Resolution Approving the Memorandum of Understanding between the UW-Madison of Extension and Sauk County as a companion document to the Contract between Extension and the County.

BACKGROUND: The existing Area 16 Educator Contract between Sauk County, State of Wisconsin, and Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, on behalf of the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Division of Extension (Extension) and is entered into pursuant to the authority vested in the County Committee on Agriculture and Extension Education by sections 59.22(2)(d) and 59.56(3) of the Wisconsin Statutes is reviewed annually in November. 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is optional and was recently reviewed by the Land Resources and Extension Committee on March 13, 2025, where they approved signing the MOU in addition to the Area 16 Educator Contract in November 2025 to be effective January 2026.

Whereas, this MOU outlines the partnership between Counties and Extension and

supersedes the Division of Extension-County Partnership Guidance document dated August

2021; and, would serve as a partner document to the annual Area 16 Educator Contract.

Whereas, Extension and Counties have had a century-long partnership benefiting the

people of Wisconsin by extending the boundaries of the University of Wisconsin throughout

the state to provide an array of educational programming and services to the people of

Wisconsin where they live and work, bringing the research, knowledge and resources of the

University of Wisconsin to the local community; and,

Whereas, Counties and Extension have contributed significant funding over the

century-long relationship by co-funding Extension staff, providing local offices and support,

and leveraging millions of state Extension and federal dollars annually to serve the people of Wisconsin; and,

Whereas, Section 59.56(3), Wis. Stats., generally provides the framework but has

not evolved with the changing relationship; and,

Whereas, with over 100+ years of evolving partnership between Extension and

Counties, there is a benefit of defining the roles and responsibilities of the partnership so the Parties can collaboratively meet the needs of the residents and communities within County; and,

Whereas, the County desires to enter into this Memorandum of Understanding effective January 2026 with the next contract to set forth their respective obligations, understandings, roles and responsibilities.