Improvements made, but more needs to happen

Members of The Star News editorial board include Publisher Carol O’Leary, General Manager Kris O’Leary and News Editor Brian Wilson.

Here we go again.

A year ago, an explosive Veterans Service Committee meeting made public festering dysfunction in the courthouse in regard to day-to-day county administrative leadership.

It would be easy to assume that last week’s bombshell resignation announcement by Veterans Service Officer Daniel Judnic was just more of the same. There are plenty of people who have been quick to blame the proverbial “Good Old Boys” on the county board pushing out another good person who wouldn’t toe the line.

However, doing so is neither entirely accurate nor is it fair to those who have been working hard to bring about real change in how the county functions and to be more inclusive with those impacted by county decisions.

The committee that met last week and heard the litany of grievances detailed by Judnic regarding his office and its staff, is fundamentally different than a year ago. Faced with concern that the previous committee had lost control, county board chairman Jim Metz appointed new members. It was then expanded to specifically include members of the veterans’ community. The current committee represents a model of diversity as far as age ranges, gender and the balance between elected and community membership.

This does not absolve committee members or the county as a whole from any of the very real and legitimate issues that Judnic cited while making his announcement. What it does mean is that the underlying issues involved are far less black and white, and “us versus them,” than it appears at first glance.

The Achilles heel of Taylor County’s committee-based administrative governance has always been the relationship between the oversight committees and the department heads. For decades, there have been understood lines between oversight and micromanagement. There existed an uneasy balance. An ongoing generational change in department leadership and on the board has thrown that balance out the window. Department heads object to having their elbows jostled by elected officials and are quick to view every action and comment of committee members in light of a perceived confrontation. For their part committee members and chairs react defensively, misinterpreting push back for insubordination.

Compounding this has been the continued mobilization of the veterans’ community. Veterans should be commended for keeping a careful watch on the actions of the county board and for being strong advocates for the good work being done by county personnel on behalf of all veterans.

In the past year, the unwavering support of the veterans’ community has been wielded like a club to attempt to beat the county into submission despite the underlying issues, at times, being internal, relating to uniform enforcement of county personnel policies and the very real fiscal restraints the county faces.

Into this Daniel Judnic was hired to be the CVSO. In an ideal world, benefit specialist Nikki Sherman, who has received nothing but praise from all who have worked with her, would have been promoted into that position. However, Sherman is not a veteran and is therefore, by state law, not eligible to hold the position.

It was pointed out that Sherman’s input was not sought by the committee when hiring Judnic. Going forward, the county should tap into her knowledge and get input. Interviewing and hiring someone to manage the department is the job of the committee. It would be highly unusual to have someone hire their own boss.

As any past or current CVSO will attest, there is a steep learning curve in the position, with the training coming only after being hired. Judnic is too hard on himself. There is little doubt that given time to absorb the training and learn the processes, he would have excelled in the position. It is unfortunate that he has chosen a different option.

Going forward, county leadership must continue to address the issues raised. While it may, at times, appear otherwise, the county has made great strides in the past 12 months.

Institutional change is not like flipping a light switch, but rather takes time and work. As evidenced by Judnic’s comments and his decision to resign, it is obvious more change needs to happen.

Regardless, all involved must heed Judnic’s words that there should not be sides when it comes to ensuring the needs of the public are being met. The county should strive to find the best person to make that happen.