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9.a) Washington County Extension Service, Funding of 4H Program Meeting Date: 03/15/2011 Agenda Item: � � � City Council Agenda Report City of Scandia 14727 209th St. North Scandia, MN 55073 (651) 433-2274 Action Requested: Consider a request from the Washington County Extension Service to provide funds for the 4H program. Deadline/Timeline: N/A Background: . Washington County has reduced its contributions to the 4H program and they are looking for funding from municipalities in order to support programs including the Washington County Fair. They are requesting "a grant in the range of$500 to $10,000." • Cities are not permitted to make donations. However, a state law passed in 2010 (Minnesota Statutes Section 38.345) provides that "The Council of any City and the Board of Supervision of any town may incur expenses and spend money for county extension work... " Recommendation: The Council should consider the request. The 2011 budget does not currently include a contribution for county extension work. Attachments/ • Letter dated January 25, 2011 from Dan Dolan, President of the Materials provided: Washington County Agricultural Society Contact(s): Dan Dolan, 651 459-4527 Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator (4H Extension Request) Page 1 of 1 03/02/11 M�NNEs'oT/� UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA � ti �� b �t` WASHINGTON COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE 14949 —62°d St N Phone: 651-430-6800 Stillwater, MN 55082 Fax: 651-430-6811 RECEIVED January 25, 2011 (�+�►� � _ ����4� Mayor Dennis Seefeldt CITY OF SCANDIA 14727 209th St. N Scandia, MN 55073-8503 Dear Mayor Seefeldt, This letter is to request a grant frorn the City of Scandia to help keep the 4H program available to families of Washington County. Our need for the funds is due to the significant reduction in funding by Washington County. In the 20101egislative session, Governor Pawlenty signed into law the following: "The Council of any City and the Board of Supervision of any town may incur expenses and spend money for county extension work" as provided in Section 38.33 to 38.38. The Washington County Commissioners requested the 4H Federation to prepare information and data regarding the economic impact 4-H has on the local communities. In response, we conducted a survey of our 4-H clubs. We learned that for every $1.00 invested in the 4-H programs, approximately $10.00 is put back into the businesses of our communities. In the past year, our clubs logged approximately 16,000 community service hours. These hours were spent: running food drives for various food shelves, doing highway clean-up, making blankets for kids in hospitals, working with Feed My Starving Children, making Valentines for Veterans, acting as bell ringers for the Salvation Army, taking State Fair projects to the residents at the Maplewood Care Center for"State Fair Days", making soldier care packages, working and performing for Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE), collecting Toys for Tots and working for the Hoofed Animal Rescue. Scandia has 4-H members in Big Lakes and Town of May 4-H Clubs. If the Washington County 4-H program is eliminated, there will be a significant impact on the Washington County Fair. The 4-H program occupies eight of the twelve major buildings at the fairgroLmds and provides many of the fair's volunteers. In addition, many of the daily events are tied to the 4-H activities. Mayor Dennis Seefeldt City of Scandia January 25, 2011 Page Two It is our intent to meet with all the municipalities in Washington County to enlist your support for the 4-H program. We are requesting a grant in the range of$500 to $10,000. Funds may be directed to the "Washington County 4-H Federation" at Washington County 4-H, 14949 62nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082. Please contact me at (651) 459-4527 or email me at danandjandolan(a�comcast.net to schedule a meeting with the city council. Thank you for your support of the Washington County 4-H Program. Sincerely, ���� ��� ��.�-�--' Dan Dolan President of t11e Washington County Agricultural Society cc: Anne Hurlburt, City Administrator, City of Scandia