BURNETT COUNTY AG/EXTENSION COMMITTEE
December 15, 2003
Minutes

I. The meeting was called to order by Chair, Doug Dewing at 9:33 a.m. in Room 165 of the Burnett County Government Center on Monday, December 15, 2003.

II. Notice was posted according to open meeting law requirements.

Present: Doug Dewing, Charles Peterson, Donald Chell, Maury Miller, Marilyn Kooiker, Mike Kornmann, Missy Olson, Kevin Schoessow, Bill Saumers and Steve Briggs (9:45 a.m.).

III Motion to approve the November 17, 2003 minutes was made by Peterson, seconded by Chell. Motion carried.

IV. General Business

A. Department Head Report

Marilyn gave an update on the WNEP position. To date there have been 35 requests for applications for the position and 6 completed applications have been returned with a deadline date of Friday, December 19, 2003 for accepting applications . Review of applications will take place December 30 with Grace Gee, Douglas County Nutrition Coordinator; Sarah Fry, WIC Director; and Marilyn. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the second week of January 2004.

The 2003 Finance Report through November 2003 was distributed.

The 2004 Budget Update was discussed. Capital Equipment was cut from $4,292 (requested) to $1,250 (approved), difference of $3,042. Original request included two computers and a part for the Riso. Only one computer will be ordered.

Update from the Dean’s Wisline (Dec. 1) – Success stories and impact reports are due January 6 with plans of work due June 1. Agents will be getting end of year reports submitted in a timely manner.

Update from Northern District Wisline (Dec. 8) – District Wisline announced three resignations in the district (2 CRD and 1 Ag Agent). Program Impact Workshop coming up in February. Self-Initiated Performance Reviews (for agents) will be due by March 30, 2004.

An update on Doug Stubbe includes plans for redeployment expected soon after the holidays with return to the State’s tentatively scheduled for February-March 2004. Requests no more packages be sent after January 1. Office sent one last box on December 12.

WACEC winter meeting scheduled at Schwan Center, Trego, on March 4-5. Arlen Leholm will be there.

B. Agent Reports

1. Kevin Schoessow, Agricultural Development – The Garden Tour at the Ag. Center hosted 150 people. There were many workshops held including apple pruning, etc. $15,000 was donated by area people.

Completed Master Gardener’s Program at Webster High School. There were 24 people in attendance including Kevin. Joint teaching efforts were shared with the Community Ed Program, Siren. There will be a meeting on January 6 with them to talk about volunteering opportunities.

(Steve Briggs now here, 9:45 a.m.)

Kevin, along with Sarah Fry, Terry Sue Townsend and Ruth Tripp are working on getting a Farmer’s Market started in Burnett County. A meeting was held the first part of November with twelve people in attendance. This was to help determine if there was enough interest to hold a Farmer’s Market. A grant for $865 was received, with $800 slotted for promotional purposes. On January 13 an informational meeting will be held at the Government Center to discuss state rules and regulations; location site and day for the Market; the actual process to take in setting up the Market; traffic flow information in regard to helping determine the best day/time for the Market.

Local work group (EQUIP) – will be meeting with the DNR and Land Conservation to determine where money should for the Nutrient Management Plan.

2. Bill Saumers, Agricultural Development – Ohio made signs for the “Right to Farm Law”, to inform the people traveling in the area, there will be noises, smells, etc.

A discussion was held on the Asian Lady Beetles.

Bill shared information on the declining number of farms in the area, but the increased numbers in herd size, thus keeping the actual number of cows at a steady number.

There was a discussion about organic farmers in the county. Research was done this summer on MOSES (Midwest Organic Sustainable Education Services). The Superior Grown program strengthens and promotes regional food in Northeastern MN and Northwestern WI through production, distribution and consumption of healthy food.

3. Marilyn Kooiker, Family Living – Marilyn completed the parenting classes she was teaching using curriculum from Purdue University. A certificate of completion will be presented to the mother.

Marilyn attended a District Family Living meeting in Spooner. Information was shared on how to deal with media savvy clients. They were also given an update on the state WNEP program.

Presented a Power Point presentation on Positive Parenting of Teens to the Safe and Stable Families Steering Committee. Books and other resources were on display. A copy of the curriculum was shown along with sample notebook the participants received.

Continue to meet regularly with Safe & Stable Families steering committee, Victim Witness sub-committee (Coordinated Community Response), Housing Collaborative, and Home & Community Education.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren fall newsletter was distributed. Marilyn both wrote and edited it.

Upcoming Family Living Activities:

-Phone conference with Family Living Liaison re: my 3-year review.
-Review of applications for nutrition educator position with interviews scheduled first part of January.

4. Mike Kornmann, Community Resource Development – Annual meeting for the Northern Edge Grant-BCDA Work and Play Campaign is in March.

Continue to work with the three communities and local business on the Grand Opening of the Great Wisconsin Birding Trail. Mike is currently working on a JEM grant that may bring $21,000 to local organizations for the trail.

Superior Days. The issues meeting was held last week. Noticeably fewer adult participants there. The issues committee meets this week to finalize the list of legislative issues.

Strategic Planning continues with BCDA. A quick survey of funding of northern Wisconsin economic development groups puts BCDA near the bottom. BCDA may explore ad banners on the pages to give sponsors more visibility.

Will participate as part of a roundtable on economic development to identify the roles UWEX can play in this area.

5. Missy Olson, 4-H/Youth Development – On November 29 & 30 Missy attended a restorative justice training. The training is for those who will be on the pilot volunteer facilitator teams and for those who want a practical knowledge of the principles and practices of restorative justice.

The first Superior Days meeting went well. Five of the ten student participants were able to attend as well as Jason Tadlock, the male chaperone. The issues meeting went well. The youth are going to pick other issues at the meeting on January 7 to lobby for.

The volunteer orientation scheduled for December 9 was cancelled due to weather. The next scheduled orientation is for January 6.

Another teen court training session is scheduled for December 17. This will be the last training the kids will be attending. The program should be in full swing by January 1, 2004.

There will be a Leaders Association meeting on January 13, 2004.

Winter Camp is January 16-18. Several 4-H members and I will be attending.

V. General Business.

A. No General Business at this time.

VI. Set Next Meeting Date

Next meeting will be held on Monday, January 19, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 165 of the Burnett County Government Center.

Adjournment - Motion to adjourn the December 15, 2003 meeting was made by Chell, seconded by Peterson. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:13 a.m. by Chairman Douglas Dewing.