Gage told the Bulletin later in the day that some people have approached him asking if rumor’s were true that Sprague’s job was in jeopardy. He said the county faces some real challenges in the future between budgets and with the state retuning how it does things, but he said no one was under fire.

“I’m not looking to target anybody, I’m not looking to defund anything … I’m just trying to educate myself by asking questions,” Gage said. “I do support agriculture in Polk County – I know it’s a rich part of Polk County’s history – and (the people at the ag center) are doing a lot of really cool things and I want to make sure that keeps going.”

During the ag breakfast Ted Owens also stood to say he was on the commission when the county made room in the budget for the agriculture development director position and voted Sprague into the position. Owens said the current board continues to support agriculture and farmers. He added the county is currently in the early stages of the budget process, so it is left to be seen what things will be possible in the new fiscal year.

He did say he is interested in seeing more work being done to encourage farmland preservation as well as promotion of local farmers’ products.

“Farmland preservation years ago was a big thing and we funded a lot of money for that and now that money is being put to other uses; those numbers need to be looked at,” Owens said.

Owens went on to say that he was happy with the accomplishments Sprague has made with the ag center. Now, he said it was time to refocus efforts.

“I’m glad we had a Lynn here when (the ag center) came available but that is not his purpose; they have someone to run the ag center,” Owens said. “His purpose is to promote agriculture in Polk County. What I’m suggesting is that now it’s time for Lynn to devote more of his time to the duties we hired him for in promoting those farmers.”

He said he also hopes the commission is able to keep the agricultural development and economic and tourism development positions separated.

In the 2012-2013 budget, the county allotted $143,229 for agriculture development with about $66,000 accounting for the director’s salary and benefits. The Polk County Commission recently requested budgets from the county’s various departments.

According to the budget schedule, interim county manager Marche Pittman said he is to present a balanced budget to commission on May 6. The final budget must be approved and in place by July 1; June 17 is the last regular meeting of the commission prior to that deadline.