By David Heiller

Argus News Editor

Houston County commissioners met two University of Extension Service workers at their February 8 meeting.

Jerry Tesmer, the new county agricultural agent, and Jan Beyer, a nutrition educator, told board members about their jobs.

The board approved Tesmerís hiring last month for a quarter-time position to work on farm issues. The position was eliminated last year due to budget constraints, but was reinstated this year at a cost of $18,450.

Tesmer has been with Extension for 17 years, with a specialty in farm management. ìIíve been very general,î he said, referring to his approach to the ag tech job.

He will be at the extension office at 620 North Highway 44/76 in Caledonia most Tuesdays. He also works 3/4 time for Winona and Fillmore Counties.

After giving commissioners a sheet detailing his ag tech duties for the past month, Tesmer said he would find Houston Countyís strong point in about a year.

ìSheep,î second district commissioner Kevin Kelleher of Houston said. Kelleher raises sheep.

Dave Corcoran, who was on the committee that recommended hiring Tesmer, said Houston County needs Tesmerís wide range of experience.

Nutritionist too

Jan Beyer told the board that she is in Houston County two days a month conducting classes on nutrition at two womenís resource facilities, and at Bluff Country Learning Options, an alternative school in Hokah.

ìThereís a real need for our program,î she said, noting that two of three people are obese.

Her goal is to try to get people to make better choices with good. ìWe do hands-on food preparation with them,î she added. They plans meals together, and work on budget issues too.

ìWe try to do things in a way that actually helps implement making changes,î she said.

Linda Grupa, Houston County Director of Public Health, said she is pleased to be working with Beyer, and has heard good feedback from clients.

Beyerís nutrition work is funded through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

New squad cars coming

Also at last weekís meeting, the board heard a report from the sheriffísí department chief deputy Ken Frank on upcoming squad car purchases. These are budgeted items, so the board did not need to approve them.

The sheriffís department will purchase two GM program vehicles from Ellingson Motors and a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria from Pladsen Ford. They will put the sheriffís squad car on the road as a patrol vehicle, and replace it with a 2004 Chevy Trail Blazer. The Blazerís all-wheel drive will come in handy, Frank said. They will also replace a transport vehicle.

Appointed vs elected

In a meeting report at the end of the two-hour-long meeting, fifth district commissioner Tom Bjerke of Spring Grove asked board members for their input on an idea he had heard discussed about whether county officials who are elected should be appointed instead. He said there is a deadline of this year for that decision to be made.

Some general discussion followed. Auditor Pete Johnson, who is elected official, said it was good to be able to tell the county things to keep them out of trouble, which is something that an appointed person might be reluctant to do.

Fourth District Commissioner Dave Corcoran of Hokah said that the public also feels like they have more control when they can elect people.

Bjerke said he would ask personnel director Tim Comstock to look into the idea. Other elected officials are sheriff, attorney, recorder, and treasurer.

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