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Extension office moves to smaller suite; committee weighs county funding for health educator to replace FoodWIse
Summary
County extension staff will move into a smaller administration suite this week, reducing storage and meeting space. Committee discussed replacing the FoodWIse nutrition role with a county‑funded half‑time health and well‑being educator (estimated $40,000–$42,000) and agreed to place the idea on a future agenda for evaluation.
The Ashland County Extension office will relocate into the administration office suite this week, a staff member announced, a shuffle that reduces the extension office from six rooms to three and eliminates dedicated storage and an internal meeting area.
“We are going down to 3 rooms, with no storage,” the Area Extension Director (referred to in discussion as Mary) told the committee, adding the move was communicated the day the new 4‑H educator started. The director said the finance committee approved holding over more than $35,000 in unspent 2025 extension funds (largely from a vacancy), which can be used to purchase cabinets or bookcases as needed after the move.
Committee members raised concerns about the loss of meeting space and scheduling when staff share offices. Several members noted the county has limited overall space and that shared offices will require careful calendar coordination.
Members then discussed how to replace programming lost when the FoodWIse nutrition educator role was reduced. The director said some tribal‑focused nutrition work continues under a FERTEP (Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program) grant through September via staff like Marissa and Stephanie, but broader county programming has declined.
Charlie Ortman proposed the committee evaluate funding a half‑time county position to sustain health and well‑being education and suggested trying a half‑time trial before scaling. “It’s 40,000 for 42,000 doesn’t seem like much to try an investment,” Ortman said. The committee agreed to add an item to a future agenda to evaluate the position; the director said she would put the matter on a future committee agenda and discuss particulars with county administration.
The committee set its next meeting for March 23 and adjourned by voice vote at about 10:00 a.m.
