Money crunch has Columbiana agent leaving

LISBON — A key official in many of Columbiana County’s ongoing projects is retiring because of the county’s financial woes.

Ernest Oelker, 60, of Boardman, said Monday he will retire sometime between Jan. 21 and Jan. 31.

Oelker is a Cooperative Extension Service agent who has worked with the county’s $53 million annual agriculture industry. He is involved with the county’s Land Use Plan and Salem’s comprehensive plan. Both of the plans are ongoing.

But Oelker said Monday he has notified the service and the commissioners that he is leaving because of the financial woes.

The extension service has struggled for years as voters have rejected sales taxes to fund full county operations.

The commissioners plan to have hearings next month on a 0.5 percent sales tax, but they have not said if they will enact it or put it back on the ballot. Without the $4 million annual receipts from the 0.5 percent tax, the commissioners say they will be looking at a $14 million county budget instead of the needed $18 million.

Oelker thanked the commissioners, and those who have volunteered or donated money to keep the extension office running.

The commissioners are providing space, utilities, and a phone. Oelker said volunteers had raised about $45,000 which along with membership fees should keep fellow cooperative extension service agent Julie Herron through next year’s county fair and possibly beyond.

With the staff down to one agent, the service will only have office hours from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

There are   800 county youths and 125 advisers who take part in 4-H activities and the fair.