called a temporary measure due to budget constraints.

Georgia Department of Veterans Services officials said a tight budget forced offices that are open on a part-time basis, like Toccoa, to close through the rest of the fiscal year.

The Toccoa Veterans Services office in is traditionally open two days a week, while the other three days the office is based out of Clarkesville.

According to state officials, the Toccoa office would return to its normal operations on July 1 when the new fiscal year starts.

The county commission said it is an honor to offer an office location to the Georgia Department of Veterans Services to help the needs of the veterans, their dependents, and widows in the community and surrounding counties.

Also, the letter urged the state department to reconsider the Toccoa location to be a main office if the state decides to merge Veterans Services offices and continue to keep this office open and available to serve veterans.

Stephens County Commissioners joined Toccoa City Commissioners in sending a letter supporting the Toccoa office.

City commissioners sent their letter of support earlier this month.

Until the Toccoa office re-opens in July, the Clarkesville Veterans Services office at 6257 Georgia Highway 115 is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the phone number is 706-754-4316.