May 9, 2003May 9, 2003
The DeKalb County outreach and extension center closed May 5. The closing occurred after the DeKalb County Commission reduced funding for center operations below the $10,000 statutory minimum to $2,500 for 2003.
In a March 11 St. Joseph News-Press article, Council Chairman John Murphy said: "Nobody wants to make this decision, but we have no other choice but to close it. We can't maintain an office on $208.33 a month."
No programming will occur in the county, says NW Region Director Karma Metzgar. Residents may access UO/E resources in surrounding counties and through UO/E websites. Half-time YEA Dorothy Salisbury will be relocated to Buchanan County. Eighty-five 4-H members have elected to transfer their memberships to Buchanan, Clinton and Gentry counties. The council will continue to meet the first Monday of each month to develop a plan to restore funding.
"We view this situation as temporary," Metzgar says. "The council is communicating with the commission about how critical each partner's contribution is to the extension mission. Should the council receive the minimum $10,000 statutory requirement, negotiations to reintroduce programs and services will resume."
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Eileen Yager,
yagere@umsystem.edu |
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