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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAg & ext 3 Minutes March 19 2018AGRICULTURE AND EXTENSION EDUCATION/FAIR COMMITTEE MEETING Monday, March 19, 2018 9:00 a.m. The meeting was called to order by Committee Chairman Roger Guthrie. Present, in addition to Guthrie were John Patcle, Mark Stead, Grant Loy, Dan Timmerman, Mike Lieurance, Bob Keeney, Amy Olson, Paul Ohlrogge, Lori Vesperman, James Schneider, Bev Doll, Donna Peterson, Charisse Orth, Sara Bruks, Matt Graney, Tami Wiedenback, Keith Dalsing, Ben Wood, John Kohlenberg, Bruce Allen, Todd Wolf, Ben Johnson, Gary Schier, Dave Drone, Paul Langmeier, Jake Wagner, Mark Stephens, Ryan Pilling, Marshall Reynolds, Jr., Terry Duve, Ryan Pierce and Mic Dressler. The meeting notice was posted at the UW-Extension Office, Youth & Agriculture Center and mailed to media and Administration Building by Lori Vesperman and posted on the website by the Grant County Clerk’s Office. Motion by Mike Lieurance, seconded by John Patcle, to approve the second amended agenda. Motion carried. Motion by Dan Timmerman, seconded by Grant Loy, to approve minutes of the meeting held February 19, 2018. Motion carried. Grant County UW-Extension and Youth & Agriculture Center business was presented. Agent reports were given by Bev Doll and Donna Peterson, James Schneider and Charisse Orth. Paul Ohlrogge gave the Area Extension Director Update. Paul thanked the outgoing committee members for their time and interest. He reported the Lafayette/Green County Family Living position and the Iowa County CRD position has been filled. Paul shared that there are more requests for educators than funding allows. This topic will be discussed at a meeting on March 23. Posting for the Grant County Agriculture Educator position closed on Friday, March 16. Applications will be screened the afternoon of March 19. The chosen applicants will be screened in Madison by phone. Selected candidates will be interviewed in Grant County. Farm Progress Scholarship applications were reviewed. Amy Olson was excused from the meeting during this time and Roger Guthrie chose not to participate in the discussion and decision. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Mike Lieurance to award the Farm Progress Days Scholarship to Carter Freymiller. Motion carried. Motion by Dan Timmerman, seconded by John Patcle, to approve UW-Extension vouchers. Motion carried. Amy Olson gave the grounds and maintenance and Youth & Agriculture Center report. Karla Witzig was hired as the limited term employee for the UW-Extension Office to assist with 4-H. Routine maintenance is being performed, including waxing the Youth & Agriculture Center floors. Amy Olson presented Fair and Fairgrounds business. Changes for the Saturday night tractor pull were discussed. Motion by Roger Guthrie, seconded by Grant Loy, to divide the 12500 stock class to make a 13000 farm class with a speed limit of 12 mph along with the 12500 class, and eliminate the stock diesel truck class, since there were only three entries in 2017. Motion carried. The TKO band will perform Friday night in the Wisconsin Bank and Trust Entertainment Tent and local bands will perform on Saturday from noon until midnight. Amy spoke with Rick Sanson. Finals for the Newline Real Estate Tri-State’s Got Talent Finals will be held on Sunday. There will be a two separate categories, individual performances and group band performances. Discussion was held on the new swine barn. Amy gave an update on the Pork Supper fundraiser for the swine barn. Volunteer signup has been requested from 4-H and FFA swine project families to help with the supper. The second payment for pens from the swine barn was received. Amy spoke with Seth Byler and plans are in the works to tear down the swine barn the first part of April; it must be completed by April 13. Chassity Bennett contacted Amy letting her know that Mike Bennett is willing to donate labor for the plumbing in the new swine barn. Amy was contacted by Dennis Hampton, the city Building Inspector and Zoning Administrator, regarding necessary building permit and destruction paperwork. Additional details needed in the swine barn plans made it necessary for an addendum. Due to the timeline of the addendum and planned bid opening of today, March 19, the bid opening date will be changed and a pre-bid meeting will be held today. Sponsorship and promotion for the 2018 Fair was discussed. Charisse informed the committee that the 4-H Leaders Association will purchase the remaining bleachers needed for the new swine bard and for use on the Fairgrounds. Amy is working on posters. This year’s theme is Summer Nights and Carnival Lights. She will be making face to face visits with sponsors. Motion by Grant Loy, seconded by Dan Timmerman to sign a contract with South Central Wisconsin Tractor Pullers for $4,600.00 Motion carried. The district meeting will be held Wednesday, April 4, in Viroqua. DATCP has requested using the milking facility for a bulk milk truck driver training. They would use the facility two days each in June, July and August. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by Mike Lieurance, to charge DATCP $50 plus the cost of water for each month/training. Motion carried. Motion by John Patcle, seconded by Mike Lieurance to accept the offer to purchase gates for the Livestock Facility from UW-Platteville’s Pioneer Dairy Club and Block & Bridle Club. Motion carried. Motion by Dan Timmerman, seconded by John Patcle, to approve fairground vouchers. Motion carried. Motion by Mark Stead, seconded by John Patcle to pass the livestock claim from David Walker on to the full county board for approval recommending paying half of the total amount of $1,575, pending completion of the investigating portion of the form. Motion carried. Motion by Roger Guthrie, seconded by Mike Lieurance, to approve the livestock claim in the amount of $300 to the Grant County Humane Society and send on to the full county board for approval. One no vote. Motion carried. Sara Burks and Matt Graney, representing the West Grant Saddle Club, attended the meeting to discuss the need to make changes and expand the area of use for the arena on the fairgrounds. They provided a sketch of their plans. Amy and the maintenance staff will review the plans. They will be put on the May agenda for further discussion. Tami Wiedenbeck, representing Farm Bureau, attending the meeting to discuss use of the Eckstein Exhibit Hall for an event, due to a scheduling conflict at Vesperman Farms. She requested a reduced or waived fee. Motion by Mike Lieurance, seconded by Mark Stead, to reduce the fee to half, for Farm Bureau’s use of the Eckstein Exhibit Hall on March 24, 2018, due to a conflict with Vesperman Farms. Motion carried. Motion by Mike Lieurance, seconded by Dan Timmerman, to move to closed session per state statute 19.85 (1) (c) considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility as it relates to the performance evaluation of the Grant County Fairgrounds & Operations Manager. Roll call vote unanimous. Motion carried. Motion by Dan Timmerman, seconded by Mark Stead, to return to open session. Motion carried. The committee recessed at 11:20 a.m. and reconvened at 1:00 p.m. A pre-bid meeting for the swine barn was held. Keith Dalsing, KD Engineer Consultants, was present for discussion and questions on the bidding process and design of the building. Bid opening for the swine barn will be held on Monday, March 26, at 9:00 a.m. Motion by Dan Timmerman, seconded by Mike Lieurance, to adjourn. Motion carried. The next meeting is set for March 26, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., for the bid opening for the swine barn. The next regular scheduled meeting will be Monday, April 16, at 9:00 a.m. Adjourned at 1:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Mark Stead Secretary Lori Vesperman Recording Secretary