HomeMy WebLinkAboutU.W. Extension Committee - Minutes - 7/19/2017Bayfield County UW-Extension July 19, 2017 Minutes Page 1 of 3
BAYFIELD COUNTY
AGRICULTURE AND EXTENSION EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Human Services Conference Room A, 2:30 pm
Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn, WI
Minutes
1. Call to Order
Chair Fred Strand called the meeting to order at 2:30 pm.
Members present: Fred Strand, Jim Crandall and Jeff Silbert.
Members absent: Larry Fickbohm and Brian Goodwin.
Special guests present: Mary Pardee, UW Cooperative Extension Area 1
Extension Director and Gina Monroe, FoodWIse District Coordinator.
Also present: Matt Cogger, Jason Fischbach, Donna Ganson, Tim Kane,
Theresa LaChappelle and Liz Lexau.
2. Approval of Minutes of June 20, 2017 Meeting
Motion (Silbert, Crandall) to approve the minutes of June 20, 2017
as presented. Motion Carried.
3. Public Comment
There were no public comments.
4. Out-of-State Overnight Travel Requests
There were no overnight travel requests.
5. 2017 UW-Extension Budget Update Report
The budget update was included in the committee members’ packets.
Kane provided comments on the budget numbers.
6. Coop Extension Reorganization Update & Discussion – Mary Pardee,
Area Extension Director for Area 1
Mary Pardee discussed the reorganization updates. She explained that
her role is to learn about the issues and needs in the four counties and to
work with partners to meet these needs. Mary will not be living in the
area for a few years. However, she will be driving up to the area
frequently and plans on being very accessible.
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Mary explained that she had participated in a conference call with Northern
Zone Dean Dave Berard, NW Region Director Julie Keown-Bomar and
Tim Kane to review the new flat rate fee structure for funding county-
based Extension educators beginning in 2018. Tim Kane referred to and
reviewed the new flat rate fees funding schedule for the Bayfield County
UW-Extension Office based on the current staff, which was included in the
Committee Members’ packets. In addition to the new flat rate fees for the
different educator positions, a new $500 professional development fee
was also added for each separate position.
The Committee reiterated their stance of wanting to keep the current
positions and staffing. Mary noted that some position descriptions may
change for some people. If the position descriptions change dramatically,
then staff will need to reapply, but internal searches would be done first.
State specialist positions were also discussed. These positions will be
entirely funded by the State and located in various areas throughout the
State. These persons should be able to assist with more local programming
and be more accessible to the needs of the local offices and communities.
Feedback on what type of area specialists are wanted/needed is desired.
The Committee members should start to think about this and let Tim or
Mary know what their preferences are for area specialists.
Consensus of the Committee is to advance to the County with the
projected budget which keeps the staff at the current percentages
and with the current personnel.
7. Issues and Program Ideas Discussion
Tim Kane noted that at this year’s Northwest Wisconsin Lakes Conference
there were over 200 in attendance. He will be attending a follow-up post
conference review meeting on July 24, 2017. Tim discussed the
upcoming and recently held Business On Stage programs. He will be
assisting at an upcoming US Forest Service & Enbridge Pipeline
Informational Open House on July 27, 2017 at the NGLVC. Tim reported
on the hazardous waste collections held in Bayfield County. There were
262 people, which is up from last year. In addition to the chemicals and
electronics collected, 13 pounds of controlled substances/narcotics were
collected along with the other medications that were brought in. Tim will
submit a summary when it is completed.
Donna Ganson reported that 4-H Summer Camp with the Theme of Space
Camp was just completed. Interestingly to note that this year there were
more boys than girls and more Bayfield County youth (31) than Ashland
County youth (18). There were 15 counsellors and 61 campers in total.
Camp is a great leadership opportunity for the older youth.
Donna also reported that all the FoodWIse educators are learning the new
data entry program. Also, Gina Monroe has started in her position as
FoodWIse Coordinator.
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New FoodWIse Coordinator Gina Monroe stated that she is working on the
education planning for the year. She has met with Bayfield County,
Ashland County and Iron County FoodWIse Educators. She noted that
the FoodWIse food nutrition program is funded through a Federal Grant,
which is run through the USDA Farm Bill. There is one year left in the
funding cycle before the Farm Bill goes before Congress for funding again.
Liz Lexau has been in the Bayfield County Jail teaching twice a week.
She has about ten people sign up for each class (the maximum class size
is ten), and on average eight people attend each class. Some of the jail
classes topics include co-parenting and stress management. Liz and the
Ashland County Family Living Educator will be co-presenting a class on
Financial Management Training Coaching and a two-day Rent Smart
workshop.
Matt Cogger is currently preparing to hold a two-day Tractor Maintenance
class. Tractor Safety may be held every other year. He has also been
continuing his visits to the local orchards to discuss concerns (pests and
fungi and spotted wing drosophila) with the orchard growers.
Jason Fischbach has been assisting an Ashland County Committee with
working through the CAFO process in the County. Ashland County would
like to have an Operations Ordinance passed by September. There is the
possibility of two farms being over the 1,000-animal unit number next year
in the County. Ariadna Chediak has been working as the Hazelnut
Technician. When State monies are available, she will also be translating
the High Tunnel Winter Greens (Spinach) bulletin into Spanish.
8. Next Meeting Date and Time
The next meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, September 20th at
2:30 pm in Human Services Conference Room A.
9. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 4:07 pm.
Minutes submitted by:
Theresa LaChappelle, Office Manager
Bayfield County UW-Extension