Local News

La Crosse County admin frustrated with state dragging feet over UW-Extension hirings

Published

7 years ago

September 27, 2017

4-H, agricultural agent positions vacant over a year

When the University of Wisconsin-Extension announced plans last year to consolidate offices around Wisconsin, La Crosse County leaders weren’t happy about the plan.

County administrator Steve O’Malley’s unhappiness with the state seems to be growing.

At last week’s county board meeting, O’Malley pointed out that La Crosse County has gone two and a half years without an agricultural agent and almost as long without a 4-H agent.

“I made a proposal that we would pay more to have those two positions filled as quickly as possible … and they’re dragging their feet on actually filling those positions,” O’Malley said, adding he made that funding offer to the state in March and it took Madison six months to respond.

O’Malley believes a county the size of La Crosse deserves a better response from the state.

Related Topics:la crosse county uw UWL

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.