February 2019 Board Meeting

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

February 25, 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 Monday, February 25, 2019.

         The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. 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, Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, Directorpoint representative Anna Sullivan, Engineering Analyst Michael Martin, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.

DIRECTORPOINT PRESENTATION

            President Avery introduced Ms. Anna Sullivan from Directorpoint.  She was available to answer questions and give an overview of the information that can be stored on Directorpoint.

 

READING AND APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES

         The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the January 28, 2019 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, February 18, 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 January 2019.  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

         Mr. Pope requested that the meeting adjourn into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter. A motion was made to adjourn into Executive Session.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.  Chairman Dickert adjourned into Executive Session.

         After Mr. Pope 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 and no 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 February.  President Avery was on medical leave from January 31-February 15.  He and Chairman Dickert attended a CarolinaConnect Board Meeting on February 26.  That evening, he and five trustees attended the South Carolina Legislative Reception in Columbia, SC.

 

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

         President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for January 2019.  The amount of write offs for January is $3,175.77.  A motion was made to accept this amount.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

 

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

DEPARTMENT 600-Engineering and Operations

• Davey Tree crews are continuing right of way clearing on Blair 3 and Bush River 4.
• The Samsung Relocation is completed.
• Lockout/Tagout was held on February 19 by Travis Renwick.
• Samsung has been billed $3.3 million for the work done at the substation that provides them power.
• Over 800 customers have signed up for fiber to the home.

   

  OLD BUSINESS

   

  SPRING 2019 TRUSTEES ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE APRIL 8-10, 2019-MARINA INN AT GRANDE DUNES, MYRTLE BEACH, SC

           President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees of the Spring Trustee Association Conference to be held April 8-10, 2019 at the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Several trustees will be attending.

   

   

  NEW BUSINESS

   

NEW DATE FOR APRIL REGULAR BOARD MEETING

         President and CEO Avery informed the trustees that the April Regular Board Meeting is scheduled for the time that several of the trustees will be attending the Washington Rally.  After some discussion, a motion was made to change the meeting date to Wednesday, April 24 at 6:30 pm.  The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.

 

ECSC BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

         President Avery directed attention to the ECSC Board Meeting highlights.  This was accepted as information.

 

CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO GROOVE ‘N BREW

         President and CEO Avery reviewed information on the Second annual Groove ‘N Brew to take place on April 6 on Main Street in Newberry.  This fundraiser is for the Newberry Downtown Development Association to pursue economic development initiatives in the downtown area.  After some discussion, a motion was made to accept this as information.  The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.

 

INTEREST IN DIRECTOR EDUCATION JUNE 3-5, ISLE OF PALMS, SC ECSC SUMMER CONFERENCE

         President Avery referenced information from Courtney Epting at ECSC requesting a number of directors interested in taking four potential courses at the Summer Conference at the Isle of Palms.  Three trustees are interested in taking the 900 number courses that may be offered.   Everyone has taken the 2000 number courses that may be offered.

 

LEGISLATIVE APPRECIATION RECEPTION

         President and CEO Avery informed the trustees that the time for the Legislative Appreciation Reception in Columbia on February 26 has been changed to 5:00 pm-8:00 pm.  Transportation will be available from the Coop at 4:00 pm for any trustee would like to ride. 

 

METER BASES

         President Avery stated that an employee from Hamm’s Hardware in Prosperity, SC comes to the warehouse with a list of consumers who have picked up meter bases, and he gets enough to replenish their stock.  President Avery checked with three area coops to see if they still give our meter bases to consumers.  All three stopped this practice years ago.  After some discussion, a motion was made to stop supplying meter bases.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.  After the vote, the motion was amended to state that no more meter bases will be ordered once the ones on hand have been given out.  A motion was made to add the amendment, and the motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

 

FEDERATED INSURANCE QUOTE

         President and CEO Avery referenced the information on quotes from Federated Rural Electric Insurance for All Risk Blanket, Electromagnetic Field, Commercial Umbrella, and Directors, Officers and Managers Policies.  After some discussion, a motion was made to accept the quotes from Federated.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.  The consensus of the trustees is to get quotes on an increase of the coverages and report back at the next meeting.

 

NOT ON AGENDA

         Trustee Nichols asked everyone to review the information he left from the Trustee Association meeting he attended.  All trustees were given a copy.

         President Avery asked the trustees to be sure to list the size they want for the Annual Meeting shirt.  Samples of the shirts were available.

         Chairman Dickert presented Trustee Kesler with the renewal of his Director’s Gold certificate.  Vice Chairman Lominick presented Chairman Dickert with the renewal of his Directors’ Gold certificate.

                       

ADJOURNMENT

         There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the February Regular Board Meeting at 8:13 pm.

 

                                                                                    ____________________________

                                                                                    SECRETARY

____________________________________

CHAIRMAN