Dickinson commissioners will review agreement next

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

After reviewing a proposed operational agreement for a joint Marion and Dickinson county extension district, county commissioners voted Monday to approve the document.

If Dickinson County commissioners approve the agreement in two weeks, it will be sent to the state attorney general’s office for approval.

The district will be known as Chisholm Trail Extension District.

At this time, Marion County has two agents and Dickinson County has four agents.

Under the agreement, Kansas State University will help fund two Marion County extension agents and three Dickinson County agents, with the third paid a lesser rate than the other two. KSU doesn’t pay the agents’ full salaries. The district will pay the remaining portion, just as the counties do now. At this time, Dickinson County itself pays the sixth extension agent.

The newest agent hired by Dickinson County will devote a majority of her time to aging services in Dickinson County for a minimum of five years, working in conjunction with Marion County Department on Aging. Dickinson County commissioners recently said they wanted to have an agent to serve the county’s seniors.

Dickinson County agriculture agent Tony Whitehair said the county recently hired a fourth extension agent paid solely by the county. She will work with families in areas such as Medicare supplements, senior health and nutrition, and financial planning.

“Her title is family resource management,” Whitehair said.

The operating agreement calls for a mill levy cap of two mills for the district, and for governing body members to be elected by the public.

Each county will continue to have its own county fair, Whitehead said.