Sponsor: Communications & Public Relations
Title
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Appointments to the Extension Committee
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Recommendation
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Appoint Donna McDuffie (incumbent) and Ben Kucera (incumbent) to the Extension Committee for terms beginning January 1, 2020 and ending December 31, 2023.
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Background and Rationale
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The Minnesota Extension Service is under the auspices of the University of Minnesota. Minnesota statutes sections 38.33 to 38.38 require the county to have an extension committee and define County Extension work to include educational programs and services provided by extension educators in the areas of agriculture, agriculture finance, economic development, nutrition, youth leadership development (including 4-H), leadership, and environment and natural resources.
The statutes also define the composition of the extension committee to consist of nine members including two county commissioners, the county auditor or designee, and six members appointed at large by the county board. Appointed members support the County Extension programming in three ways: 1) identifying local community needs and extension resources, 2) providing Extension program support and advocacy, and 3) assisting in the development of an annual County Extension budget request.
There are currently two vacancies on the Extension Committee due to expired terms. Recruitment through the County’s Open Appointment Process resulted in three applications, two from incumbents. On November 6, 2020, the Chief Clerk’s office forwarded the applications to the commissioners for review and recommendation.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The County currently recruits for advisory committee vacancies through an open process, which is currently limited to presence on the county website, GovDelivery distribution lists, and word of mouth by advisory committee members, staff and county commissioners. Changes to the recruitment strategies are being implemented to expand efforts to increase racial diversity and under-represented voices in the appointment process.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Participation by and input from community members appointed to advisory groups helps to shape and improve programs and services for the community, share information and increase the level of understanding through discussion, dialogue and engagement.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Representatives on Ramsey County advisory boards and committees do not receive County compensation; they contribute their time and expertise to provide guidance and oversight to County policies and programs.
County Manager Comments
Appointments to Ramsey County advisory boards and committees are made by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners.
For more information about University of Minnesota Extension, please visit: <https://extension.umn.edu/about-extension/what-we-do>.
Last Previous Action
On December 11, 2018, the County Board appointed Ben Kucera to the Extension Committee for a term ending December 31, 2020 (Resolution B2018-328)
On December 19, 2017, the County Board appointed Donna McDuffie to the Extension Committee for a term ending December 31, 2020 (Resolution B2017-348)
Attachments
1. Extension Committee Membership Roster