REGULAR BOARD MEETING
February 28, 2022
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. for February was held at the Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. located in Newberry County, State of South Carolina on Monday, February 28, 2022
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert at 6:31 p.m. followed by invocation with the determination of a quorum present.
The secretary reported that the following Board Members were present:
C.J. Bishop Leon Fulmer Craig Kesler
Blake Brigman Melanie Hawkins William Lominick
Johnnie Dickert Doug Hipp John Nichols
Also present were President and CEO G. Keith Avery, Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, Communication Specialist, Allston Lipscomb, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.
Chairman Dickert presented Ms. Lipscomb with her South Carolina Accredited Commercial Energy Manager Certification from the Association of South Carolina Energy Managers and the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff-Energy Office.
Ms. Lipscomb also presented information about SC7. Their mission is to get people outdoors and actively do their part to protect the outdoors. SC7 is sponsoring a 30-day expedition across South Carolina in July from the mountains to the sea with the Finish Line Reception on July 30 in Charleston, SC. Because Newberry Electric has agreed to host a Lunch and Learn, any sponsorship will be half price. Trustee Kesler made a motion to be a Flora and Fauna Sponsor. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. Ms. Lipscomb thanked the trustees for their cooperation for this seven month engaging event.
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the January 2022 Regular Board Meeting, held on February 3, 2022. A motion was made by Trustee Brigman to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the February 17, 2022 Special Board Meeting. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The committee members are Trustees C.J. Bishop, Johnnie Dickert, William Lominick, and John Nichols and all were present including President and CEO Avery.
Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for January 2022. 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.
There was no Attorney Report, but a motion for an Executive Session was made by Trustee Kesler. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. Chairman Dickert convened into Executive Session. After the Executive Session, Trustee Hipp made a motion to reconvene into Regular Session. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. There were no actions or voting that took place during the Executive Session.
President Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of February. He conducted a meeting with the County Administrator to discuss federal grants for fiber. He also met with EZ Blockchain to discuss potential sites for them to use in data mining.
President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for January 2022. The amount of write offs for January is $3,436.13. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp 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 continued to do overhead work on Prosperity Circuit 7 and 1 Jollystreet tie line. Overhead work has begun on Long Lane circuit 3. Underground work is ongoing at Daeyoung. CarolinaConnect had 4436 active account billed in January for Newberry Electric.
President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees of the 2022 PowerXchange meeting to be held Saturday, March 5 – Wednesday, March 9.
President Avery reviewed an email with important information about the Washington Legislative Conference to take place Sunday, May 1-Tuesday, May 4, 2022. Any interested trustees are asked to let Ms. Murphy know if you would like to attend.
The ESCS Board Meeting Highlights for February 3, 2022 were accepted as information.
President and CEO Avery referenced a memo from Caroline Robinson at ECSC with information about the ECSC Summer Conference to take place Monday, June 6-Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Any interested trustees are asked to let Ms. Murphy know if you would like to attend.
President Avery reviewed an email from Meredith Lide, the Professional Development Director at ECSC, on the ECSC Trustee Association Conference to take place Monday, April 18-Wednesday, April 20, 2022. Any interested trustees are asked to let Ms. Murphy know if you would like to attend.
President and CEO Avery informed the trustees of the CEE-US and Line Equipment Show on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Any trustee who would like to attend are asked to let Ms. Murphy know so she can get you registered.
President Avery reminded the trustees of the NRECA Voting and Alternate Delegate Certification for the NRECA Annual and Regional Meeting. A motion was made by Trustee Lominick to keep the voting delegate as President Avery and the alternate voting delegate as Trustee Nichols. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
The following reports were all accepted as information: Central Electric Power Cooperative February 1st G-20 Meeting Summary, Central Electric Power Cooperative February 9th G-20 Meeting Summary, Central Electric Power Cooperative February 9th Executive Committee Summary, Central Electric Power Cooperative February FAR Committee Meeting Summary, Central Electric Power Cooperative February Engineering Committee Meeting Summary, Central Electric Power Cooperative February Member & Energy Services Committee Meeting Summary, and Central Electric Power Cooperative February 2022 Power Committee Meeting Summary.
President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees of the SC Cooperative Rodeo on Friday, March 25-Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Horry Electric Cooperative in Conway, SC. Newberry Electric will be represented by seven employees, one being a judge. All are encouraged to attend and support the competition.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the February 2022 Regular Board Meeting at 8:08 p.m.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN