ESCANABA — A new Veterans Affairs Committee was appointed by the Delta County Board of Commissioners Tuesday, closing the chapter on a process that nearly left the county’s veterans without emergency assistance.

Last fall, a countywide millage was approved to create and fund the Delta County Department of Veterans Affairs and the Veterans Affairs Committee. This prompted the commission to dissolve the former Delta County Soldiers and Sailors Relief Committee, which reviewed claims from indigent veterans and their families under a different state law.

In February, the commission appointed a full slate of individuals to the new Veterans Affairs Committee. However, the commission learned in March that the appointments had not been properly made, as the county had failed to place a notice in the Daily Press and County Administrator Ashleigh Young had only verbally informed the Delta County Veterans Council about the openings on the committee instead of notifying all local veterans groups in writing.

At the March 4 meeting, the commissioners rescinded the appointments and began accepting applications from interested individuals for another 30 days, as is required for board and commission appointments in the county. Delta County Veterans Service Officer Dave Dziewior was given the ability to approve emergency funds for veterans in need up to $1,000 during the period, because there was no committee to review the cases of veterans seeking assistance.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the county board made a series of appointments that were nearly identical to the appointments made in February. The appointments are as follows:

— 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.

— Stacy Lake, 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 only change between the February appointments and the appointments made Tuesday was in District 3. In February, the seat was given to Carlton Isaacson.