HomeMy WebLinkAboutU.W. Extension Committee - Minutes - 8/9/2023UW-Extension Bayfield County Minutes 08-09-23 Page 1 of 2
BAYFIELD COUNTY
Agriculture and Extension Education Committee Meeting
Wednesday, August 9, 2023 – 3:00 PM
In-Person at the County Board Room in the Courthouse Annex
And Remotely via Microsoft Teams meeting
Minutes
1. Call to Order
Chair, Jeff Silbert called the meeting to order at 3:10 pm
Committee members present: Jeff, Silbert, Fred Strand and Larry Fickbohm via Teams
Others present: Mary Pardee, Stephanie Bakker, Kellie Peterson, Heidi Ungrodt and Kelly
Westlund (3:35) Mark Abeles-Allison, and via teams Jason Fischbach and Kaylie Lukas.
2. Approval of Minutes of May 10, 2023 Meeting (action item)
(Strand, Fickbohm) Motion to approve the minutes of May 10, 2023. Motion Carried.
3. Public Comment
a. Mark Abeles-Allison spoke reminding everyone that the Bayfield County Fair starts
tomorrow, and that there are many openings for ticket takers at the booths. He shared
the schedule and asked those who were willing to sign up.
4. 2023 UW-Extension Budget Update Report
The current 2023 budget is in the packets. Pardee noted that the part-time wages were going
unused this year as Kaylie is no longer working as office support staff. And also, that the temporary
employee wages were being under-utilized this year as staffing for the Superior Adventures
position was not filled at the level requested.
5. Out-Of-State Travel Requests (action item)
Kelly Westlund has two out-of-state travel requests for housing conferences. One request is for
the Housing Assistance Council’s National Rural Housing Conference in Washington, DC and the
other is for the Rural LISC Seminar in Coachella Valley, CA. There is expected to be some funding
from sources other than Bayfield County. Discussion.
(Strand, Fickbohm) Motion to approve both Out-of-State travel requests Kelly Westlund.
Motion Carried.
6. 2024 UW-Extension Budget Discussion (action item)
Pardee explained that the 2024 (100) budget is increased by$10,400 over the 2023 budget.
These Increases are mainly due to wages, benefits, committee per diems, and housing educator
(CD) increases.
(Strand, Fickbohm) Motion to approve and recommend the budget to the County Board.
Discussion on Capital Improvements. Motion Carried.
7. Youth Forward Wisconsin presentation (action item)
Heidi Ungrodt, Family Relationships Educator gave a Power Point presentation on the Youth
Forward Wisconsin program. The Youth Forward Wisconsin program (supported by UW-
UW-Extension Bayfield County Minutes 08-09-23 Page 2 of 2
Madison Division of Extension and local Extension educators) gives communities the tools to
understand and implement a universal child savings account program for secondary education
savings accounts. Many low-income families do not foresee college in their children’s futures.
Universal youth college savings accounts also make a difference in the child’s own expectations
on going on to secondary education.
Discussion. Ungrodt noted that a statewide webinar, “Youth Forward WI Partner Meeting” will be
held next week. An email with a copy of the Power Point presentation, Fact Sheet and the
webinar connection information will be sent out to committee members.
8. Area Extension Director Update
a. Staffing
i. Mid-Year Reviews - Pardee has been completing the mid-year reviews for staff
in all four counties.
1. If at any time, any of the committee members have any feedback on the
programming being done, please let Pardee know.
ii. Interviews – Iron County has been holding interviews for their Community
Development position and will also be doing the same for their part-time
Horticulture Educator.
b. 2024 Northern Area Conference - May 7, 2024 is the date for the 2024 Northwoods
Area Conference.
c. Staff reports – Reports are in the packets.
9. Next Meeting Dates
a. Discussion on the date, time & location for the next meeting.
i. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at 3 pm, in the EOC.
10. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 3:53 pm