County Continues Hunt For Extension Agent
Roosevelt County and Montana State University Extension continue to hope to find a family and consumer sciences Extension agent.
The position has been empty since Ardis Oelkers retired in September 2023 after 34 years of service.
Montana State University handles the hiring process including advertising for the position. At least one county commissioner will be involved with interviewing potential applicants.
Commissioner Gordon Oelkers said that Wendy Becker is handling a good job of handling the 4-H responsibilities.
The county, however, isn’t having some educational programs that they would offer if a FCS Extension agent was on board.
Financially, the county saves roughly $3,600 a month without the agent’s salary. Commissioner Oelkers explains that the funds carry over from one fiscal year to the next. He said the amount could possibly be moved to another part of that office’s budget during a year, but commissioners prefer not to perform such line item changes.
The county is also saving financially by not currently having a deputy county attorney.
He said those funds help the county with the carry over cash the county is required to have during the first three months of fiscal year.
“But you want to fill these positions so Roosevelt County has these services,” Oelkers said.
