April 2019 REGULAR BOARD MEETING

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

April 24, 2019

 

         The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held at the Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. located in Newberry County, State of South Carolina on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at 6:30 p.m.

         The meeting was called to order by Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert, with the determination of a quorum present. 

         The secretary reported that the following Board Members were present:

                        C.J. Bishop                  Melanie B. Hawkins               William Lominick

                        Johnnie L. Dickert      Douglas Hipp                          John W. Nichols

                        Leon Fulmer, Jr.          Craig Kesler                           

            Also present were President and CEO G. Keith Avery, Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III,

Russ Roundtree of McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co., LLC, Chief Financial Officer Arthur Guy, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.  Trustee Blake Brigman was absent.

 

AUDIT REPORT-MCNAIR, MCLEMORE, MIDDLEBROOKS & CO., LLC

         Mr. Russ Roundtree of McNair, McLemore, Middlebrooks & Co., LLC presented the results of the audit for 2018.  Mr. Roundtree reviewed in detail the financial statement, 990 forms, and the CFC Key Ratios.  Mr. Roundtree stated that Newberry Electric has an unmodified (clean) opinion, which means that its financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  Mr. Roundtree thanked the trustees for the opportunity to conduct the audit.

 

WORK PLAN-TERRY BLACKWELL

         Mr. Terry Blackwell was not able to attend this meeting.  He is scheduled to make his presentation at the May Regular Board Meeting.

 

 

ELECTION OF OFFICERS-ATTORNEY POPE

         Chairman Dickert asked Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III to conduct the election of officers.  The following trustees were elected to the Executive Committee by unanimous vote.

                        Chairman                     Johnnie L. Dickert

                        Vice Chair                   William B. Lominick, Sr.

                        Secretary/Treasurer     John Wayne Nichols

        

READING AND APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES

         The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the March 2019 Board Meeting.  A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. 

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT

         Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Monday, April 22, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.  Trustee Nichols stated that all members were present.  President and CEO Avery was also present.

         Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for March 2019.  All expenditures were found to be in order.  The Finance Committee presents this as information.  The consensus of the board was to accept the report as information.

 

ATTORNEY REPORT

         Mr. Pope did not request an Executive Session, but President and CEO Avery did request an Executive Session for the purpose of updating the board on some business issues.  A motion was made to adjourn into Executive Session.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.  Chairman Dickert adjourned into Executive Session.

         After President and CEO Avery updated the Trustees, a motion was made to reconvene into Regular Session.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.  Chairman Dickert reconvened the meeting into Regular Session.  There were no actions or voting acted upon during the Executive Session.

        

PRESIDENT AND CEO REPORT

            President and CEO Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of April.  President Avery, along with several trustees, attended the NRECA Washington Rally in Washington, DC.  One big topic of the meeting was applying for grants to help fund the internet to the rural areas.  President Avery also attended the CarolinaConnect Board Meeting along with Chairman Johnnie Dickert.  President Avery also went to Columbia several days to attend the Senate hearings on Santee Cooper and the board governance bill.

 

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

         President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for March 2019.  The amount of write offs for the month of March is $1,835.52.  A motion was made to accept this amount.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

 

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

DEPARTMENT 600-Engineering and Operations

• Lee Electric is working on Highway 773 Reconduct and MC Commerce Loop.
• Samsung relocation is completed.
• A Drug Awareness safety meeting, presented by Michael Stribble with the Sherriff’s Office Investigation Unit, was held March 26.
• Stoney Hill Ckt. 3 is complete.
• Stoney Hill Ckt. 1 and 2 are in progress to be released in two weeks.

   

  OLD BUSINESS

   

  REMINDER

              Because the regular board meeting day in May will be the Memorial Day holiday, the May Regular Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 22, at 6:30 pm.

   

   

  NEW BUSINESS

   

  GOLF AT WILD DUNES RESORT

              President and CEO Avery referenced a flyer from CEE-US and Line Equipment Sales inviting trustees to play golf on Monday, June 3 at the Wild Dunes Resort during the ECSC Summer Conference.  No trustees were interesting in playing, and two are taking classes that day.

   

  DINNER CRUISE AT WILD DUNES RESORT

              President Avery also referenced a memo from Bethany Hardin, Executive Assistant to the CEO at York Electric in York, SC.  Paul Basha, President and CEO of York Electric, is inviting the trustees and their families to join the York trustees for a dinner cruise on Tuesday, June 4 during the ECSC Summer Conference.  Several trustees expressed an interest.

   

  EXERCISE EQUIPMENT PROPOSAL

              President and CEO Avery referenced a proposal for exercise equipment from Carolina Specialty Fitness in Columbia, SC.  The piece of equipment that some of the employees inquired about it the Hoist Fitness MiSmith Dual Action Functional Trainer.  From a health prospective, this trainer will help the employees get in better shape by using it.  After some discussion, a motion was made to purchase the trainer.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

   

2019 NEWBERRY YMCA ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

         President Avery referenced a request from the Newberry YMCA for their Annual Campaign.  A motion was made to accept as information.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

 

ECSC BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

         President and CEO Avery reviewed important information from the ECSC Board Meeting held on April 4, 2019.  This was accepted as information.

 

CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE APRIL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT

         President Avery reviewed important information from the Central Electric Power Cooperative April Executive Committee Meeting.  This was accepted as information.

 

CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO CROMER FOR SENATE

         President and CEO Avery referenced information on a fundraiser reception for Ronnie Cromer for Senate.  The reception will take place on Wednesday, May 1 in Columbia, SC.  After some discussion, a motion was made to donate $1,000.00 to Cromer for Senate.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.  Any trustee interested in attending needs to let President Avery know.

 

EMPLOYEE POLICY NO. 300-220 UNIFORMS

         President Avery referenced the Employee Policy No. 300-220, Uniforms.  The Policy Advisory Committee is trying to make changes to this policy.  A motion was made to accept the changes.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

 

ANNUAL MEETING 2019 TOTALS

         President Avery informed the trustees on the Annual Meeting total number of members registered.

            District 1-811 registered

            District 2-693 registered

            District 3-602 registered for a total of 2,106 registered members.  This was the biggest number of registered members in NEC’s Annual Meeting history.  In 2018, 1,959 members registered.  The numbers have been consistent since moving the Annual Meeting to Mid-Carolina High School.

         Some of the registered members were not able to receive their umbrella door prize.  Names were written down to notify these members when the umbrellas arrive from the vendor.  President Avery made the suggestion that golf carts be used next year to help older members to their cars after the meeting. 

 

PRESIDENT AND CEO AVERY’S YEARLY EVALUATION

         Chairman Dickert asked the trustee to please turn in their evaluations that they received in the mail from Human Resources.  Leann Hutto needs this information to compile for the next board meeting.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

         There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the April 2019 Regular Board Meeting at 8:50 pm.

 

                                                                                    ____________________________

                                                                                    SECRETARY

____________________________________

CHAIRMAN