CM Regional Council Meeting Minutes June 9

CM Regional Council Meeting Minutes
June 9, 2003
Boone County Extension Center

Chairman Jim Crocker called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.. The council members in attendance represented eight counties.

Howard Simmons, our MECCLC Representative, recently met with the University Alumni Committee at Rolla. The current state budget situation warrants the need for scheduling another “Legislative Day” to be held at the Capital Rotunda at a date to be determined. The message will emphasis the needs and accomplishments of our youth.. The next MECCLC Board meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 13^th.

Mark Stillwell, Regional Director, presented summary results of the March 10 Regional Council Staffing Survey. Mark reviewed the responses with each of the county representatives in attendance for correctness and agreement. To update, he stated that the number of staff vacancies in our central region has increased to nine, with the recent resignations of Darin Starr, Saline County Natural Resource Eng., and Raye Lyn Allen, Boone County YEA.

Because Howard County was unable to fund its Ag Business position, this role became an unassigned floating position. Dana Binder, Pettis County, stated that their county would like to have this position and change it to that of a Nutrition Specialist. They have the need, the funding, and the office space for this specialist and recommended that it be awarded to Pettis County. Sherri Kempf, Cooper County, made the motion and Deanna Crocker, Boone County, seconded. The motion was unanimously passed. Filling its Ag requirements, Dana stated the priority rating for filling their three vacancies was Ag., Nutrition and then B & I Specialist.

Mark Stillwell stated that, if the university’s state budget apportionment reduction was approximately 6.8% for year 2004, there could be twenty statewide positions filled beginning on July 1, 2003. For the central region, he felt that three positions could possibly be advertised in the next 90 days. After a lengthy discussion of the methodology of determining county staffing priorities, the council recommended the order of filling the three positions as follows:

1) Chariton County - 4-H Youth Specialist.

2) Morgan County - Agronomy with some Horticulture .

3) Benton County - Livestock with some Ag.

Both Jim and Deanna Crocker communicated that the low pay scale and demanding workload associated with the YEA’s position need to be reviewed. As a result, Boone County has lost an excellent YEA, Raye Lyn Allen, and has a huge void to fill. Mark Stillwell highlighted that there will be new qualifications for YEA positions. Beginning July 1, 2003, one option for filling the YEA position will require a Bachelors Degree resulting in an increase in salary for that position. The particulars are currently under review by Ron Turner, Pat Sobrero, and etc.

Mark stated that the Regional Travel Account could show a shortfall of approximately 15%. Due to the understaffing situation, our specialists are covering a larger service territory, which, in turn, increases the travel costs. If this trend continues, the council may have to adjust the amount of contributions.

Wayne McReynalds, Saline County, made a motion to accept the current officers until the February, 2004, officer election. The motion was seconded by Sherri Kempf, Cooper County, and approved by the council.

The next meeting will be Monday, September 8, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. at the Boone County Extension Center.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,
Larry Lackey
Acting Secretary