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FROM PAGE ONE
ISANTI-CHISAGO COUNTY STAR
MAY 11, 2017
countystar.com
RETIREMENT: Budde increased veterans’ payouts by millions of dollars, raised county ranking 83rd to 38th FROM PAGE I
for a combat unit,” he said. “We trained as an amphibious assault unit. They took us twice to the Caribbean, and we assaulted islands there. We had jungle training in Panama.” He was never chosen for active duty in Vietnam. Upon his discharge, Budde double-majored in psychology and sociology at St. Cloud State, hoping for a career in social work. He took a job as an Isanti County child support officer, which he held for 20 years until 1995 when he became supervisor in Chisago County’s Child Support Collections. He was in that role for 15 years. At the end of 2010 the county administrator told him the county board of commissioners had decided he should replace the retiring CVSO. “Rather than hire from the outside to replace the retiring veteran officer, they looked on the inside,” Budde said. “Who was a veteran? Who has human service experience? Customer service? They said I had it, so I had to get trained and start seeing veterans.”
NEVER ENOUGH TIME Budde’s duties changed greatly from child support services. “The learning curve was sharp and fast the first year,” he said. “You have to know financial matters, social work matters, disability, and you have to know the ins and outs of VA healthcare.” His office, which includes himself and case aide Wendy Kowalke, handles approximately 600 veteran visits per year, offering support in four main areas: compensation (assisting vets in filing claims for injury, accident or disease incurred in the line of duty); pensions (filing claims for monthly benefits to boost vets’ income to the poverty threshold); Veterans Administration (VA) healthcare (assisting with initial enrollment and ongoing care); and transit (facilitating bus/transit service to medical appointments at VA hospitals in Minneapolis and St. Cloud). “Through claims, applications and referrals,” Budde said, “we align the veteran’s needs to the programs and services that fit the need.”
LOTS OF CHANGES AND SUCCESSES Budde has seen many changes in the years he’s been in the office, including purchasing a software system in 2012 to track the 1,000 veterans now in its database.
“When I started doing veteran visits,” Budde said, “I filled out all forms with a pen.” Now claims can be filed quickly online. Software also helped clear out five large file cabinets of paper records that are now in electronic form. Budde’s position went from parttime to full-time, and Kowalke’s job was reclassified from administrative only to a case aide so she can interview vets in his absence. The biggest success the office has seen is the increase in dollars making their way to Chisago County veterans. In 2010, $5.4 million of medical services were dispensed to county vets through the VA, according to Budde. By 2015, the last year for which records are available, that number had increased to nearly $12 million, moving the county up from 86th place to 63rd among the 87 Minnesota counties. VA payments in compensation and pension dollars also skyrocketed during the same period. Payments to vets went from $8.8 million in 2010 to $15 million in 2015, moving the county up from 83rd place to 38th in the state. “That’s big,” Budde said. “That validates that what we did really did make a difference. This was our driving force – to make sure that every veteran got seen, got heard, got replied to. By putting our full resources to the veteran, we made significant numbers happen on their behalf.” WHAT COMES NEXT? Although Budde has seen success in his tenure, there are a few things he’d like to see happen under the new leadership, which is still in the interview process. He’d love to see a second CVSO hired. “When a vet has a good experience,” he said, “they will come back, and they will bring their friend, who is also a veteran. If the word is out that they’re getting help, then we get more phone calls, more emails, more visits.” The new CVSO will also need 40 to 80 hours of training and security clearance to access the federal database of the Veterans Administration, something Budde didn’t have time to pursue. There are a few things he plans to pursue after retirement in a few weeks, though, when he’ll be at home west of Cambridge with wife Janet, also retired. “There are a lot of things,” he said, “long walks with my wife, canoeing, fishing, cross country ski-
Isanti eyes land for possible hotel BY JENNIFER KOTILA NEWS@COUNTYSTAR.COM
Isanti Mayor George Wimmer has frequently mentioned three major projects the city has been focusing on accomplishing. The first two – opening a major grocery retailer and opening a clinic – have been checked off that list within the past year. That leaves only the third project left – the opening of a hotel. During the May 2 city council meeting, the council took the next step toward accomplishing that goal. The Isanti City Council approved a deposit of up to $2,500 of earnest or option money for the purchase of a site on which to build a hotel. The city has been in discussions with a development group for the hotel project, and parcels of land have been identified as potential sites. Since money for this project was not budgeted, money would be transferred from the general fund into the Economic Development Authority’s land acquisition fund for the purchase. SUBMITTED
Veteran Service Officer Al Budde served in the U.S. Marines from 1969-71.
ing, more fishing, snowmobiling, more cross country skiing, gardening, orcharding. And do not forget all of my wife’s plans for being present to seven grandchildren.” Budde added a few spiritual goals as well. “I’m going to say ‘yes’ to prayer,” Budde said, “and make more time for seeking God’s love in scripture. I have to do that absolutely on an everyday basis.” While he’s relaxing and getting the well-deserved rest of the retired, what can the rest of us do to help veterans? “It’s not cool to berate a veteran,” Budde said. “I have heard people say, ‘They’re taken care of enough already.’ I’ve heard people say, ‘It’s an entitlement, not something they’ve earned.’ We need to better understand that they put themselves out on the line. They could have lost life or limb during a period of war. Some did, many did not. But nonetheless, all of them were prepared to go on a moment’s notice to wherever they were called and to enter into the fight and to give it their all.” He has to pause again to keep the emotion at bay, then adds, “It’s not too much to ask that we show a little respect.” The public is invited to: Al Budde Retirement Party Monday, May 22 2-4 p.m. Chisago County Courthouse 313 N. Main, Room 131 Center City, MN
EVENT PERMIT FOR RUM RIVER RODS CAR SHOWS APPROVED The council approved a special event permit for the Rum River Rods to host classic car shows the second and fourth Wednesday evenings of the month June 14 through Aug. 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Isanti. A Summer Spectacular Car Show will take place Saturday, Aug. 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., which will include a vendor fair and swap meet. It will be held on the same day as the planned new community celebration and last street dance.
ODDS AND ENDS In other business, the council: • Approved a resolution authorizing Northland Landscape Nursery for city hall landscaping. • Approved a resolution to proceed with an application to CenterPoint Energy for the 50/50 safety emergency equipment grant. • Approved a resolution authorizing engineering services for 2017 storm pond maintenance work.
Braham seeks candidate The Braham City Council has a vacancy for a current term ending 12/31/2018. Persons interested in being appointed to this seat are asked to submit a letter of interest to the council explaining why they would like to be part of the council and any qualifications they would bring with them. At a minimum, candidates must be a qualified voter in the state of Minnesota, a U.S. citizen, at least 21 years of age on the date he or she
would take office, and a current resident of the city of Braham for at least 30 days. Letters of interest should be submitted to: City Council, Braham City Hall, PO Box 521, Braham, MN 55006. The deadline to submit letters of interest is Friday, June 2, at 4:30 p.m. The council will review the letters of interest at the June 6 council meeting at 7 p.m. at Braham City Hall. Call (320) 396-3383 with questions.
MEET YOUR REALTOR Reserve Your Space Now, Contact Jean Detlaff 763-689-1181 ext. 104 jdetlaff@countystar.com Realtor Photo
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Katherine Willmert, Realtor 202 S. Main St., Cambridge 763-689-3593 Cell 763-300-5387 katherine@Century21Moline.com I’m working hard so you don’t have to!
Jeremy Ellingson, Realtor Cell: 612-889-7162
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Wayne Traver, Realtor 612-670-3957 (cell) 763-767-9200 (office) 210 6th Ave NE, Isanti waynet@greatermidwestrealty.com Candi Rindahl, Realtor 6041 Main St., North Branch 651-317-2220 Cell 651-248-3261 CandiRindahl.com
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Cathy & Joe Carchedi, Realtor, CRS, GRI 651-248-6897 651-285-9558 Cathy@CathyCarchedi.com CathyCarchedi.com
Lee Olson, Realtor 268 S. Garfield St., Cambridge
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Pamela Watters Office 651-317-2218 Cell 651-248-6616 TeamWatters.com
Amy Grafenstein, Realtor 268 S. Garfield St., Cambridge
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