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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & Extension 03-05-02X 4 TO: Tom Dorsey, Chairman St. Croix County Board ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING FROM: Chris Bethke, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Extension Ag Committee/Resource & Education Committee DATE: March 5, 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 • County Budget Update • WACEC Update • Personnel: Horticulture Position Shared Leadership for Office Chair Roles/Responsibilities Personnel Study PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S REPORT • Mercury Exchange Update • Spring Collections • Legislative Updates • State Budget Issues 4 -H YOUTH AGENT'S REPORT • St. Croix County Plat Book • 4 -H Promotional Items • 4 -H Cultural Arts Day • Volunteer Screening and Dismissal Conference • Jr. Leader Activities • Camp Counselor Selection s RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT • Technology Zone Application Assistance • Small Business Management Counseling • Comprehensive Planning Education Programs: Baldwin, Hammond, Emerald, Glenwood, Star Prairie FAMILY LIVING AGENT'S REPORT • Educational Program for Foster Parents • Potential Jail Program • B/W AODA • Parenting Inservice • Using the Logic Model to Help Other Agencies NEW BUSINESS: ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order.) SUBMITTED BY: Kim Reaman DATE: 02/21/02 COPIES TO: County Board Office County Clerk News Media/Notice Board Committee Members A AG & EXTENSION/RESOURCE & EDUCATION/PLANNING COMMITTEE Tuesday, March 5, 2002 Ag Services & Education Center, Baldwin Convened: 12:30 p.m. Adjourned: 2:10 p.m. Present: Leon Berenschot, Ronald Raymond, Art Jensen, Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, David Fodroczi, James Janke, Kimberly Reaman, Mary Lestrud Absent: Lee Milligan, Diana Alfuth The meeting was called to order by Chairman Chris Bethke at 12:30 p.m. Date of next meeting was set for Tuesday, April 2, 2002 at 12:30 p.m. Art Jensen moved that the agenda be adopted as presented. Leon Berenschot seconded the motion. Motion carried. Leon Berenschot moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approved. Lois Burri seconded the motion. Motion carried. Art Jensen moved that the vouchers be approved. Lois Burri seconded the motion. Motion carried. ADMINIRTRATIVF. REPORT Federal Budget Update —No report. State Budget Update— No report. County Budget —The UWEX 2002 budget contains $6,500 to purchase a copy machine. With the likely potential that each County Department will be asked to reduce the 2002 budget Reaman researched the possibility of leasing a copy machine rather than making an outright purchase. EO Johnson provided the lowest bid. It is $90 /month to include 60,000 copies annually with overages billed at .0092 a copy. The service contract includes all service, parts, labor, travel, drum replacement, toner and staples. Motion made by Raymond to approve this lease option. Seconded by Burri. Motion passed. WACEC Update —No report. Personnel: Horticulture Position — Reaman contacted the personnel office and received approval to proceed with re- filling the horticultural position. Reaman contacted Mike Perkl, UWEX Western District Director who will submit the proper paperwork to the University. Shared I.eadershin fnr Office Chair Rnlec/RPCrinncihilitieg Reaman reviewed the revised Shared Leadership Proposal and the official contract stipulating the new 1 appointments. The contract was signed by the St. Croix County Extension Committee members and the St. Croix County UWEX Agents to be forwarded to Mike Perkl, UWEX Western District Director. Personnel Study Reaman distributed the organizational study developed by the agents and support staff for UWEX. PLANNING DEPARTMF,NT'S REPORT Mercury Exchange Project: Fodroczi indicated that the response to the pilot Mercury Exchange Program is going well. Almost 30 mercury thermometers have been exchanged for mercury -free weather thermometers. Staff calculated that the mercury collected would be enough to result in fish advisories on a 600 -acre lake. 2002 Collection Contracts: Fodroczi reported that interest in our spring collections is already growing, based on calls from the public. All preparations have been finalized for the Electronics collection on May 11` and Clean Sweep on May 18 The events will be publicized in the spring issue of the "Your Wasteline" newsletter to be distributed in late April. Legislative Update: Fodroczi reported that AB 636/SB 319 to restore recycling funding for UW research and technical assistance was unanimously recommended by committees from both houses for adoption by the full Legislature. The County Board resolution supporting this legislation was previously submitted for hearing consideration. Fodroczi also indicated that companion bills to ban mercury thermometers that were introduced by Representative Joe Plouff and Senator Judy Robson of Beloit were scheduled for hearing today. A comprehensive mercury management bill is also being developed. State Budget Issues: Fodroczi summarized comments from Administrative Coordinator Chuck Whiting regarding State budget cuts. Additional direction should be forthcoming from the Finance Committee and County Board as State budget adjustments are clarified. 4 -H VOITT14 AGENT'S REPORT St. Croix County Plat Book —The St. Croix County Plat Book is the primary fundraiser for the St. Croix County 4 -H Leader's Association. The proceeds from the sale of plat books are used to provide additional programs for 4 -H members and leaders. Final ads for the plat book have been submitted. The cost of publishing the book is $49,000. The ad sales campaign raised $29,500 to help pay for the cost of publishing. The $20,000 shortfall will have a negative impact on the Leader's Association budget. The new book will be available in September and will sell for $25 per book. 4 -H Promotional Items — Reaman shared two new promotional items she has developed. One is a bookmark that clubs will distribute to I and 2 nd graders this spring before school is out. It encourages them to "Come to the County Fair to see all you can do in 4 -H ". The other is a brochure that outlines commonly asked questions about 4 -H. It is designed to provide families with enough information to make a decision about joining 4 -H. 4 -H Cultural Arts Day -110 youth participated in the 4 -H Cultural Arts Day on Saturday 2 January 26. Volunteers taught workshops in ceramics, leather, hodge podge, sand art, foam art, jewelry making, plastic canvas and stamping. Volunteer Screening and Dismissal Conference —All 4 -H Agents throughout Wisconsin participated in the two -day training on volunteer screening and dismissal. The current screening process includes a background check and a mandatory orientation. The presenter suggested that background checks are not enough because they only uncover individuals who have actually been convicted of crimes, not allegations or charges, and most child perpetrators are very savvy and often one step ahead of the system. Her recommendation is that each volunteer participate in an individual interview, that no less than 3 reference checks be made on the volunteer, and that once a volunteer is accepted they receive regular supervision and a "personnel" file be maintained on them that would annually include copies of their drivers license and proof of adequate insurance if they provide transportation for youth. The "personnel" file should be kept for 30 years since child abuse cases are often not reported until many years after the actual abuse occurs. There is much concern across the state about staff time to implement a process as detailed as was presented. St. Croix County alone has over 400 adult volunteer leaders in the 4 -H program. The State 4 -H Policy Committee will be meeting to revise the current volunteer screening process and most likely try to find some middle ground. Jr. Leader Activities — Reaman passed around photos of the older members who participated in the community service project at Mary's Place in Minneapolis, Saturday morning, February 9th. The teens supervised the playroom and helped the children make Valentine cards. At the March meeting the Jr. Leaders made Easter cards that will be distributed to elderly through the Department on Aging. Interviews for 4 -11 Summer Assistant —The interview date for the 4 -H summer assistant position has been scheduled for March 22, 1:30 p.m. at the Ag Services and Education Center in Baldwin. Berenschot and Bethke will participate in the interview process. RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT Janke reported on the Technology Zone Application from St. Croix Pierce, and Polk Counties. If approved, businesses in the zone would be eligible for Wisconsin income tax credits for technology. The application process is being led by Bill Rubin, who asked Janke for assistance with a section of the application. Janke brought in UWEX Specialist Steven Deller, who used a software package to provide the data needed. Janke pointed out that this is a good example of the extra leverage that a county receives by having access to the expertise of the Extension specialists through the presence of county agents. The next bi- monthly small business management counseling will be held in April. Janke reported working with town boards and plan commissions in seven towns and one village on comprehensive planning. Public opinion surveys are underway in Hammond and Baldwin. Erin Prairie has created a plan commission and will begin scheduling their public participation program. Janke and Dave Fodroczi gave presentations at a public information meeting in Emerald. Janke and Ellen Denzer gave presentations at a public information meeting in Cylon 3 attended by over 50 people. Stanton has scheduled an Issues Identification kickoff workshop for April 4 that will be led by Janke. At the suggestion of committee member Leon Berenschot, the Glenwood Town Planning Committee invited Janke to advise them on starting their planning program. The village of Star Prairie has asked Janke and Fodroczi to attend a special meeting on March 21 to discuss the state comprehensive planning law and how to start their planning. FAMTLV LIVING AGRNTIS REPORT Mary will be assuming the coordination of the Federal Nutrition Education program in St. Croix and possibly Polk County. She attended new coordinators training in February. She is looking into developing a program for St. Croix County jail inmates called "Breaking Barriers With Books" in which inmates would read to their absent children via videotape. Mary showed the committee research which highlighted the importance for children of fathers maintaining contact with them. Mary attended a Parenting Education training in Madison in February. She is helping the Family Resource Center director develop a logic model for a significant grant application. Twenty -eight peer helpers at Hudson High School have asked Mary to teach them about anger management so they can help other students deal with their anger. Working with a prevention committee at Baldwin/Woodville High School, Mary's helping plan a community supper and program which would help parents and others understand the latest survey information from 8 th 10 & 12 graders regarding their risk and protective behaviors. Art Jensen moved to adjourn. Ron Raymond seconded the motion. Motion carried. Submitted by, Art Jensen Secretary cz 4