REGULAR BOARD MEETING
August 27, 2018
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 Monday, August 27, 2018 at 6:33 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 Leon Fulmer, Jr. Craig Kesler
Blake Brigman Melanie B. Hawkins William Lominick
Johnnie L. Dickert Douglas Hipp John W. Nichols
Also present were President and CEO G. Keith Avery, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy. Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III was absent.
READING AND APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the July 2018 Board Meeting. A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Monday, August 20, 2018 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 July 2018. All expenditures were found to be in order, and the committee is presenting this report as information. The consensus of the board was to accept the report.
ATTORNEY REPORT
Since Mr. Pope was absent, President and CEO Avery requested that the meeting adjourn into Executive Session for the purpose of updating the board on some legal 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 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. No actions were taken 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 August. He attended a meeting with Representative Ralph Norman and they discussed Tri County Electric’s problems.
President Avery also met with several banks to see if cheaper service charges are available for NEC.
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for July 2018. The amount of write offs for July is $3,451.25. A motion was made to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
DEPARTMENT 600-Engineering and Operations
- Phase 1 and 2 are completed at Samsung. The bill for Phase 2 is being processed.
- Hollands Substation is complete for fiber.
- Fairview Circuit 1 and 2 are complete as well.
- Fairview Circuits 3 and 4 are still in the process of being completed, and hope to be finished by the end of October or the first of November.
- 251 consumers have been connected to fiber on CarolinaConnect as of August 27, 2018.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no unfinished business.
NEW BUSINESS
CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO THE 12 TH ANNUAL FCA GOLF TOURNAMENT
President and CEO Avery reviewed information from Mr. Robert Smith and Coach Sam Beard requesting a donation for their 12th Annual Golf Tournament. The tournament will be held on Monday, October 1, 2018 at the Mid-Carolina Country Club. A motion was made to contribute $2,500.00 to be a Gold Sponsor. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
APPOINT VOTING DELEGATE AND TRUSTEE NOMINATION TO THE ECSC
President Avery directed attention to the memo from Mike Couick, President and CEO of ECSC. It states that one voting delegate and one alternate voting delegate are needed for the ECSC Annual Meeting to be held on December 5, 2018. A motion was made and seconded for President and CEO Avery to be the voting delegate and Chairman Dickert to be the alternate delegate. This motion passed unanimously.
Two trustees are also needed to serve on the Board of the ECSC. A motion was made and seconded for President Avery and Chairman Dickert to serve. The motion passed without any opposition.
APPOINT VOTING AND ALTERNATE DELEGATES FOR THE CFC 2018 DISTRICT MEETING
President Avery reviewed the information from Brad Captain, Senior Vice President of Corporate Relations for CFC regarding the District 2 Meeting on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the Regional Meeting in Atlanta, GA. Included were the minutes from the 2017 district meeting.
Also included was the CFC Delegate Registration card for the meeting. A motion was made to appoint President Avery as the voting delegate and Chairman Dickert as the alternate delegate. A motion was made, seconded, and passed with no opposition to accept these men as the delegates.
ECSC BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
President Avery reviewed the ECSC Board highlights from the August 2, 2018 meeting. This was accepted as information.
CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE JULY EXECUTIVE MEETING REPORT President Avery directed attention to the Central Electric Power Cooperative Executive Board Meeting Report for July 27, 2018. A copy of the certified resolution authorizing Central to suspend load management and make whole affected members in anticipation of a Duke system summer peak was also reviewed. This was accepted as information.
CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE AUGUST EXECUTIVE MEETING REPORT
President Avery directed attention to the Central Electric Power Cooperative Executive Board Meeting Report for August 2018. This was accepted as information.
CFC LINE OF CREDIT AGREEMENT AND CERTIFICATION OF RESOLUTIONS AND INCUMBENCY
President Avery reviewed the CFC Line of Credit Agreement and Certification of Resolutions and Incumbency. The line of credit will increase from $5,000,000.00 (5 million) to $10,000,000.00 (10 million). This will be a cushion of funds for the construction going on at Samsung. A motion was made and seconded to accept the request for the line of credit increase. The motion passed without opposition.
CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY
President Avery referenced a request from the Pi Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in Newberry, SC for a contribution to their Fashionetta. Funds raised from the Fashionetta are used to support community service projects and award an annual scholarship to each of the Newberry County high schools.
After some discussion, a motion was made to contribute $300.00 to Pi Beta Omega. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
FIBER FOR NON MEMBERS
President and CEO Avery informed the trustees that there has been a lot of interest from non members of Newberry Electric wanting to get fiber to their homes. Edgewater Shores is one subdivision that is interested. President Avery suggested that this should be considered by the board. By providing fiber to the non members who are close to the line would increase revenue. The suggestions are to have the non members pay a higher fee to be connected, a higher monthly fee, and sign a two year contract.
The consensus of the board is to have President Avery address the HOA of Edgewater Shores and see if this is something that needs to be considered more in the future.
NOT ON AGENDA
President Avery reminded the trustees that the NRECA Region 2 meeting will be held in Atlanta, GA October 10-12, 2018. The following stated that they are attending: Trustees Dickert, Hawkins, Hipp, Kesler, Lominick, and Nichols. Classes will be held on Oct. 10th and President Avery will be taking a class along with the board.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the August 2018 Regular Board Meeting at 8:17 p.m.
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SECRETARY
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CHAIRMAN