UW Extension, Arts & Culture Committee

080917_minutes.pdf (79 KB)

UW Extension, Arts and Culture Committee

Minutes of the Regular Meeting

August 9, 2017

Members Present:     Judy Ashford, Chuck Spencer, John Dietz, Donna Stehling, Andy Andrews,

Alan Anderson

Members Absent:       None

UWEX Staff Present: Jen Erickson, Meg Sage, Jeff Hoffman, Andrea Rippley

Others Present:           Lisa Wilson, Donna Ochsner, Sylvia Kriegel, Scott Zirzow and Kellie Zink, SCAS

Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 9:00 AM @ Chair Ashford.

Certification of Open Meeting Notice

Requirements of the Open Meeting Law were met. 

Approval of Agenda

Motion made by Spencer, second by Stehling to approve the agenda.  Motion carried.  All in favor.

Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting

Motion made by Spencer, second by Andrews to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of July 12, 2017.  Motion carried.  All in favor.

Public Comment: 

Kriegl and Ochsner in support of Home Community Education and UW-Extension; all services are invaluable to our citizens of Sauk County.

Communications: 

None

Review Budget and Approval of Vouchers:

UW Extension

Budget reviewed.  Significant savings in the agent contract line due to open positions and over budget in the health insurance county share line due to employee opting to carry county health insurance.  Motion made by Spencer, second by Stehling to approve the July 2017 UW Extension invoices in the amount of $1,392.71.  Motion carried.  All in favor.

Arts & Culture

Budget reviewed.  No invoices for the month of July.

Departmental Updates

UW Extension

-UW Extension staff retreat will be held on Sept. 21

-nEXT Gen Update – Erickson and Hoffman reviewed new UW-Extension position titles and institute & center   affiliations

Arts & Culture

None

Presentation, discussion and possible action on Sauk County Agriculture Society, Inc. Outside Agency appropriation request for 2018 budget

Zirzow and Zink from the Sauk County Ag Society (SCAS) presented their budget and outside agency request; hired a full-time secretary this year and have a goal to build a new multi-purpose use building to replace the old hog barn and small animal building. The SCASA is requesting $25,000 for their annual appropriation request for 2018 which remains the same as last year.  Motion by Spencer, second by Stehling to approve the Sauk County Ag Society outside request for $25,000 for 2018.  Motion carried, all in favor.

Presentation, Discussion and Possible Action on approval to allocate $5,000 from the 2017 UW Extension budget to hire a facilitator to reformat the Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL program).

Sauk County Institute of Leadership (SCIL) is part of the implementation of the Sauk County: Making a Place Plan.  A facilitator would offer an outside perspective and weave placemaking into the SCIL program.  A motion was made to approve allocating $5,000 from the 2017 UW Extension budget to hire a facilitator to help reformat the Sauk County Institute of Leadership program.

Discussion and possible action on sharing an Ag Extension Educator position with Columbia County

Committee agrees a discussion is needed between Sauk and Columbia Counties to explore the potential of sharing an Ag Extension Educator.  Discussion is also needed to start defining roles and the needs of Sauk County.  Joint meeting is set up Monday, August 28th from 1-3pm in Columbia County.

Discussion and possible action on sharing a Youth & Family Extension Educator position with Columbia County

Committee agrees a discussion is needed between Sauk and Columbia Counties to explore the potential of sharing a Youth & Family Extension Educator.  Discussion is also needed to start defining roles and the needs of Sauk County.  Joint meeting is set up Monday, August 28th from 1-3pm in Columbia County.

Discussion and possible action on 2018 UW Extension budget

2018 budget reviewed in detail.  4-H Summer Assistant salary will increase by .50 cents per hour, up to 600 hours in 2018.  Sage attended Personnel Committee; increase was approved.  Personnel costs increased significantly for county staff.  2018 proposed budget includes funding to maintain four full-time Extension Educators, however the Committee will consider sharing of two educators which would decrease the levy by over $40,000.  Budget not approved.

Discussion and possible action on 2018 Arts & Culture budget

2018 budget reviewed in detail.  Motion made by Spencer, second by Stehling to approve the 2018 Arts & Culture budget.  Motion carried. All in favor.

UW- Extension Agent Report(s): 

Andrea Rippley, 4-H Summer Assistant:  Summer programs and schedule shared.

Jenny Erickson, CNRED Agent:   Erickson partnered with UW-Extension Specialists on the Sauk Prairie Retail Market Analysis.  Erickson shared the report which was a community led approach.

Discussion and possible action; Farm Technology Days in 2021

Erickson shared a FTD project management outline.  The committee decided that it is not the right time for Sauk County to hold this event, but it should be considered in the future.  Motion made by Spencer, second by Stehling to deny holding Farm Technology Days in 2021.

Next meeting date:  The next regular meeting will be Wednesday, September 13, 2017, held in Room 213 of the West Square Building @ 9:00 AM

Future Agenda Item(s):  2018 final budget approval UW Extension; update on Sauk/Columbia joint UW-Extension oversight committee meeting

Adjournment

Motion made by Stehling, second by Ashford to adjourn the meeting.  Motion carried.  Meeting adjourned.  All in favor.

Respectfully Submitted,

John Dietz, UW Arts and Culture Committee Secretary

Judy Gurgel, Recording Secretary