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• <br />Indian River County is now at a critical stage in developing the educational <br />outreach as it relates to the Clean Water Act and the County s stormwater <br />initiatives. The education component is a necessary for grant opportunities and <br />Legislative funding. <br />In October, I received a letter from IFAS suggesting the creation of combination <br />County Extension Director/Water Quality Agent and an Environmental <br />Horticultural Agent in Indian River County. It was obvious from this letter that the <br />University did not realize the importance of the water quality position. A <br />combination of a CED/Water Quality position would not be effective and would <br />not be in the best of the County. <br />Yesterday, October 21, 2002, I received verbal assurance that the funding from <br />IFAS would be re -instated without the CED but I foresee continuing problems at <br />the County Extension Office, not only with the water quality position, but with <br />some of the other programs. <br />Therefore. I would like to recommend to this Board that an ad hoc committee be <br />set up immediately This committee will need only a short timeframe (60 days) to <br />make recommendations to the Commission on the programs and their future <br />direction, especially that of a water quality position. I would further recommend <br />that Hildie Tripson, Chairman of the Extension Advisory Committee, Michael <br />Ziegler, member of the Soil and Water District, Holly Dill. Executive Director of <br />the Environmental Learning Center. and Lex Kromhout be ask to serve on this <br />committee. <br />Chairman Stanbridge stated that the County is at a critical juncture regarding its <br />stormwater initiative and the clean water act. An educational outreach is required and is very <br />important in the grant funding process. It is very apparent that the University of Florida's <br />Extension Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) did not realize how important this <br />outreach program is in recommending that the Water Quality Agent position be combined with <br />the position of County Extension Director. She received assurance from the University that <br />funding will be reinstated but problems will occur regarding these positions and several other <br />Extension programs. She requested that an ad hoc committee be initiated with a 60 -day <br />timeframe and asked for the Board's support. <br />OCTOBER 22, 2002 <br />35 <br />i <br />• <br />