County working with architects on design plans for new cooperative extension office

Design West Architects is working on plans to remodel the building that housed the former El Tamalito restaurant into space for the Washington County extension office.

 The interior of the building will basically be “gutted” to create space for four offices and a classroom. The remodel will also include putting in a couple of windows and a new roof over part of the building, planning official Chad Brock said.

 When the design plan is completed, the project will go out to bid. There is no firm date yet when the work on the building will be completed and ready for cooperative extension.  

 Brock said the county has saved about $150,000 in the budget to cover the cost of the remodeling. The county bought the 5,800 square foot building on West Idaho Street in downtown Weiser for $124,000. 

 The purchase was contingent on a structural engineer inspecting the building. The inspection found no issues with the 53-year-old building. 

 Various items in the former Mexican restaurant were sold by auction to the highest bidder on Monday. There was at least one buyer interested in the commercial kitchen equipment that was for sale. 

 The county has been searching for space for the extension office and 4-H program since May of 2018, when the office moved out of the county annex building across the street from the courthouse. 

 The extension move made way for the vehicle registration and driver’s license offices to consolidate in one location. 

 At one point commissioners discussed buying land and putting up a new building for the extension office, but that proved to be an expensive proposition. 

 Commissioners put $300,000 in the fiscal year 2019 budget to either buy an existing building or buy land and build something new.

 For the time being, the county extension office is leasing space in downtown Weiser for the 4-H and extension programs. The building is located at 21 West Idaho St. The location provides access to the Vendome parking lot out the back door. If more space is needed for classes or 4-H functions, the Vendome is available.

 Along with a new home, the University of Idaho extension office will have a new educator once the vacant position is filled. The last extension educator, Montessa Young, left in August of 2018 to take another position at TVCC. Young spent five years as the extension educator for Washington County.

 The university is taking the lead on finding a replacement extension educator. The position was advertised nationwide shortly for a minimum of four weeks. 

 A search committee has been formed that includes various stakeholders, including Washington County commissioner Kirk Chandler. 

 Once a short list of candidates is compiled, interviews will start. The position of extension educator requires a master’s degree. 

 The extension educator also serves as the administrative chair of the extension office, supervising office staff, maintaining a positive county commissioner relationship and negotiating and managing the county budget. 

 The operating budget for the next fiscal year for the extension office is right around $145,000.

 In an arrangement that dates back more than 100 years with the land grant university, the counties around the state provide the facilities and the support staff, along with an annual office operating budget, while the extension educator is a University of Idaho employee.