Tri-counties review Extension cooperative
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
The Highland County Board of Commissioners held a year-end review regarding the tri-county Ohio State University Extension program with representatives from OSU Extension, the Adams County Board of Commissioners and the Brown County Board of Commissioners at their Dec. 7 meeting.
Dr. Beverly Kelbaugh, OSU Extension regional director, updated commissioners from the three counties on the program and the three counties’ participation.
“This is just an informal session (to provide) an update on the tri-county extension and changes for rural counties with financial challenges,” Kelbaugh said.
“We want to continue to share activities in these counties. We’ve gone through some staffing changes; Libby McNeal left her position in July, and Kathy Bruynis was added (as a 4-H educator) in November.”
Kelbaugh informed commissioners that Kathy Jelley will be taking a 4-H education position in Brown County following the recent retirement of Becky Cropper, after 33 years of service. Kelbaugh also updated commissioners on the Family and Consumer Sciences program and the Food and Nutrition Program, in addition to the extension’s education program.
Last year, each of the three counties committed to a minimum of $100,000 for the program; however, Kelbaugh said, “We spent more than that in all three counties this year. It appears our budgets are close to $110,000 a year per county. The long-range view is that $100,000 a year probably isn’t enough. For 2012, we can probably do it, but not long-term.”
Highland County Commission President Shane Wilkin told Kelbaugh, “We have budgeted for $50,000, and the support committee has raised its $50,000. We want to continue to support this program.”
Brown County Commissioner Ralph Jennings said, “It has worked well, and I think we should continue to fund it at the level we’re at.”
Brown County Commissioner Bill Geschwind said, “We did budget for it, and we know it is an important service to our county.”
“We’re all doing a little more with a little less, but it is working,” Wilkin said.
The Brown County commissioners also expressed appreciation for the Tobacco Foundation’s contribution to the program.
Speaking for the Adams County Board of Commissioners, Roger Rhonemus told Kelbaugh, “Our local advisory group did vote unanimously to fund this. I will ask: Is it necessary to have a Family and Consumer Science educator in the three counties, or could this coalition purchase these services at a lesser cost?”
“Technically, yes,” Kelbaugh said. “You should be able to purchase these services. We have a pilot program in place. We would have to figure the cost per county, but I think it would be less.”
Rhonemus added that Adams County does not want to lose its Food and Nutrition Program, noting that it is a health and nutrition issue that ultimately saves the county money in the long run.
Adams County Commissioner Brian Baldridge agreed, saying, “We need to continue the educational process, and we need this to function as one ‘geographic unit.’”
“We kind of have to erase these county lines with the program,” Rhonemus said. “We do this with OVRDC (Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission). This has to work this way as well. I think we should be proud, in southern Ohio, that we are the pilot program for the Ohio State University.”
Kelbaugh closed her presentation by asking commissioners from each of the three counties to write a letter of support for the tri-county Extension program.
“If you are willing to do this, it would be appreciated,” Kelbaugh said.
Commissioners from all three counties agreed to write the letter of support.[[In-content Ad]]
Dr. Beverly Kelbaugh, OSU Extension regional director, updated commissioners from the three counties on the program and the three counties’ participation.
“This is just an informal session (to provide) an update on the tri-county extension and changes for rural counties with financial challenges,” Kelbaugh said.
“We want to continue to share activities in these counties. We’ve gone through some staffing changes; Libby McNeal left her position in July, and Kathy Bruynis was added (as a 4-H educator) in November.”
Kelbaugh informed commissioners that Kathy Jelley will be taking a 4-H education position in Brown County following the recent retirement of Becky Cropper, after 33 years of service. Kelbaugh also updated commissioners on the Family and Consumer Sciences program and the Food and Nutrition Program, in addition to the extension’s education program.
Last year, each of the three counties committed to a minimum of $100,000 for the program; however, Kelbaugh said, “We spent more than that in all three counties this year. It appears our budgets are close to $110,000 a year per county. The long-range view is that $100,000 a year probably isn’t enough. For 2012, we can probably do it, but not long-term.”
Highland County Commission President Shane Wilkin told Kelbaugh, “We have budgeted for $50,000, and the support committee has raised its $50,000. We want to continue to support this program.”
Brown County Commissioner Ralph Jennings said, “It has worked well, and I think we should continue to fund it at the level we’re at.”
Brown County Commissioner Bill Geschwind said, “We did budget for it, and we know it is an important service to our county.”
“We’re all doing a little more with a little less, but it is working,” Wilkin said.
The Brown County commissioners also expressed appreciation for the Tobacco Foundation’s contribution to the program.
Speaking for the Adams County Board of Commissioners, Roger Rhonemus told Kelbaugh, “Our local advisory group did vote unanimously to fund this. I will ask: Is it necessary to have a Family and Consumer Science educator in the three counties, or could this coalition purchase these services at a lesser cost?”
“Technically, yes,” Kelbaugh said. “You should be able to purchase these services. We have a pilot program in place. We would have to figure the cost per county, but I think it would be less.”
Rhonemus added that Adams County does not want to lose its Food and Nutrition Program, noting that it is a health and nutrition issue that ultimately saves the county money in the long run.
Adams County Commissioner Brian Baldridge agreed, saying, “We need to continue the educational process, and we need this to function as one ‘geographic unit.’”
“We kind of have to erase these county lines with the program,” Rhonemus said. “We do this with OVRDC (Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission). This has to work this way as well. I think we should be proud, in southern Ohio, that we are the pilot program for the Ohio State University.”
Kelbaugh closed her presentation by asking commissioners from each of the three counties to write a letter of support for the tri-county Extension program.
“If you are willing to do this, it would be appreciated,” Kelbaugh said.
Commissioners from all three counties agreed to write the letter of support.[[In-content Ad]]