Veterans Treatment Court hailed as big success

Two of the workers in Hays County’s Veterans Treatment Court are slated to receive higher salaries than originally planned after the county commissioners OKed salary exceptions for the court program manager and coordinator.

“As you know, we’ve continued to make sure that we didn’t sit still where we were with Veterans Court but continued to make it better,” said County Court at Law No. 2 Judge David Glickler, speaking at the commissioners’ Tuesday meeting. Glickler’s term is up at the end of the year but he wanted to speak before the end of his term about the court’s successes and the grant money available to increase salaries for two highly qualified candidates for the veterans court. Glickler said that 67 veterans have graduated from the court, and three more are likely to graduate by the end of the year.

“The results are there,” Glickler said, adding that the Veterans Court is “the most rewarding thing I’ve gotten to do as judge.”

Glickler noted that the funds for the salaries are available through grant programs, not from county funds, and he feels that it is “right and good” to take the funds offered. 

The salary exceptions the commissioners approved were to increase the program manager’s salary from a minimum of $45,375.13 to $51,563, based on the candidate’s “vast and complete experience” with the Veterans Court and to increase the coordinator’s salary from a minimum of $34,091.28 to $35,459 based on the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

County Human Resources Director Shari Miller said that the individuals whose salaries will be increased are highly qualified.

“It’s not just ‘come to court once,’” in the Veterans Court, Miller said. “There’s multiple appearances before the judge. So keeping hold of those veterans, getting them the services they need in this community … that’s what these folks are doing. So based on their experience, the salary exceptions are not out of scope of what we would normally do.”

Glickler noted that these positions serve Hays County beyond the Veterans Treatment Court.

“They know about every single veteran that’s come into our justice system whether they’re coming into our court or not,” Glickler said, explaining that they help direct other veterans toward resources and assistance. “That’s what their dedication is.”