The county commissioners continue to discuss the hiring of a county extension agent.

The discussion took place during the commissioners’ mid-month meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

At that time, Mary Gompf and Leona Draper, who serve on the county’s extension advisory board, said they  were concerned that if  the commissioners broke ties to CSU and hired an independent extension agent, the current 4-H program would  suffer. 

Gompf and Draper were responding to a recent letter from  CSU extension southern region director Joel Plath.

In that letter, Plath was responding to an e-mail he received from commissioner Carole Custer.

In brief, Plath said Custer’s e-mail dated  Nov. 8  said she was not interested in  having CSU  hire the county’s extension agent  or have control of  the employee.

Commissioner Custer responded to  Gompf and Draper  by saying she did not want to put the 4-H program in jeopardy. 

Commissioner Custer also said that if the county hired its own extension agent, the county could still contract with CSU to provide 4-H services.

Custer also said she thought it might be possible to secure grant dollars to hire an extension agent.

Also on the table, said Custer, is to offer contractual work to various experts instead of  hiring a single full-time extension agent.  Custer noted contract workers would not be paid  benefits, which would save the county dollars.

Gompf and  Draper expressed concern  about using grant dollars and contract workers.  “What do you do when the grant dollars run out?” asked Gompf.

Commissioner Lynn Attebery responded by stating he was also concerned about grant funding. “We need CSU funding,” said Attebery.

Commissioner Attebery also said he was willing to work with CSU to get an agent on board who would be shared regionally with Huerfano and Las Animas counties.

The general consensus of the commissioners was to let commissioner Attebery take the lead in talking with CSU about getting a fulltime extension agent on board as soon as possible. Attebery will also  work with  Huerfano and  Las Animas county officials  on the shared concept.

Custer County has been without an extension agent since May when Karen Crumbaker left after three years on the job.

Serving as part-time interim is Fremont County extension agent Tommy Covington.

Commissioner Custer has stated she would prefer the hiring of a fulltime extension agent who is fully county-funded instead of  a CSU-funded agent.

A CSU-funded agent is paid primarily with CSU funds with the county only picking up $11,800. Commissioners Austin and Attebery have repeatedly stated the county does not have the funds to hire its own agent. 

– Nora Drenner