ESCANABA — The Delta County Board of Commissioners this week took action to restructure veterans services in the county, but the process was quickly challenged by veterans who questioned why Veterans Service Officer Dave Dziewior was not immediately appointed to the newly-created director position for the veterans affairs department.

“He is the director. He’s been directing this VSO position for the past nine years by himself, and with the assistance and input from the Delta County Veterans Council and many other veterans organizations within the county, he has done a fantastic job. My question, why does he have to apply for his own job?” asked Steven Kwarciany, who was appointed to serve on the newly-created Veterans Affairs Committee shortly before his public comments.

The commissioners and Delta County Administrator Ashleigh Young pointed out during the meeting that the county has a set hiring process for positions in the county. Like all positions, the job will be posted until filled with no applications being reviewed until the job has been posted for at least two weeks.

“I just want to be sure that everyone knows we are an equal opportunity employer. We do have a process, we can’t just make an appointment, but I very much look forward to you know, hoping that this individual… is in this position. But I just want to make sure that you know we just cannot just appoint people to positions,” said Commissioner Christine Williams.

The creation of the new director position was part of a larger restructuring of the county’s veterans services following a millage to support those services that passed last fall. In addition to creating the new director position and approving a job description to be posted for the position, the county approved the creation of grant-funded veterans affairs clerk, and to restructure the veterans service officer position position currently held by Dziewior. Whoever holds the VSO position would be subordinate to the director — which contributed to the push for Dziewior to take on the director position rather than remain in his current role.

“To the extent that you can do it, I would really like to see his hire as director being expedited,” said veteran Richard Clark, of Escanaba.

In addition to Kwarciany, four other people were appointed to the Veterans Affairs Committee. The appointments and their term limits are:

— Benjamin Proehl, representing District 1, appointed by Board Chair John Malnar, term expiring Dec. 31, 2026.

— Gary Maynard, representing District 2, appointed by Commissioner Patrick Johnson, term expiring Dec. 31, 2026.

— Carlton Isaacson, representing District 3, appointed by Commissioner Christine Williams, term expiring Dec. 31, 2027.

— Kal Smyth, representing District 4, appointed by Commissioner Kelli van Ginhoven, term expiring Dec. 31, 2027.

— Steve Kwarciany, representing District 5, appointed by Commissioner Matt Jensen, term expiring Dec. 31, 2028.

The new committee replaces the former Soldiers and Sailors Relief committee. The county board voted to send thank-yous to all of the members of that board.