Who’s Really in Charge of the 4-H Building? Leadership Dispute Surfaces
- Trinity Gruenberg
- 28 minutes ago
- 2 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, July 8.
Management of the 4-H Building
The Wadena County 4-H Leaders Council expressed frustration over their lack of involvement in the 4-H building’s management. Commissioner Murlyn Kreklau highlighted communication issues with the University of Minnesota Extension regarding the event center.
Board Chair Bill Stearns proposed a solution: the Leaders Council could take over the Friends of Wadena County Youth, a 501(c)(3) organization, to manage the building. This would allow them to have more control over rental decisions, potential income, and building operations.
A representative from the Leaders Council confirmed they had not been consulted about management plans and emphasized the importance of keeping the Leaders Council informed and involved in decisions about their building.
The discussion centered on creating a separate entity that could manage the building’s finances, potentially using income for scholarships or building maintenance, while maintaining some connection to the 4-H organization.
The group agreed that further communication and collaboration would be necessary to resolve the current management challenges and ensure the building’s future success.
Other Business:
• Accepted donations to the Friendly Rider for free rides to summer rec, $750 from the Jack and Alvida Browne Foundation and $1500 from the Initiative Foundation.
• Johnson Controls representatives presented a proposal to upgrade the HVAC system at Human Services. The existing equipment, installed in 1997, was well past its typical 15-20 year useful life. The proposal included replacing five rooftop units, twin furnaces in the basement, and an old boiler. The new equipment would offer improved energy efficiency, better temperature control, and easier maintenance. They planned to integrate the new system with the existing building control network, allowing remote monitoring and management. The total project cost was estimated at $398,200, which the board decided to fund using $300,000 from the levy building fund and the remaining amount from the south country fund. Johnson Controls committed to a one-year warranty and the possibility of a future maintenance contract...
