HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 09-03-02I
ST. CROIX COUNTY
NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING
TO: Clarence Malick, Chairman
St. Croix County Board
FROM: Chris Bethke, Chairman
COMMITTEE TITLE: Extension Ag Committee/Resource & Education Committee
DATE: September 3, 2002
TIME: 12:30 p.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 Update
• State Budget Update
• 2003 County Budget
• Personnel -- Amendment to the St.Croix County Extension Agents Contract,
133 -DF74
PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S REPORT
• 2003 County Budget
• 2003 DNR Recycling Grant Application
• DNR Proposed Efficiency Grants Update
• Your Wasteline Recycling Newsletter
• Fall Collections
4 -H YOUTH AGENT'S REPORT
• County Fair Evaluation Report
• Jr. Leader Community Service Activities
• Leader's Recognition Banquet
AG AGENT'S REPORT
• Farm City Day
• Ag Lender's Conference
• Farm Management Summit
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• National AASCARR Agribusiness Tour
• Winter Meeting Scheduling
• Minnesota Nutrition Conference
• Farm Visits
RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT
• Town Comprehensive Planning activities
• Comprehensive Planning Workshops
• New Richmond Business Market Analysis
• Small Business Management Counseling
FAMILY LIVING AGENT'S REPORT
• Summer Youth Activities
• Family Resource Center
• HCE Activities
• Update on Grace Place
HORTICULTURE 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: August 26, 2002
COPIES TO: County Board Office
County Clerk
News Media/Notice Board
Committee Members
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AG & EXTENSION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION /PLANNING COMMITTEE
Tuesday, September 3, 2002
Ag Services & Education Center, Baldwin
Convened: 12:30 p.m.
Adjourned: 2:45p.m.
Present: Leon Berenschot, Ronald Raymond, Art Jensen, Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, Dave
Fodroczi, Lee Milligan, Jim Janke, Kimberly Reaman, and Mary Lestrud.
Absent:
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Bethke at 12:30 p.m.
Date of next meeting was set for Tuesday, October 1, 2002 at 12:30 p.m.
Art Jensen moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. Lois Burri seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
Leon Berenschot moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Ronald Raymond
seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Art Jensen moved that the vouchers be approved. Lois Burri seconded the motion. Motion
carried.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Federal Budget Update —No report.
State Budget Update —No report.
County Budget —No information available regarding the budget review schedule.
Personnel —Reaman distributed copies of the Amendment to the St. Croix County Extension
Agents Contract, 133 -DF74 to the Extension Committee for signatures. The amendment is a
reconciliation of the salary savings in the amount of $3,645 due to staffing in the Horticultural
position.
PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S REPORT
2003 Budget: Barney reported that the department had received unofficial notice from the DNR
of not being accepted for Clean Sweep grant funding in the 2003 budget year. She also said that
DATCP grants covering farm chemicals and Ag businesses were in jeopardy. A letter campaign
to legislators and DATCP Secretary James Harsdorf is in the works.
2003 DNR Recyclin2 Grant Application: Barney noted that municipalities have received their
recycling grant application packets and have until Sept. 10 to return completed forms to the
Planning Office. Municipalities were advised to keep in mind when preparing 2003 budgets, that
next year's recycling grants would be disbursed on a per capita basis, rather than on a percentage
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of actual costs.
DNR Proposed Efficiency Grants Update: The time line for passage of these rules indicates
that the Legislature was given these proposals to review on Aug. 31 Passage is expected by Jan.
1 St Barney said county responsible units of 50,000 or more will likely receive some efficiency
grant funding in 2003.
Your Wasteline RecyclinLy Newsletter: Letter is scheduled for mailing on or around Sept. 9th
Barney said that by delivering to every post office in the county, postage costs would drop by
approximately $900. The newsletter count for the fall mailing is 31,309.
Fall Collections: Barney reported that most arrangements have been made for the two appliance
collections and the Clean Sweep event scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 21 Press releases will be
sent in the next few days. Many calls are received each day from residents asking about these
valuable collections.
4 -H YOUTH AGENT'S REPORT
County Fair —The number of exhibits was up by 71 compared to 2001 even though the number
of exhibitors was down by 45. In 2002, 817 exhibitors showed 5,450 items at the St. Croix
County Fair.
This year Reaman implemented an evaluation of judge's work by asking the fair volunteers who
worked most closely with the judge to complete a Helper Observation Form for each judge.
Each year, Reaman struggles with hiring judges in particular departments because the staff and
volunteers may not have direct knowledge of the judge's ability. This evaluation is an attempt to
create a list of judges that may be used for future reference in hiring.
Over all, the Fair Evaluation meeting was very positive. The greatest concern expressed was
with the ventilation and heat in the livestock barns. The 4 -H Meat Animal committee will take
leadership making improvements to the sheep /swine barn for the 2003 County Fair.
Jr. Leader Community Service Activities —One of Reaman's responsibilities is to work with
older teens in the 4 -H program to identify community needs and develop plans to help reduce
those needs. Sunday, Sept 15, the 4 -H Jr. Leaders will be preparing and serving a meal at the
Soup Kitchen in Minneapolis. Through this experience, the teens will learn the importance of
using food resources wisely and the challenges that families with very limited resources face.
Reaman is also exploring the opportunity for group community service activities at the
Children's Hospital in St. Paul as the Jr. Leader's are interested in working with children.
Leader's Recognition Banquet —The banquet is scheduled for Oct 8, 7 pm, at the American
Legion in Baldwin. Bethke, Burn and Berenschot will help present the Years of Service Awards
to the 4 -H Leaders. This year's speaker will be Suzanne Fisher, a Roberts Ribbon Reapers 4 -H
Alumni who has had several high level leadership roles in 4 -H Youth Development around the
country. A representative of the St. Croix County Fair Inc. will also be given an opportunity to
discuss the plans for building improvement on the fairgrounds and how 4 -H clubs might be able
to help in fundraising for the improvements.
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RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT
Janke reported that he is working with the Towns of Cylon, Erin Prairie, Stanton, and Hudson on
public opinion surveys. Each has had revisions but the final edits will hopefully be completed in
the next week. The surveys will be mailed to all residents and landowners in Cylon, Erin, and
Stanton. Because of the larger population in Hudson, a sample of 1000 residents and landowners
will receive the survey.
32 local town planning commissioners and town board members from the Heartland project
attended a workshop on transfer of development rights, purchase of development rights, and
conservation easements. The workshop was held in the new Hammond Town Hall.
The next Tri- County Planning Workshop is scheduled for September 18 at the UW- Extension
Office in Baldwin. The topic will be public participation in the planning process.
The New Richmond Business Market Analysis is progressing quickly. The trade area definition
is complete and the demographics are now being analyzed. Janke and 3 committee members
went to the Wisconsin Downtown Action Council meeting in Reedsburg, which has a vibrant
business community.
Small business management counseling was held in Hudson on August 7. All five appointment
times filled and there is a waiting list for the next session. Two additional clients who could not
wait for the next session were counseled over the telephone and sent materials.
AGRICULTURE AGENT'S REPORT
Milligan organized and taught the education activities at Farm City Day. Over 2,000 people
participated. Educational tours featured crop and dairy tours. Milligan also developed
educational displays regarding the breeds of dairy cattle, state and county agricultural statistics
and information relating to crops and dairy.
Milligan coordinated an educational meeting with Pierce and St. Croix County's Extension
offices and Farm Service Agency offices. Approximately 115 dairy producers participated. The
FSA County Director in each county and Milligan developed a PowerPoint presentation for each
director and himself.
Milligan participated in the Ag Lenders Conference Planning Committee for 2003.
Milligan is writing/updating a manual for the Agricultural Financial Analysis computer program.
Milligan is writing a report on the status of agriculture in St. Croix County. This is at the request
of the Planning Department.
Farm visits and office calls focused on dairy and horse facilities, beef cattle nutrition, rental rates
for land and facilities, weeds, pasturing beef cattle, farm management issues.
Milligan is also assisting in the coordination of an English as a Second Language (ESL) class for
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agricultural workers with WITC. Penny Winzer is the instructor. Classes are held in the Ag
Center.
FAMILY LIVING AGENT'S REPORT
Mary gave an update on summer youth activities including pictures from the sewing workshop
and the Food Fair. The HCE Expo will be held on Sat. Sept. 14 and will offer many booths (40)
and education on community resources and managing and enjoying a home in today's busy
world. Mary will be attending the state HCE convention in Sept. with 12 other members
(Appleton). Mary and Kim have started planning for Family Camp, which will be held the first
weekend in Oct. Mary has been meeting with a committee this past year to plan the Reading
Festival, which will be held at the end of Oct. She has been working with the Family Resource
Center to develop their first annual financial campaign for the public and area businesses. Mary
will also serve as a responder at a globalization conference, which will be held at the Extension
Office via statewide satellite technology, audio conferencing, and a DVD. The conference will be
an inservice opportunity for all Coop Extension staff in WI.
Art Jensen moved to adjourn. Lois Burn seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Submitted by,
Art Jensen
Secretary
IW
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