HomeMy WebLinkAboutU.W. Extension Committee - Minutes - 7/10/2019Bayfield County Extension Committee Minutes~7-10-19 Page 1 of 4
BAYFIELD COUNTY
Agriculture and Extension Education Committee Meeting
Wednesday, July 10, 2019– 4:00 PM
Human Services Conference Room A ~ Bayfield County Courthouse, Washburn,
Minutes
1. Call to Order
Fred Strand, Chair, called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m.
Committee members present: Jim Crandall, Jeff Silbert, Tom Snilsberg, and Fred Strand. Larry
Fickbohm arrived at 4:07 pm
Others present: Donna Ganson, Jason Fischbach, Theresa LaChappelle, Liz Lexau, Ian Meeker,
Mary Pardee, and Kellie Pederson.
2. Approval of Minutes of May 8, 2019 Meeting (action item)
Motion (Silbert, Snilsberg) to approve the minutes of May 8, 2019. Motion approved.
3. Public Comment
There were no public comments.
4. Out-of-State Overnight Travel Requests (action item)
Motion (Crandall, Silbert) to approve the Out-of-State-Overnight Travel Request of Kellie
Pederson for June 12-14, 2019. Motion approved.
5. Staffing Updates
a. UW-Madison Intern – Mary Beth Barker
Mary Beth Barker has started in her new part-time position as the UW-Madison intern.
Pederson has her doing research into dynamic clusters. To have her use this information
in a real-world application, Fischbach will have her work on laying the foundation for the
Forage Council including building a (Weebly) website. Barker is looking into giving a
presentation at County Board meeting in August. The UW-Madison. Intern Program has
been renewed by Madison for next year.
b. Summer Ag Assistant position update
Fischbach and Pardee have been working on getting the Summer Agriculture Position
filled. The job description has been approved, and an ad has been run.
6. 2019 UW-Extension Budget Update Report
The 2019 budget update report was included in the meeting packet.
7. 2020 Extension Contract Fees
Mary Pardee included the fee structure information for the educator’s pay structure in the
meeting packet. An increase of approximately $1,300 for 2020. The $10,000 State discount
is still being offered by the State and is included in the fee structure. Extension will be
including a 3% increase for each year starting in 2021 to 2023.
The Consensus of the Committee is to support the contractual fees provided by Mary Pardee for
the 2020 Budget.
8. 2020 Extension Budget Discussion
IT requests should be in by July 12th. Pardee & LaChappelle will be working on the 2020
budget numbers.
9. 2019 UW-Extension Budget Amendment
a. Superior Adventures revenue & expenses (action item)
Motion (Crandall, Fickbohm) to approve the resolution to go forth to the County Board. Motion
approved.
10. Superior Adventures program update
Ian Meeker handed out flyers as well as showing pictures and participation numbers from
the 2019 Summer Superior Adventures, as well as part numbers. Biking, canoeing, kayaking
and sailing have been offered. These programs will continue up until Fair-time in August.
Meeker has been working with a teacher (Mr. O’Neal) from Bayfield to get students
involved. The Apostle Island grant is specifically geared for participation by Bayfield and Red
Cliff students. Meeker will work with Bayfield School teachers on getting youth to sign up
setting up for a Fall Superior Adventures series.to
11. New Hazelnut Grant
Jason Fischbach spoke regarding two grants that he has been working on. One is a 3.5
Million Dollar Multi-State Federal Grant, which would be spent over four years and the
other is a 1.5 Million Dollar Grantham Foundation Grant
Discussion.
The Consensus of the Committee is that the Agriculture Educator staffing level should not be
changed and should stay at the current level.
12. 2018 Annual Report
A copy of the 2018 Annual Report was included in the electronic meeting packet. A hard
copy was also handed out at the meeting.
13. Staff Reports
Donna Ganson –
o Summer Camp went well. There were not any issues. Ashland and Bayfield Counties
had a very similar number of youths registered.
o Clothing & Foods revue was held.
o Working on putting together items for the County Fair.
o Working on the July 4-H Newsletter.
Liz Lexau –
o Served on the search and screen committee for Extension Financial Security
Manager, in the Human & Development Institute.
o Taught in a two-day Home buyer Education classes at Red Cliff.
o Taught individual financial coaching classes.
o Literacy Link Pilot program - Participated in Making Reading Memories jail classes
with inmates and Darryl Pendergrass, Washburn Library Director.
o Enhanced the visiting room in the jail.
o Hosted an all-day event with the Literacy Link Program Director and a group
of others participating in the Literacy Link program from other counties. The
day included a tour of the jail and working on a tool kit to share with other
counties in the future.
Ian Meeker –
o The Ashwabay Bike Club meets on Mondays. There are between 10-12 elementary
age youth and 3-4 adults involved.
o The Varsity & JV CANSKI teams will be taken over by the Washburn High School
(WHS). WHS will coop with the Ashland School District and other local school
districts to help with an equitable cost distribution.
o Camp counselors this year were a bit younger than in past years. Most were going
into the 10th grade. They did a good job! Summer camp was held at the Northwoods
Girl Scout camp, near Delta.
Kellie Pederson –
o The Clean Sweep Hazardous Waste pick up was a success. Approximately 14,000
pounds was picked up. It was a very busy day.
o The Housing Group is still meeting; mostly looking at senior housing issues.
o The Edible Ventures series had eight students complete the course.
o Transportation Summit: There is interest in continuing to have a Transportation
Council. The compilation of data is in the process of being sorted, compiled and
compared.
Mary Pardee –
o 2019 Extension Week is in the planning stages.
o Ashland County Administrator is leaving his position.
Jason Fischbach –
o Fischbach met with State Senator Janet Bewley, State Representative Beth Meyers,
and DATCP Secretary, Brad Pfaff and discussed local foods the “economic engine”.
There are plans to meet again in early fall.
o Vegetable trials are still taking place.
o Grass forage trials are also going on. These local trials will help to determine if these
grasses are better forage options to grow than corn.
o Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups have seen a downward trend in past
five years. Poor customer retention is one cause. On average about half the
customers leave each year. A local firm has been chosen to explore what customers,
producers, etc. are thinking and why they are leaving.
Theresa LaChappelle –
o Many questions from the County Fair office have been asked and answered.
o This is the first year that online camp registrations and payment option has been
offered. Almost half of the campers were registered through the online option.
14. Adjourn
The next meeting will be held on September 11th, at 4 pm in Conference Room A.
The meeting adjourned 5:43