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Extension staff changes, well-testing and volunteer events highlighted at county meeting
Summary
Richland County extension staff reported staffing additions, training opportunities, an August invasive-species 'snapshot day', and discussed past well testing and options to resume partially subsidized community testing events.
County extension staff told the Land Conservation Committee about new hires, upcoming trainings, volunteer events and an ongoing conversation about reviving well-testing support.
Chris (county staff) reported the office has issued 23 sanitary permits so far this year compared with 76 for the previous full year, 20 soil and site evaluations (vs. 62 last year), and 66 land-use/building permits to date versus 172 the prior year. He said the office is in a busy season with multiple septic installs underway and that staff is scheduling certification testing for soil testers and house inspectors.
Land conservation staff described training opportunities and volunteer outreach: a land conservation committee training series in June/July and an aquatic invasive-species "snapshot day" on Aug. 10 that will pair a brief training with field surveys at a kayak landing. "We're going to have a little mini training for all volunteers," a staff member said while inviting volunteers for the Aug. 10 event.
On well testing, staff noted water sampling had taken place in October and spring campaigns in 2020–2021 and that the county previously set aside budget money but later removed it because of constraints. Staff said they are exploring cost-sharing approaches with two partner counties and might subsidize samples (for example, a 50% subsidy) if funding can be identified. The committee asked staff to return with budget options during the budget process.
Sheena, the FoodWIse coordinator, said she has accepted a regional community health coordinator position and will transition off FoodWIse on June 30; staff said a posting for the coordinator would go live for approval this week and that the region plans to maintain support for Richland County.
