PORT ANGELES — Clallam County will renew its longstanding agreement with Washington State University Extension next week.
For the first time in more than 15 years, it will do so without an Extension leader.
Curtis Beus, the county’s longtime Extension director, left his post April 1 to take the same job in cattle-rich Okanogan County.
The Pullman-based university is now trying to replace Beus as well as WSU’s Jefferson County Extension Director Katherine Baril, who retired Jan. 1 after 20 years on the job.
Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones said WSU officials considered combining the positions before deciding to hire one director for each county “with an idea that they might find complementary skills.”
“And then both people might work in both counties,” Jones said.
“One person might be an ag specialist and that person would do work in both counties.”
Agreement pending
Clallam County commissioners indicated Monday that they would renew a memorandum of agreement with WSU on April 19.
Terms off the agreement are the same as past years: Clallam County will contribute $21,630 toward the Extension director’s salary and $8,900 for the 4-H youth development program leader.
Although the county budgeted for the full amount, local taxpayers won’t be billed for the director until one is hired.
Jones said WSU has invited Clallam County to participate in the interview process. He said the university hopes to hire a new director soon, although no date has been set.
Clallam County also donates office space and computer support at the Clallam County Courthouse.
WSU operates Extension offices throughout the state.
Last April, WSU President Elson S. Floyd toured the North Olympic Peninsula and quelled rumors that Extension offices like those in Port Angeles and Port Hadlock will be cut.
The school kept the popular 4-H and Master Gardener programs going despite a budget crisis that forced public universities to raise tuitions.
Land grant university
Extensions are the result of land grant colleges that were established by the federal government in 1900 to bring educational programs to rural areas.
The Clallam County Extension office has about 350 volunteers.
Gena Royal, Clallam County Extension 4-H program leader, is the interim Extension director.
Pamela Roberts, also a 4-H program leader, is the interim director of the Jefferson County Extension.
Beus, who grew up on a farm in the Columbia Basin, had been the Clallam County Extension director for nearly 16 years.
“It was time to make a professional move and time to get back to my roots in livestock,” Beus told Peninsula Daily News columnist and former Clallam County Commissioner Martha Ireland.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
