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Home My WebLink AboutAg & Extension Committee 08-01-2000 ST. CROIX COUNTY NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Tom Dorsey, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Chris Bethke, Chairman COMMITTEE TITLE: Extension Ag Committee/Resource & Education Committee DATE: August 1, 2000 TIME: 12:30 p.m. LOCATION: Agricultural Services &Education Center, Baldwin 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 • Proposed County Budget for 2001 PLANNING DEPARTMENT'S REPORT • 2001 Electronics Collection • Fall "Your Wasteline"Newsletter • WWRA Contract for Services • Municipal Grant Distribution 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT REPORT • 4-11 Summer Assistant Activities • Lead on the Edge S`h Grade Camp • Preliminary County Fair Report RESOURCE AGENT'S REPORT • Land Use Specialist Recruiting • Small Business Counseling • Drinking Water Program Results • Casino Impact Analysis 1 x . Aa Ag&Extension/Resource &Education/Plannin_ Committee August 1, 2000. . Agricultural Service & Education Center Convened: 12:35 p.m. Baldwin Adjourned:. 2:30 p.m. Present: Leon Berenschot, Ronald Raymond, Art Jensen, Chris Bethke, Lois Burri, Dave Fodroczi, and Jim Janke. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Bethke. Date of the next meeting was set for September 5. Bern iS2C4 moved that the agenda'tu..e adoptedas presented: T� �erseconded ic motion. dCtivrrni carried. Burn moved that the previous meeting's minutes be approN ed. Berenschot seconded the motion. Motion carried. Jensen moved that the vouchers be approved. Burn' seconded the motion. r Administrative Report Federal Budget Update—No report. State Budget Update—No report. County Budget Update—Reaman reported on four preliminary budget item increases: Family Living position increase toward full time; employee travel; T-1 line charges from Computer Services; replace secretaries computer. The staff discussed the old copier and since parts have been replaced,it appears to be functioning adequately. With the purchase of the digital duplicator last year the number of copies reproduced on the copier has decreased from 120,000/quarter to 30,000/quarter. The old copier will continue to be used until the maintenance agreement begins to exclude parts or it does not reproduce copies adequately. Budget review is set for August 17, 9:30 a.m. 4H Youth Development 4-H Summer Assistant—The 4-H Summer Assistant is out of the office with the Wisconsin Tour today. Eighteen 4-H members are participating in the tour learning about the history of Wisconsin in the LaCrosse area. Sarah also coordinated the Cloverbud/Explorer Fun Day for 38 campers. The program included several educational sessions in nature, crafts, foods and large group games. State Fair entries were coordinated by the summer assistant. The following number of 4-H'ers represented St. Croix County at the Wisconsin State Fair: 20 dairy, 2 beef, 5 sheep, 3 demonstrators, 2 tractor safety and one 4-H club with a musical performance. Lead on the Edge 8'h Grade Camp—i3 camper have reistered for this leadership camp. The educational focus through out all,the camp activities will be on making decisions. The program includes an extensive canoe trip with overnight tenting at William O'Brian State Park, rock climbing at Interstate Park, and many challenge course activities to develop leadership and experience teamwork. Preliminary County Fair Report Reaman reported that County Fair went very well except for two steer incidents. A steer was startled,jumped and came down on the owner's leg. Both bones in the lower calf were broken and her ankle was crushed. The second steer was spooked and drug the owner out of the trailer. The number of entries was down and the actual number of exhibits will not be known until Polly has finished entering the judging results into the computer. In the past, exhibitors would enter as many items as they could because the entry forms are due mid June and they don't know exactly what they are going to have finished by fair time. With the change to conference judg��tg, exhibitors don't have to enter specific items, they just have to enter the number of items they will be bringing. That change accounts for most of the reduction in entry numbers. Resource Agent's Report There were four applications for the Extension Land Use Specialist position at UW-RF. One has dropped out and one has yet to submit all the required materials. References have been contacted for the two remaining applicants. Small business management counseling was held at the Government Center on July 31. Five people participated. The next session is scheduled on August 29. Arrangements are being finalized for the Drinking Water Testing &Education programs in Somerset, Hudson, and Warren Towns starting in September. Extension Specialist Steve Deller has prepared a preliminary economic impact analysis of the proposed casino project using the nationally recognized Impact Planning software("ImPlan"). The data will be given to the County Planning Department. Ag Agent's Report Milligan taught site preparation at a prairie establishment meeting sponsored by NRCS. Twenty- five participated in the program. Farm/City Day preparations continued during the month of July. Ken and Rich Peterson will be the hosts. Milligan worked with the fair and 4-H staff at the fair. Milligan is on the Wisconsin Association of County Agricultural Agent's 2003 National Professional Improvement Conference finance committee. The conference will be hosted by Wisconsin in Green Bay. Farm visits focussed on beef cow-calf management, dairy facilities, direct marketing, forage production, crop damage due to hail, and farm business arrangements. Planning Department's Report Fodroczi reviewed a list of July vouchers totaling $3,562.83. Jensen moved that the vouchers be approved as presented. Bum seconded the motion. Motion carried. 2001 Electronics Collection: Fodroczi reported an informal commitment to contract with Kleenair Disposal again for an electronics/computer collection next spring. The tentative date is May 5, 2001. The County will also be able to dispose of another 30 computers free of charge as part of the contract. Fall "Your Wasteline Newsletter: Fodroczi said that Barney is beginning to draft the fall newsletter. The copy deadline is mid-August with mailing the second week of September just before fall collection programs. Fodroczi invited ideas from the Committee for content. WVWRA Contract for Services: Fodroczi reported that he has discussed next year's contract for staff services with Dean Swenson of Western Wisconsin Recycling Association. They project an increase of 3%in contract costs. Fodroczi will use that projection for 2001 budget preparation. 2000 Grant Distribution to Municipalities: Fodroczi distributed a table of 1998 recycling costs and grant awards for the County and the seven municipalities that have separate programs. The County reimbursed member municipalities at 821// of costs, while reimbursement for non-member municipalities ranged from a low of 14% to a high of 96%. He emphasized that only two of the non-member municipalities received higher reimbursement rates than the 26 member communities. Jensen moved to adjourn. Berenschot seconded the motion. Respectively submitted, Art Jense Secretary mh