Extension agent plans to retire in '07

The agent has worked in the county since 2000.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
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.
Grateful for help
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 have office hours only 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.
Oelker also thanked the service, which is a part of Ohio State University.
"It's been a great organization to work for and very supportive of me," he said. He could take other openings with the service in Ohio but that would require moving. He's been with the service for 23 years. He came to Columbiana County in 2000.
"I'm looking forward to new challenges," he said.
Oelker said he expects to work for 10 more years in some field. He previously farmed for six years near Millport in Columbiana County.
But Oelker's departure raises questions about the future of some of the projects in which he has been involved.
He has produced newsletters for farmers in Columbiana and Mahoning counties. He's also monitored weather and other threats to crops that must be dealt with in a time-critical manner. That has often meant Oelker went out and walked through fields. While farmers can check the weather, there's no one left to advise farmers on items such as fungus or other problems.
The county's land use study is an advisory document to help subdivisions chart their future. It wasn't clear who could take Oelker's place. A draft report is to be completed by March 15.
Oelker is one of three cooperative extension agents who are helping Salem try to come up with a plan that could shape the city for about 50 years. Salem is looking at everything from jobs to rising drug abuse. But the other agents are from other parts of the state.
"They'll have to take up my part of the study," Oelker said.