Council Resources

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The Iowa Extension Council Association (IECA) suggests the following assistance for Extension Council members in dealing with finances, office space, personnel management and program development issues.

If you have suggestions of topics that you would like to see to assist council members in doing their job, please contact IECA Executive Assistant, Julie Baumler.

Personnel

Stipends in Lieu of Health Insurance

Whitfield & Eddy has provided a legal opinion to help guide councils in their consideration of providing stipends to employees who decline participation in employee-sponsored health insurance. A copy of the legal opinion is on the password-protected Legal Resources page. Please contact IECA if you do not know the universal password.

Pregnant Workers Fairness Act

View the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment Commission's Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Fact Sheet.  This discusses handling workplace accommodation requests arising out of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions.

Fair Labor Standards Act - Overtime Fact Sheet

View the Federal Department of Labor's Overtime Fact Sheet. This discusses determination of exempt status, and salary thresholds for determining overtime requirements. 

Fair Labor Standards Act - Independent Contractors

View the Federal Department of Labor's Independent Contractor Fact Sheet.  This helps employers answer the question, "Is a Worker an Employee or an Independent Contractor?"

Final Paycheck Letter Template

Whitfield & Eddy recommends extension councils use this final paycheck letter template (or a very similar document) for every separation. This includes planned resignations, pre-scheduled program terminations, temporary employees/interns, and involuntary terminations. The letter may, but is not required to, state that the employee resigned. ("You submitted your resignation on April 1, 2022, effective April 25, 2022. Your last day of employment will be/is/was April 7, 2022.").

Maintaining Personnel Files

Maintaining Personnel Files Recommendations (for County Employees) is list of documents that should be in the employee’s official personnel file including the confidential documents that should be in a separate file and separate location from all personnel files.

TimeClock Plus

Resources for the TimeClock Plus time-tracking system for county-paid employees.  

Finance

County Budget Procedures

The Budget Letter and Procedures document outlines the process for completing the budget forms and requirements.

4-H Club Financial Management

4-H Club Financial Management resources for 4-H clubs and county extension offices. 

County Insurance Coverage

Information about county insurance coverage can be found on the County Services website.  This information covers liability, risk management, treasurer's bond, and employee dishonesty.

Extension and Outreach Partnership Considerations

The Partnership Considerations document (from the Extension Council Reference Manual, Appendix 18) helps guide councils through the decision-making process when asked to partner with other groups in sharing office space and/or sharing staff and resources.   Regional Directors serve as a good resource to help facilitate this discussion.

Extension Council Property

Outlines guidelines for disposing of Extension Council property, computers, and hard drives.

Credit Card Policy

Contact your county office for credit card policy form and discussion guidelines for consideration.  Materials are located in MyExtension and accessible to extension staff members.

Cash/Mobile Apps Use

Information about using cash apps or mobile apps to send or receive payments in county offices. This information is from Assistant Vice President for County Services Andrea Nelson as provided from the State Auditor's Office.

Program

4-H Club Financial Management

4-H Club Financial Management resources for 4-H clubs and county extension offices. 

Council Operations 

Extension Council Job Description, Responsibilities

• Extension Council Job Description
• Referendum Authority
  • The Iowa Code empowers the county extension district to place a referendum on the general election ballot. The referendum question allows local voters to change county funding structure. See Iowa Code 176A.10, subsection 6.
• Budgetary Responsibilities
  • The council develops and approves the budget. For more information see Budget Information on the County Services page.
  • The extension law requires a complete report of financial transactions to be published for the 12 month period beginning July 1 through June 30 of the following calendar year.
• Extension Council role in Program Planning
  • With the lead of the Regional Director, the extension council will give input and evaluation into the program planning process. According to Iowa Code, extension councils are responsible for cooperative extension service's programs and policies and that they are consistent with pertinent federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and disability.

Extension Council Relevant Legislation

• Iowa Code Chapter 176A, County Agricultural Extension Law
• Iowa Code Chapter 21, Open Public Meeting Law
• Iowa Code Chapter 24, Local Budget Law
• Iowa Code Chapter 28E, Joint Exercise of Governmental Powers
• 1955 Law Iowa Code Chapter 107, County Agricultural Extension Law 

Memorandum of Understanding

The document outlining the Memorandum of Understanding between Extension Councils and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach as well as the supporting documents for the MOU.

Acronyms Used in Extension

Have you found yourself at a council meetings baffled by the acronyms being tossed around?  This resource of Extension Acronyms should help you out.

County Fair Partnership Agreement

The County Fair Partnership Agreement page includes templates and information for creating an agreement between county extension and outreach and the county fair board.

Office of the Vice President of Extension and Outreach

The Office of the Vice President link provides resources for current initiatives and communications from the Vice President.  It's a great resource to keep you current with what's going on in extension.

Parliamentary Procedure

This Simplified Parliamentary Procedure guide can help councils run a more effective and efficient meeting. Note: The PDF file is free to download.

Calendar Items for Extension Council Meeting Agendas

Outlines agenda items that councils may wish to discuss during specific times of the year.  These may be found in the County Extension Council Reference Manual Appendices (select Appendix 6.3).

Accessibility

• Extension program availability and office access
  • In the Memorandum of Understanding between Iowa State University and each county extension council, it was agreed that the council would fulfill the responsibilities outlined in the Iowa and Federal Civil Rights law. Programs are to be made available to the people of Iowa regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability. County offices are subject to periodic audits to ensure compliance. These audits are called Civil Rights audits.
  • Every three years the regional director completes a county civil rights audit. Every seven years a federal audit is done. Contact your Regional Director for more information or see Section 7.A, Accessibility Policies.
• The Americans with Disabilities Act
• Accessibility Checklist for County Extension Offices