Public commenter says electing applicant David Skilton could create hostile work environment for VSO

During the public-comment portion of the Chickasaw County Veterans’ Affairs Commission meeting on June 10, guest Andy Boehmer told commissioners he believed electing applicant David Skilton to the commission would create a hostile working environment for the county Veterans Service Officer.

"I believe that if David Skilton was elected to the Chickasaw County Veterans’ Affairs Commission, it would cause a hostile working environment for our current VSO due to situations that arose last year claiming that he would get the VSO fired and Commission fired," Boehmer said. He also said he was concerned that two of the references listed for applicants sit on the Chickasaw County Board of Supervisors and that raised a potential conflict of interest in vetting and voting on applicants.

The minutes record Boehmer’s statements during public comment but do not record any formal response from commission members or staff in the meeting transcript. The allegation about past statements and the question of conflict of interest were presented as a public concern; the minutes do not indicate follow-up or investigation steps.

The commission proceeded with its agenda items, including re-nominations and approval of claims, and adjourned at 7:01 p.m. The minutes do not show a direct rebuttal or corroboration of the claims made in public comment.