Sponsor: Communications & Public Relations
Title
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Appointment to the Extension Committee
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Recommendation
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Appoint Heidi Miller to the Extension Committee for a three-year term beginning July 12, 2022 and ending December 31, 2025.
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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.
For more information about University of Minnesota Extension, please visit: Building a stronger Minnesota together | UMN Extension <https://extension.umn.edu/about-extension/what-we-do>
There is currently one vacancy on the Extension Committee. Recruitment through the county’s open appointment process resulted in one application. On June 8, 2022, the Chief Clerk’s Office forwarded the application to the commissioners for review and recommendation. Additionally, the commissioners held interviews with each applicant, which gave the commissioners the opportunity to engage with and learn more about each applicant beyond just the review of the online applications. On June 22, 2022, three commissioners interviewed the applicants for final recommendation.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Eligibility for appointment on the Extension Committee requires the appointee to be a resident of Ramsey County. The district in which an appointee resides is considered in an effort to reflect the geographic diversity of Ramsey County. In addition, the Extension Committee advises and supports programming such as 4-H Youth Development program. For example, 4-H is focused on programming to better reach the needs of the community with a special focus to successfully serve youth of color. Youth of color currently comprise nearly 50% of those served through 4-H programming in Ramsey County.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Ramsey County is committed to continued efforts to recruit and diversify advisory boards and committee memberships. Recruitment of vacancies were shared through existing members, Ramsey County’s social media platforms, staff and community distribution lists, as well as Ramsey County Commissioners.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
In 2022, Ramsey County began offering compensation for residents serving on formal advisory boards. Members of the Extension Committee had an opportunity to opt-in for a monthly $25 gift card attendance compensation. Advisory board compensation comes from the Community Engagement Fund.
Last Previous Action
On February 8, 2022, the Ramsey County Board appointed Thomas Keul to the Extension Committee for a three-year term ending on December 31, 2025 (Resolution B2022-050).
Attachments
1. Extension Committee Membership Roster