REGULAR BOARD MEETING
August 30, 2021
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held in the Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board Room located in Newberry County, State of South Carolina, on Monday, August 30, 2021 at 6:27 pm. Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert presided.
After the call to order, invocation, and establishing all members present, except for Wayne Nichols who was unable to attend, Trustee Hipp made a motion to approve the Regular Board Meeting minutes from July 2021 as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert reported that the Finance Committee met on Tuesday, August 24, 2021 at 7 p.m. The finance report was submitted as information. The consensus of the Board was to accept the report.
Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III stated that he did not have an Attorney Report at this time.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of August. On August 20th, he met with Samsung executives to discuss options for a potential expansion and the subsequent challenges in finding qualified employees in our area. Mr. Avery has approached area school districts to discuss options to address the issues associated with workforce development training and hiring. On August 30th he met with Jeff Few of Legacy Security, Inc. to discuss improving our internal after-hours dispatch capabilities.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed in detail the financial and operational data for July 2021. The amount of write-offs for July is $1,969.89. Trustee Hipp made a motion to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed the Engineering and Operations and Operational Support reports for the month. Engineering has inspected all substations, recorded the readings, and are continuing to work on the Prosperity substation upgrade. Relay panels for Hollands and Fairview substation upgrades have been ordered. A mandatory RESAP (Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program) inspection was performed and coordinated through ECSC’s Loss Control and Training Department.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed the fiber projections for the upcoming months. NEC through CarolinaConnect has 4098 active fiber accounts for billing as of August 30, 2021.
The Trustees reviewed and signed the 2021 Trustee Conflict of Interest Certification and Disclosure Form to be submitted to the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff for their records.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed a sponsorship request from Mike Millington, Area Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, for their 14th Annual FCA Golf Tournament to be held on October 4, 2021 in Newberry, SC. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to be a Gold Sponsor of their event. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed the Main Street Lights sponsorship information provided by James and Christina Henricks, Volunteer Chairpersons of the Community Christmas Fundraising Committee. A motion was made by Trustee Kesler to be a Donner Sponsor for the event. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery gave an overview of the minutes for the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina Board Meeting highlights for August 5, 2021. The report was accepted as information.
The Trustees accepted as information the minutes for the Central Electric Power Cooperative August Executive Committee Meeting Summary.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed the Electric Cooperatives South Carolina Board Meeting minutes from June 8, 2021. The report was accepted as information.
The Trustees reviewed a memorandum from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation regarding the District 2 Regional Meeting to be held October 6, 2021 in Birmingham, AL. After some discussion, Trustee Dickert made a motion to nominate President Avery as the delegate for the District Meeting and Trustee Nichols as the alternate delegate for the meeting. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
The Trustees also accepted as information the minutes for the Central Electric Power Cooperative April FAR Committee Meeting Summary.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery referenced the Central Electric Power Cooperative August Member and Energy Services Committee Meeting Summary. The report was accepted as information.
President Avery reminded Trustees that a Special Called Board Meeting will be held in the Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board Room located in Newberry County, State of South Carolina, on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.
The Trustees reviewed a memorandum from the Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange regarding an election meeting to be held at the District 2 Regional Meeting on October 6, 2021 in Birmingham, AL. After some discussion, Trustee Dickert made a motion to nominate Trustee Nichols as the appointed voting delegate and President Avery as the alternate voting delegate for the meeting. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
The trustees considered an item related to tuition reimbursement for an employee attending graduate school. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to approve the request. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the August 2021 Regular Board Meeting at 7:40 p.m.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN