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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 12-04-07 _ NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA ST. CROIX COUNTY AGRICULTURE & EXTENSION COMMITTEE December 4, 2007 9:00 a.m. Agricultural Service and Education Center 1960 a Ave., Baldwin, WI CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING DATE OF NEXT MEETING — Wednesday, January 2, 2008 APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT: • Federal Budget • State Budget Report • County Budget Report — 2007 budget — end of year report • WACEC • Personnel • Strategic Planning - Committee Input • Other Administrative Items OLD AND NEW BUSINESS: AGENT'S REPORTS: Resource Agent • Pete Kling Ag Agent • No report Family Living • Drug Court • New Direction of Meth Committee 4 -H Youth Development • Authorization for Po- Croix -Dun 4 -11 Camp Association Checking Account • Update on educational programs Horticulture Agent • Ruth Hilfiker ADJOURN SUBMITTED BY: Kimberly Reaman DATE: November 26, 2007 Copies to: COUNTY BOARD OFFICE NEWS MEDIA/NOTICE BOARD COUNTY CLERK COMMITTEE MEMBERS Items for County Board approval must be submitted to the County Clerk's office by Wednesday morning preceding a County Board meeting. 11/26/2007 2:40 PM Agriculture and Extension Committee - December 4, 2007 Pagel of 4 MINUTE'S AGRICULTURE AND EXTENSION C01IMITTEF, DF,CEl1BF.R 4. Woo; Present: Ronald Raymond, Lois Burri, Bill Peavey, Gene Ruetz, Sharon Norton - Bauman, Pete Kling, Kimberly Reaman, Joan Sprain, Ruth Hilfiker, and Mary Lestrud. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ron Raymond. Date of next meeting was set for January 3, 2oo8. Norton- Bauman moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. Burri seconded the motion. Motion carried. Ruetz moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Norton- Bauman seconded the motion. Motion carried. Peavey moved that the vouchers be approved. Ruetz seconded the motion. Motion carried. Administrative Report Personnel: Announcement of the new UW- Extension Western District Director, Deb Jones. Raymond moved to grant authorization to Kim Reaman to sign checks for the Po- Croix -Dun 4 -H Camp Association checking account. Burri seconded the motion. Motion carried. Strategic Planning: Staff updated Committee members on Strategic Planning initiative. Committee members were asked to participate in the Strategic Planning process by completing a questionnaire (the same questionnaire was used with other county local elected officials and department heads). Below is a list of issues the Committee members generated during the exercise. i. Community - Budgets — government can spend us out of existence. - County real estate taxes and land use issues Nursing home resolution Transportation issues Public protection. 2. Comprehensive Planning - Open communication between County and all municipalities (cities, towns, villages) How does County help in the governance of these? - Planning - Transportation - Taxes - Population growth resulting - Schools, water, sanitation (sewage, garbage) - Building development relating to transportation infrastructure 3. Agriculture Maintain viable farming community i.e. income, market access. - Animal waste disposal as pertains to odors affecting residential area - Environment (manure, fertilizer) Price of commodities Land use http: // 172.17.128.87 /Committee/Minutes /2007 /AgExt/agext l2O4O7.htm 2/11/2011 Agriculture and Extension Committee - December 4, 2007 Page 2 of 4 Helping our farmers maintain and strengthen their productivity and livelihood - Being competitive and making a reasonable return on investment while coping with an urban environment Maintaining land use in agriculture uses Keeping families on the land Economics — the cost of land and equipment Zoning for agriculture exclusive land 4. Families - Work — time at home Schools Drugs - Helping low income families to be able to stay in their homes Affordable housing Have enough food — education in some cases How to keep families connected within the family unit - The costs of supporting a family Housing costs Transportation costs Internet usage by teens Communication Diversions, i.e. sports, school activities, etc. (Less family activities) - Income problems, i.e. loss of jobs, less family income Taking responsibility for their families and making do with what they have 5. Environmental Water use - Waste water (sewer and private) - Industrial waste Clean water and air St. Croix River issues Pollution of air by increased vehicles Saving some spaces for public use Keeping the beauty of the area Gas prices - Home heating — fuel prices - Water quality Conserving resources to extend the life of the resources and reducing waste http: // 172.17.128.87/ Committee /Minutes /2007 /AgExt/agext 12O4O7.htm 2/11/2011 Agriculture and Extension Committee - December 4, 2007 Page 3 of 4 6. Youth Need for a good education - Drug issues Divorced families - Acquiring post - secondary education, the costs involved Decision making as it pertains to choices teens make concerning friends, activist, etc. Transportation issues Drugs Time demands School (opportunities for post - secondary education) Learning to be productive members of completive global work place - In many instances, too many youth activities will pull young people into activities that may not have enough participants - Drugs & booze 7. Commercial Horticulture - Marketing the very good products of producers - Need more participation by producers of food products - The cost of land for commercial production - Transportation cost for the input and also delivery of product - Skills and techniques for growing produce - Financial viability - Markets - Land costs j - Inputs - Building a sustainable human food business that makes money and helps bring healthy food to the area. 8. Economic Development - Work force availability and education - Cost of living - Facilities costs - Keeping viable businesses going - Helping small business get going - Create an environment for businesses that bring in high pay, high quality jobs and business for residents - Need more areas (industrial park) for industrial development - Need transportation infrastructure http: / /172.17.128.87 /Committee/Minutes /2007 /AgExt/agextl2O4O7.htm 2/11/2011 Agriculture and Extension Committee - December 4, 2007 Page 4 of 4 - Bringing industries to the county that provides well - paying jobs - Providing transportation corridors for industry - Change peoples minds about nursing home - We need to care for our own - Need more organization in development - One thing to change — more cooperation between the eastern and western sides of St. Croix County - More long term thinking and planning concerning land usage - Rural —Urban conflict Family Living Agent Report Sprain reported on the educational activities she is providing in cooperation with Drug Court. These include one -to -one budgeting counseling and parent education classes for court referred parents. Bunn moved to adjourn. Peavey seconded the motion. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned Respectfully submitted, Eugene Ruetz Secretary pmh http: // 172.17.128.87 /Committee/Minutes /2007 /AgExt/agext l 2O4O7.htm 2/11/2011