HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 01-04-05 ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Ronald Raymond, Chairman
COMMITTEE TITLE: Agriculture & Extension Committee
DATE: January 4, 2005
TIME: 9:00 a.m.
LOCATION: Agricultural Services & Education Center
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES
ACTION ON VOUCHERS
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
• Federal Budget Report
• State Budget Report
• County Budget Report
• Personnel
• WACEC
AG AGENT'S REPORT
Educational Activity Update
4 -H YOUTH AGENT'S REPORT
• Overview of St. Croix County 4 -H Program
• Jr. Leader Activities:
* 4 -H Club Officer Training
* Caroling and Bowling
* Bell Ringing for Salvation Army
* Explore 4 -H Day
• Plat Book Ad Sales
RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT
• Population Growth Map Demonstration
• Legislative Call Trips
• Drinking Water Testing Results
• Comprehensive Planning Workshops
• Small Business Counseling
� 1
New Richmond Downtown Project
FAMILY LIVING AGENT'S REPORT
• Methamphetamine Awareness —New Goal
• Free Family Newspaper - - -New Goal
HOR TICULTURE AGENT'S REPORT
NEW BUSINESS:
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING:
ADJOURNMENT
(Agenda not necessarily presented in this order.)
SUBMITTED BY: Kim Reaman
DATE: December 21, 2004
COPIES TO: County Board Office
County Clerk
News Media/Notice Board
Committee Members
2
X
AGRICULTURE AND EXTENSION COMMITTEE
January 4, 2005
Agricultural Service & Education Center Convened 9:00 am
Baldwin, Wi. Adjourned 11:00 am
Present: Ronald Raymond, Jan Zoerb, Lois Burri, Bill Peavey, Gene Ruetz, Lee Milligan,
Jim Janke, Kim Reaman, Mary Lestrud, and Martha Mabis
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Ron Raymond
Date of next meeting was set for February 1, 2005
Zoerb moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. Peavey seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
Peavey moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Ruetz seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Burn moved that the vouchers be approved. Ruetz seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Administrative Report
Federal Budget - No report
State Budget — No report
County Budget No report
Personnel — The UW- Extension staff reviewed their percent full time equivalent (FTE)
appointments for each position. Discussion focused on the needs of increasing the FTE
appointments of the Horticulture and Family Living positions. UW- Extension staff were
directed to determine the financial implications of increasing the Family Living position to 100%
FTE (currently 75 %) and the Horticulture position to 60% FTE (currently 40 %).
Moved by Ruetz to continue the shared leadership model for Department Head responsibilities as
outlined in the attached proposal for 2005. Burn seconded the motion. Motion passed.
WACEC — No report
4 -H Youth Development Agent's Report
Overview of the 4 -11 Program — Reaman presented an overview of the St. Croix County 4 -H
program and how it relates to the current research in Positive Youth Development. The
following aspects of the 4 -H program were described along with how they provide the
fundamental resources for positive youth development. Those resources include an on -going
relationship with adults; safe places and structured activities; marketable skills; opportunities to
serve; and healthy beginnings.
1) The traditional 4 -H Club program is the backbone of the county program — There are 22
clubs throughout the county. Clubs vary in size from 10 members with one leader to 80
members and many leaders. A family joins a community 4 -H club which meets monthly
with all the members, parents and leaders. The business of the club is conducted in the
monthly community club meetings. Within the club, members enroll in individual
projects. Projects are subject matter specific (dog, gardening, clothing, photography,
dairy, etc). The project meetings are led by an adult who works with all the members in
the club enrolled in the same project.
2) 4 -H members and leaders - Enrollment to date is 730 members. Membership will likely
reach 800 as new members can enroll, with full participation rights, until Jan 31. New
members who enroll between Jan 31 and June 1 are eligible for all non - animal projects.
There is also one club who has not submitted enrollment forms yet. Each adult, who has
an on -going role of working with youth in the club, are required to complete the Youth
Protection Policy. The policy includes attending the New Leader Orientation, a
background check and annually signing a behavior agreement form.
3) County wide educational programs — Reaman is the educational advisor to 16 county
wide committees. Throughout the last 4 -H year, these committees conducted 85
educational workshops for members beyond the club experience.
4) Special activities and outreach efforts — Efforts which involve youth and families beyond
the traditional 4 -H program include: Tractor Safety, Day Camp, WI Tour for 5 -7
graders, Family Camp, New Richmond Asset Carnival and school presentations.
Plat Book Ad Sales - Reaman updated the committee on the progress of selling advertising in
the St. Croix County Plat and Directory. All ads are sold by 4 -H volunteers and will continue to
be sold through Jan 15. The goal is to sell enough advertising to cover the production cost of the
book. A question was raised regarding the St. Croix County privacy policy and how that might
relate to individuals name's being published in the plat book. Reaman will research the issue.
Resource Development Agent's Report
Janke demonstrated an animated computer mapping program that shows the change in
population per square mile in the upper Midwest states in one -year increments between 1970 and
2003 (with projections to 2010). The spread of the Twin Cities is clearly visible.
Chairman Ron Raymond and Janke met with a small group to discuss the offer from Momentum
Chippewa Valley to participate in the Valley Rally legislative call trip in late January. Janke and
Bill Rubin have invited a group of interested persons to a planning, meeting on January 4.
539 Households participated in the Drinking Water Testing Program during 2004. This brings
the total up to 872 since the program started in 2003. Janke summarized the data, showing that
72 tests (8.2 %) exceeded the drinking water standard for nitrate and 25 (3 %) had bacteria in the
sample. None of the samples exceeded the limit for triazine.
Janke presented a summary of the participant evaluations of the comprehensive planning
workshops during 2004. Participants were asked to rate their knowledge of the topics before and
after the workshop on a 5 -point scale. The average gain was 1 point on the scale.
60 Clients received small business advice during 2004.
The New Richmond "Community Planning and Resources" committee of the Chamber of
Commerce has held 3 roundtable discussions and has decided to focus on downtown
improvements. 8 Issues have been identified and volunteer task forces have been formed for
each.
Chair ruled adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Eugene Ruetz
Secretary
pmh