BURNETT COUNTY AG/EXTENSION COMMITTEE
July 19, 2004
Minutes

I. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Maury Miller, at 9:30 a.m. in Room 165 of the Burnett County Government Center on Monday, July 19, 2004.

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

Present: Charles Peterson, Maury Miller, Gene Olson, Mary Falk, Mike Kornmann, Marilyn Kooiker, Ellie Tripp and Wanda Hinrichs. Doug Stubbe here (10:45 a.m.).

III. Motion to approve the June 21, 2004 minutes was made by Peterson, seconded by Olson. Motion carried.

IV. General Business - No General Business at this time.

A. Department Head Report

Dean Arlen Leholm's visit to Burnett County is scheduled for Thursday, August 26. Tentative plans for the afternoon include noon meetings at the Grantsburg Fair, tour of Crex Interpretative Center, short tour of Burnett Dairy in Alpha, travel through tornado path to Siren and end at the Government Center UW-Extension off for a reception with partners/local officials. Wanda Hinrichs added the plan for 4-H having a welcome wagon of many area 4-H members to greet the Dean on his arrival at the fair.

The 2004 Financial Report through June and 2005 budget schedule discussed.

The Tri-County Ag position located in Spooner has been filled. Richard Otto Weigand is starting today, July 19. Thanks to Mary Falk for sitting on the interview team.

Ag Research Day, July 13, was well attended and enjoyed by county staff and two
committee members, Charlie and Gene. It was a very informative day and included an afternoon session on web page management for agents and support staff.

Information on the Community Partner Advisory Group (CPAG) initiative was distributed. Doug Stubbe and Marilyn attended this training session on June 29 in Medford. Twenty-four Wisconsin counties (four in the Northern District) have volunteered to be pilot counties for the first phase of CPAGs. The mission of CPAGs is "to help county Extension offices and county Extension education committees create quality educational programs that meet the pressing needs of local citizens and result in a strong foundation of support for community-based education." More on this will be presented later.
Doug and Marilyn attended the County Budget workshop in Brantwood on June 30 with Kate Lawton, local government specialist, Pam Seelman, public information specialist and many others. A handout was distributed on "District Meetings on County Budgets". A long discussion on capital expenses took place. Justifying needs with hard numbers (airport expansion example) and making long term plans and budgeting was discussed.

The Update from Dean's/District Wislines included: Waukesha, Milwaukee, Kenosha & Racine counties have formed a 4-county urban cluster and will work together as a self-directed work team with rotating leadership. Other counties from the SE District will join neighboring Districts (Walworth joining the Southern District; Ozaukee, Sheboygan & Washington Counties joining the NE District - renamed Eastern District; Menomonie and Shawno counties will become part of Central District). Yvonne Horton is the new Associate Dean (replacing Ellen Fitzsimmons).

Kathy Miller, Bayfield County Family Living Agent, will be Interim District Director while John Preissing completes his Ph.D. work starting in September.

Upcoming Department Head Activities:

-2005 County Budget figures due to County Clerk by August 19.
-Department Annual Report to County Board, August 19.
-District Department Head meeting, August 24 in Cornucopia, WI on Lake Superior.
-August 26 Dean Arlen Leholm visit to Burnett County.

A discussion was held about a dedication ceremony and resolution honoring Doug Stubbe and his military service in Iraq. Plans are being made to present the honor during the September County Board meeting. Marilyn will check on a plaque.

B. Agent Reports

Mike Kornmann, Community Resource Development - Mike has been meeting with area leaders to identify interest in developing a steering committee to guide the leadership program. One Siren School Board member has agreed to help. In addition, the Siren/Webster Rotary Club has adopted the project as a new service project and is encouraging three other clubs in Burnett and Polk counties to do the same. The leadership program will be a two-county steering committee. The committee will also be exploring the role of youth in the program.

The long range plan for the Grantsburg Fire Association is nearing completion. Some further research is being done by the committee members to show the effects of funding alternatives that are more closely tied to use of the fire department.

The Grantsburg Fire Department covers Trade Lake, Wood River, Grantsburg, Anderson and West Marshland townships.

Mike is working on developing a business competition to encourage entrepreneurship and development of effective business plans. Mike will be partnering with Julianne Raymond at the SBDC to do the business plan education program. Hopefully key economic development oriented businesses will be able to fund a cash prize and a no interest loan if the business is started or expanded within one year. The goal is to make this an annual program. Discussion was held on "junk" around the county and efforts for a successful "clean-up" incentive program.

No July meeting was scheduled or held for BCDA.

Wisconsin's Northwest Heritage Passage held their July meeting. The new maps are out. This marketing effort links art, heritage and agriculture in a regional partnership. Key Burnett County businesses are represented. An expo will be held in October.

Almost 300 people attended the Northwest Lake Leaders Conference at Telemark Resort. The conference has grown each year an is the second best lakes conference in the state. Mike attended updates on the nonconforming structures legislation and the rusty crayfish exotic species lecture.

The Burnett County Lakes and Rivers Association is working on emphasizing the support of rivers in the county, mainly the Yellow and Clam. Directors are coaching potential new lake associations on Austin and Tabor Lakes. Three of the board members are very active in organizing the Northwest Lake Leaders Conference. Most likely some money for education from the proceeds of the conference will be received. Area lake problems and forming a lake district was discussed. Milfoil in the lakes is a serious problem and efforts to control the problem was discussed.

A post event meeting covering the Great Birding Trail Grand Opening is being held this week. Future meetings will address how to proceed for the 2005 event. A draft evaluation report has been completed. Discussion and ideas were shared and discussed.

Doug Stubbe now here, 10:45 a.m.

Peterson inquired about the Burnett County Farmer's Market. Was wondering about the effectiveness of the time it is open.

Doug Stubbe, 4-H/Youth Development - Ellie Tripp, our summer intern, presented the 4-H/Youth Development report.

Doug is registered for the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents Conference October 30-November 5 in Oklahoma City. Professional Development funds from the Northern District were requested and $500 was approved to help offset the cost.

The Dairy Breakfast held June 19 at the Kidder farm, had approximately 1,700 guests. This number was down from previous years, but is believed to be caused by the location.

Doug Stubbe attended the State Youth Conference in Madison June 21-24. Burnett County 4-H had three members in attendance. Included were Robert Lake, Jade Johnson and Jena Coyour. As a result of the conference, Doug met with State Adventures Specialist, Steve Kinzel and agreed to write a WI 4-H Basic Rock Climbing educational manual. Megan Branstad's art piece was selected for one of two Director's Award at the state exhibit. Megan is a member of the Jolly H's Club and will find out about this award at her club meeting Monday, July 19.

The Community Partnership Advisory Committee workshop was held in Medford on June 29. Doug Stubbe and Marilyn Kooiker attended this conference together and will meet with the office staff and agents to determine recommendations to share with the Extension Committee.

On June 30 Doug Stubbe and Marilyn Kooiker attended the Budget Development workshop at Palmquist Farms in Brantwood, WI. One key piece coming from the conference was the need for counties to have a Capitol Improvement Plan that includes a Debt Policy. This takes pressure off the Operating Budget.

The Central Burnett County Fair was held in Webster July 7-11. Ellie Tripp was chosen to judge the best looking Demolition Derby Car before the derby.

There are currently 24 youth registered for the 4-H camp July 21-24.

Two adults and five youth from 4-H are traveling to Clarion County, PA on August 1 as part of the Inter-State 4-H exchange.

Rebecca Olson of Wood River Beavers will be attending the WI State Fair on August 12-15 to present her first place Demonstration, "Summer Snowman", from the Burnett County 4-H Cultural Arts Contest held in March.

Upcoming Events:

-4-H Summer Camp on Lake 26, July 21-24
-4-H Garden Tour, July 28
-4-H State Exchange Trip, Aug. 2-8
-Burnett County Agricultural Society Fair, Grantsburg, Aug. 26-29
-Chancellor Leholm visits Burnett County, Aug. 26

Gene Olson suggested checking into a piece of property in the Falun area that might be available to put up a rock climbing wall. Gene will check with former county board member Susan Bohn, who's family has the property, and will report back to the board next month.

Continued discussion on 4-H programs and projects, including the efforts of launching a successful shooting sports program, was talked about.

Marilyn Kooiker, Family Living - Marilyn attended the District Family Living meeting in Sawyer County on June 22. The topic, Family Living program updates and covering kids and families-health issues. Discussion on the health insurance issues took place among the committee and agents. Program sharing was done with Program Leader, Laurie Boyce and Liaison Mary Huser.

Met with Habitat for Humanity family (new house being built in Siren) on budgeting and home ownership.

Helped at Webster fair with Foods and Nutrition Department and Clothing/Knitting/Home Furnishings Department.

Upcoming Family Living Activities:

-Meeting with Gail Peavey, Polk County Family Living Agent, July 22.
-Phone Conference on Public Policy Committee plans, July 29.
-August 12 HCE Executive Board meeting, 7 p.m.
-Wisline Lunch & Learn on "Educational Programming with Incarcerated Populations", August 13.
-District Family Living meeting, Ashland County, August 19.
-Family Living Department Research & Studies Committee, August 20.
-Housing Collaborative meeting, August 24.
-Grantsburg Fair, August 26-29.

Other notes of interest: The Ag. Agents will be attending the August Extension Committee meeting; Doug Stubbe will be on vacation the week of August 16-21, and Support Staff, Wanda Hinrichs, is running for County Clerk.

V. Any Other Business

Ellie Tripp presented a Power Point presentation on the needs and uses of a county purchased vehicle for UW-Extension, with building-wide use possibilities. In her presentation she posed the advantages of a smaller 7-8 passenger van verses a larger 12-16 passenger van. Consensus of the committee was to look further into the purchases of the larger of the vans; include supporting data of cost justification and present in the 2005 budget. Chairman Miller asked for a motion to be made. Motion made by Olson seconded by Peterson, to submit the request for the van in the 2005 budget.

Mary Falk shared information on the interviews she held with the Burnett County Humane Society and the Lost, Found and Fostered group, also operating in Burnett County. The purpose of the interview was to possibly come up with a recommendation in support of one or both groups and bring back that information to the committee. In her findings, Mary brought back a recommendation to NOT support either group at this time, as both are very dysfunctional in many ways and it would not be advantageous to support either at this time. No action was taken on the matter at this time.

VI. Set Next Meeting Date

Next meeting date will be held on Monday, August 16, 2004 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 165 of the Burnett County Government Center.

Adjournment - Motion to adjourn the July 19, 2004 meeting was made by Peterson, seconded by Olson. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. by Chairman Maury Miller.