The first step in relocating UW-Extension offices out of the Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport terminal basement happened Monday.
The Oneida County Conservation and UW-Extension committee passed a motion to recommend moving staff. The committee has been wrestling with air quality issues for some Extension staff, who have complained of sensitivities to engine fumes from planes at the airport. A study found the air quality to be within safe boundaries. Other remediation measures also didn't work, leaving the situation to stay, move temporarily, or find a new home.
Extension staff leader Lynn Feldman felt moving the staff affected to other county office space wasn't a good option...
"....because UW-Extension is a unified front where everybody is working together. on projects. We also have office staff. So to divide people up you lose your customer service base...."
Several options were discussed, but former Extension agent and current county board supervisor Jim Winkler made a motion to begin the process of finding new offices for UW-Extension...
".....I'd like to make a motion that we proceed to move UW-Extension out of the airport to a desirable location..."
Winkler worked in the office space for several years. But Supervisor Rob Jensen said the county is obligated to pay it's portion of the airport costs and the loss of revenue had to be considered should the $20,000 go somewhere else. The committee decided to make a move so extension staff could look at more options.
Feldman will talk with county Buildings and Grounds about possible options. Any move will need full county board approval. Also as a backdrop is a possible regionalization of UW-Extension staff, now being considered at a state level.
