Minidoka County Soil and Water Conservation District staff needs more hours to help residents.
Yet, more employee hours means the need for a greater budget, said district official John Firth who, with employee Dawn Privett, met with the Minidoka County Commissioners on Monday.
Firth and Privett asked for the increase as Privett has been using nine of her 20 hours allotted during the work week to help out the two Cassia County Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
“They are in need of some help in their office. Dawn knows what she’s doing, and they really like her. We’re hoping this will be for a short time,” Firth said.
The Burley offices helped train Privett after Minidoka officials hired her, and the district wants to pay back the favor by having Privett help in the Cassia offices. The extra money would ensure that Privett keeps her current hours or more in Minidoka County.
Hiring Privett last year gave other conservation district workers the freedom to travel the county helping residents. Privett is specifically there to answer any questions, and, if she can’t answer those, she directs residents to those who can.
The county plans to give the district $3500 this year, and the state will match that with another $3500. Firth asked for $7000 from the county during the 2014-15 fiscal year. Other counties receive as much as $45,000 a year in funding.
All the money received goes back into the community, Firth said.
“I feel like this would be money well spent for the county,” he said.
In the past, the district has helped farmers build cement ditches and convert to sprinkler systems. The organization routinely looks for grants to help improve the county. It’s currently looking into a grant to purchase a No Till Drill that farmers could rent. Firth says the drills help farm fields retain moisture longer. The organization is also helping to put in a more efficient pumping system along the Snake River.
The organization also works with youth groups such as the FFA. Last year it hosted a poster contest and a high school soil judging contest. It also hopes to create a wind break at one of the area schools. It’s in the process of selling trees to residents.
The district is always looking for ways to help area residents, Firth said.
“We’re just trying to make a difference. I just feel if we’re going to make a difference, we need some help,” he said.
Firth also encouraged the commissioners to come up with projects that the district can help the county complete.
“If you have some projects that you might could use some help on, that’s what we use Dawn for. She looks for grants that might coincide with that,” he said.
The commissioners asked Firth and Privett to write a letter requesting an increase in funding that it can review during upcoming budget hearings.
“We’re trying to work with you to make our home a better place and to give us the help we need to keep Dawn working for us,” Firth said.
The commissioners meet again at 9 a.m., Monday, April 7, at the Minidoka County Courthouse. The meeting is open to the public. For more information call 436-7111.
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