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Advisory committee urges hiring or reallocation of county agricultural staff to support Soil and Water office
Summary
Members asked the county to reallocate an existing position to provide agricultural support at the Soil and Water office rather than create a new budgeted position; letters requesting the change were sent to the county budget committee.
Members of the Oconee County Agricultural Advisory Committee urged the county to provide dedicated agricultural staff support by reassigning an existing position rather than adding a new budgeted post.
Committee members said they sent two letters to the budget committee — one requesting matching funds for the Farm Center sewer and one asking the county to hire (or reallocate) an agricultural staff position. Committee members described a presentation by member Kim to the county budget committee, which they said was received “fairly positive,” and said the committee’s approach emphasizes using an existing position or shifting duties so the county budget would not increase.
Members discussed placing the role within the Soil and Water office so the person could coordinate work among USDA Farm Services, Clemson Extension and NRCS, which all share building space and resources. Committee members said that office already receives partial county funding for some positions and that a reallocation or reassignment could be administratively feasible; they requested staff help in drafting language to bring back to the committee.
No formal county position was approved at the meeting. Committee members described the plan as an advocacy step: to persuade the budget committee to identify and reassign an existing position or duties rather than request a new appropriation.
