Extension could share family living, ag employees

Shawano County looks to split staff with Oconto, Marinette counties
By: 
Lee Pulaski
City Editor

Shawano County is hoping to cut costs by sharing some of its University of Wisconsin-Extension employees with Oconto and Marinette counties.

The subject was brought up by the executive committee July 22 as it was discussing approving a $12,000 contract for services to provide Strong Bodies classes, formerly known as Strong Bones, for older residents. The classes had been very popular throughout the county until the pandemic forced most in-person programs to shut down.

According to Terri Brunner, coordinator for Shawano County’s extension program, the Strong Bodies program had previously been managed by a family living educator, but there is no one in the position currently.

“Through county budget cuts and different transitions with the UW, the county voted years ago to go with a county hire for a healthy families and communities coordinator,” Brunner said. “That person was able to handle the program because she was an instructor with the program and had been trained by the UW, so she was able to continue in that role.”

Brunner said that coordinator moved to a different office with the county and a new one was hired, but then coronavirus broke out — leaving the new coordinator unable to do much in the position. That person left the county last fall.

“Since then, we’ve looked at whether we replace the position, which is a 50-50 hire with no benefits, and we were looking at $22,000 (for the county’s portion) of funds for that position,” Brunner said. “Since then, we’ve done a needs assessment to determine that, because our programs haven’t been going for so long, the people using the programs had found other resources to support what they needed. The only exception has been Strong Bones, now referred to as the Strong Bodies program.”

Brunner noted the contract is contingent on how the county fills the healthy families and communities coordinator position. She said that, since the position is not being filled at present, there is money in the budget for the contracted work.

County Board Chairman Tom Kautza said that things are going to have to be done differently in the county when it comes to job positions, because lackluster wages have been causing county employees — especially with the sheriff’s department — to leave for better-paying jobs. He suggested that the healthy families and communities coordinator and the agriculture agent, both of which are full-time positions covering one county, be shared with Oconto and Marinette counties, which would make Shawano County responsible for one-third of the pay and benefits with those positions.

“When I was on (the) ag and extension (committee), we tried to reduce the ag agent from full time to half time, and it lost out with the committee,” Kautza said. “At the end of the year, if they don’t pass it through ag and extension, we should force them, through the budget process, to go through and join with Oconto and Marinette.”

Kautza added that the other two counties have expressed an interest in merging the positions, and that it’s been something the three counties have discussed for over a year.

“We’ve only got so much to work with, and we’ve got to evaluate the priorities,” he said. “They’ve got theirs whittled right down. They spend almost nothing compared to what we do.”


lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com