Galesburg Reporter

University of Illinois Unit 17 Extension Council met Sept. 9.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

The meeting was called to order by Nancy Derby at 6:30 p.m. New members were welcomed and introduced by Doug Harlan.

Doug asked if there were any public comments – none were made.

Members present: Nancy Derby, Dave Mills, Janell Baum Thomas, Zach Howell, Trinity Mata, David White, Jake Franklin, Matthew Franklin, Corissa Godbee, Dale Lattz, Katie Sellmeyer, and Ray Spencer.

Staff present: Doug Harlan, Jamie Boas, Caitlin Mellendorf, Trinity Johnson and Staci Coussens.

The minutes from the May 2019 were presented. Katie Sellmeyer moved that they be approved. Janell Baum-Thomas seconded the motion. Motion was approved.

Doug briefly explained the advisory role of the Extension Council. He noted that the Council was to help the Unit staff in the identification educational needs in the community. He also told explained the Council’s role in assisting the Unit with educational program planning.

The Council voted to continue to meet on the second Monday of September, November, March and May. The November meeting will be in Macon County on November 11th at 6:30 pm. Katie Sellmeyer noted that this was Veterans Day. Doug told the Council this was a work day for Extension. He asked if anyone had an objection to meeting on the 11th. No one objected. The March 2020 Council meeting will be in DeWitt County on March 9th at 6:30 pm. The May 2020 Council meeting will be in Piatt County on May 11th at 6:30 pm.

Doug noted that there were only two new members on the Council this year. He said that much of the agenda was set to explain fiscal reports. He asked if anyone had any questions. No questions were asked.

Doug provided the council with the June 2019 fiscal reports for Macon, Dewitt, and Piatt. Doug told the Council that the Unit had closed Fiscal Year 2019 well under budget in terms of expenses. He said that the income was on budget. He also provide the council with a budget update regarding state funding of the FY 2019 County Board Match (CBM). He told the Council that Extension had received all of its FY 2018 County Board Match money, but that the State had not paid any of the FY 2019 CBM. Doug told the Council that the Extension Law language that provided a loophole for the state to not pay its CBM obligations has been closed. The Extension Law stated that the state “may” provide funding. In May 2019, the legislature passed and the governor signed a change to the law. It now states that the state “will” provide funding.

Doug explained that Kim Gibbons needed to be removed from the DeWitt County In and Out Account signature card. Kim is the former 4H EPC in DeWitt County. The Board unanimously approved this action.

Doug asked the current slate of officers if they would be willing to serve another year. They answered in the affirmative. The Council voted to approve Nancy Derby as Chair, Zach Howell as Vice Chair and Jo Bauer as Secretary.

Doug provided the Council with a personnel update. He told the Council that the open Horticulture position’s interviews were set for October 4th. Doug told the council that as soon as the Horticulture Educator was hired, the Unit would start the process to hire the new Consumer Economics Educator. He told the Council that Macon County had an open 4H EPC position. The position was vacated when Jenny Bates-Marshkey resigned. The position is currently posted. Doug also said the Rey Dalitto had started this morning as the new SNAP-Ed EPC. Additionally, he said that Beth Miglin had started as the new Horticulture EPC. Jan Wenke had started as the Piatt County 4H EPC and Rachel Davidson had started as the DeWitt/Piatt 4H Schools EPC.

Trinity Johnson presented a short youth idea/design program asking Council members to design a product to solve a problem. Council members enjoyed coming up with ideas and presenting their drawings.

Program Updates:

Each Educator covered their written reports.

No other business or discussion was brought up. Ray Spencer motioned to adjourn the meeting and Trinity Matta seconded the motion. The motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 7:52 pm. Next meeting is November 11, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the Macon County Extension Office.

https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/extension_council_minutes_september_2019.pdf