Lawton City Council wants coordinated effort to tackle veterans issues

Lawton has a large veteran population and City of Lawton officials said it’s time to put a stronger emphasis on it.

City Council members agree, directing city staff this week to draft the ordinance that will set the tasks and membership for a Veterans Affairs Committee.

City Manager John Ratliff said Lawton needs a comprehensive assessment of the needs of veterans, through a committee that will combine what already exists with what needs to be done. While some issues are addressed by existing agencies and organizations, Ratliff and others say it is time for a united front when it comes to serving a large segment the population in a community whose links to the Army date back more than 100 years.

Not only is Lawton home to Fort Sill, Comanche County has the highest per capita population of veterans in the state. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a count taken between 2018 and 2022 set the number of veterans in Comanche County at 14,388. Erica Traxler, commander for the Oklahoma Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of Lawton’s VFW Post 5263, said that number is notable, adding Oklahoma as a whole has an estimated 330,000 veterans.

That population has unique needs, Traxler and Ratliff said, with Ratliff noting the proposed committee would be “a good body to be a resource.”

Traxler said the committee could function as a bridge between the VA Council (an umbrella entity for 18 organizations) and the veteran community. She said there is a gap between events and activities keyed toward veterans, and the veterans themselves.

“We could address veteran concerns on a larger scale than what already is happening. We’re missing quite a few (veterans),” she said. “There is a huge gap in how we’re communicating with our community.”

Traxler said while there are groups in Lawton-Fort Sill focused on veterans, there are many people who don’t know about them. She said such services are not just focused on veterans. There also is room to help the families of veterans, to include things such as ensuring the children of veterans know about scholarship programs. Traxler said other gaps that need to be addressed includes information on disabilities, property taxes, driver licenses and reduced car tags fees.

Ward 2 Councilman Kelly Harris said the committee’s membership also must include someone who can talk about homeless veterans, an issue of crucial importance.

“We want your input there,” he told Traxler.

Experts say there is an array of services and programs keyed toward veterans in Oklahoma, with issues as diverse as employment, tuition assistance, property tax exemptions for 100 percent disabled veterans and their spouses, and reduced fees for hunting and fishing permits. And activities already are coordinated by groups such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion, while a new Veterans Resources Center in downtown Lawton is working to tackle veteran homelessness while providing services those veterans need.

But, city officials said it’s time for a coordinated approach. Ratliff outlined five broad areas that the new committee would handle:

•Needs assessment: A comprehensive assessment of needs and challenges for veterans and their families.

•Resource coordination: Enhance collaborations among existing organizations, agencies and non-profits to ensure efficient and effective delivery of services.

•Advocacy and outreach: Advocating for the rights and well-being of veterans at local and state levels, to include developing outreach programs.

•Policy: Research and propose policies to address gaps in services, employment opportunities, health care and housing.

•Community engagement: Organize events and initiatives to raise awareness of veterans’ issues.