Red Tape Delays VFW Mural, But Veterans Day Dedication Remains on Track

A mural dedicated to veterans in Lake Havasu City faces delays as county officials encounter challenges in securing federal coronavirus relief funds necessary for its completion. Back in May, the Mohave County Board of Supervisors approved a $55,000 funding proposal for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) organization.

The agreement, finalized on July 1, has since hit a bureaucratic wall, primarily due to complications related to the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act grant funding. Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney Ryan Esplin highlighted an ongoing issue with the VFW’s attempt to acquire a Unique Entity Identifier number, which is essential for registering and receiving government grants through Sam.gov, the federal System for Award Management.

According to Esplin, an unexpected limitation in the registry process has posed obstacles for the VFW Havasu location, as the site’s full name could not be accommodated. Additionally, federal officials indicated that changing the VFW’s business records to match the registration could potentially resolve the issue.

Rather than alter the organization’s name in various records, VFW Commander Omer Ethier proposed that the county treat the VFW as a “beneficiary,” which would exempt the nonprofit from the requirement to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier. This shift in designation aims to simplify the process moving forward.

The Mohave County Board of Supervisors is set to vote next week on this classification change. If approved, this would enable the VFW to access ARPA funding and continue work on the mural.

Ethier expressed optimism regarding the situation, noting, “We shouldn’t have any problems now. We have been moving right along and have installed the first batch of tiles for the mural. Yesterday, we got approval to have a dedication ceremony at the VFW on Veterans Day, after the parade.”

The decision regarding the VFW’s request will be made at the board’s next meeting scheduled for Monday in Kingman.