Camden County will soon have its first full-time county Extension Service director after the Board of Commissioners approved adding the position on Monday.

Camden currently shares the services of Pasquotank County's Extension director, but officials say that arrangement leaves Camden without needed assistance during the week.

"There is not an existing director. ... This is not ideal due to staff being housed in Camden and then a staff (being) in Pasquotank," said Wanda Sykes, northeastern district Extension director for North Carolina, who urged the board to hire a director.

Sykes said the position's administrative responsibilities are too much for one person.

For more than two years, Travis Burke, the current Extension director for Pasquotank County, has split his time between that county and Camden.

In Pasquotank, Burke oversees a staff of 4-5 agents, 6-7 program assistants and 2-3 clerical assistants. In Camden, he oversees an additional two agents who oversee 4-H and family and consumer science programs.

"Travis originally went as a favor to Camden since it was right down the road," Sykes said. "But then no one was hired and Travis just kept working the two counties."

Camden contributes a small amount to Burke's salary, but the majority of his paycheck comes from the state of North Carolina and Pasquotank County.

Sykes advised the Camden commissioners that the county Extension office needs a full-time director.

"The CED (county extension director) really is the most critical position in Extension," Sykes said. "Camden needs someone that's going to be there every day and have a relationship with the commissioners and county manager."

Camden residents would also benefit from having a full-time director who would be completely accessible to the county, she said.

"Most counties have their own county director who is able to be there daily and manage staff and fiscal issues with the county," Sykes said.

County Extension directors are responsible for overseeing a vast number of administrative duties for the county, including assisting, engaging and informing county commissioners and county managers. The position requires a background in agricultural enterprises and technical expertise, a master's degree and four years experience as an associate Extension agent.

Sykes, who has been the district Extension director since January, said Camden advertised the position last year, and an applicant was nominated for hire, but commissioners did not approve the candidate. The position has since remained unfilled.

With the board's approval this week to begin looking for another candidate, Sykes is hopeful the county will soon fill the position.

"I was pleased the vote came so quickly," Sykes said.

Sykes said the job listing will be posted on the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Web site in the next few days.

"I called Travis to let him know the board approved hiring a full-time county Extension director and he was speechless," Sykes said.