July 2018 Board Meeting

REGULAR BOARD MEETING
July 30, 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, July 30, 2018, 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 Leon Fulmer, Jr. William Lominick
Blake Brigman Douglas Hipp John W. Nichols 
Johnnie L. Dickert Craig Kesler 
Also present were President and CEO G. Keith Avery, Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III,
and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy. Trustee Melanie B. Hawkins was absent due to
her attendance at the 2018 NRECA Summer School East in Savannah, Ga.

READING AND APPROVAL OF SPECIAL BOARD MEETING MINUTES
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the June 12, 2018 Special Board Meeting. A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. 

READING AND APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the June 25, 2018 Board Meeting. A correction is needed in the Attorney Report. The report should read as follows: 
“Mr. Pope requested that the meeting adjourn into Executive Session for the purpose of updating the board on some issues. A motion was made, seconded, and passed without opposition to go into Executive Session. Chairman Dickert adjourned into Executive Session. 
“After Mr. Pope’s update, a motion was made to reconvene into Regular Session. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Chairman Dickert reconvened into Regular Session.” 

A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed once the correction is made. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
Finance Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Monday, July 23, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. All members of the committee were present along with President and CEO Avery.
The Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for June 2018. All expenditures were found to be in order. The consensus of the board was to accept this report as information.

ATTORNEY REPORT
Mr. Pope requested that the meeting adjourn into Executive Session for the purpose of updating the board on some issues. A motion was made, seconded, and passed without opposition to go into Executive Session. Chairman Dickert adjourned into Executive Session. 
After Mr. Pope’s update, a motion was made to reconvene into Regular Session. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Chairman Dickert reconvened into Regular Session.

PRESIDENT AND CEO REPORT
President and CEO Avery stated that he attended a meeting with representatives of SCANA on June 3. He also attended an ECSC Executive Committee Meeting in Columbia, SC on June 10. On June 24, President Avery, also with Chairman Dickert, attended a CarolinaConnect Board Meeting at Mid-Carolina Electric Coop. in Lexington, SC
President Avery also had phone conversations over the month with Mr. Avery Wilkes of the State Newspaper for an article Mr. Wilkes is compiling on the Cooperatives of South Carolina.

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for June 2018. The amount of write offs for the month of June 2018 is $6,275.99. A motion was made to accept this amount for write offs. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

DEPARTMENT 300-Arthur Guy

Information for June 2018 Statistics were reviewed.

 

 

DEPARTMENT 500-Debra Shaw

119 solar panels have been leased to consumers.

 

 

DEPARTMENT 600-Engineering and Operations

Davey Tree crews are continuing work on the ROW clearing on Belfast 4, Blair 3, and Trinity 1.

The Lee Overhead Crew has finished working on the Samsung substation.

The Lee Underground Crew is still working on the Samsung substation.

CPR training was held on July 24.

Michael Martin and Stephanie Sullivan attended the Futura Conference.

Hollands substation and Fairview Ckt. 1 are complete for fiber. Fairview Ckt. 2, 3, and 4 are still in progress to be completed.

Spyware attempts have dropped to near 0. Michael is expecting this to increase through the end of August.

A virus showing on June 11 came in via email and was immediately blocked by Securance and two firewalls.

 

 

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

FINAL APPROVAL OF BOARD POLICIES UPDATE
Mr. Pope reviewed the Board Policies that were updated. He explained changes that were made to policies. There were a few corrections that needed to be made. A motion was made to accept the policies with the needed corrections. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. Once the polices are corrected, all trustees will get a new copy.

NEW BUSINESS

CONSIDER ACRE/ECHO CONTRIBUTIONS
President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees that is was time to contribute to ACRE/ECHO. The signup sheets were at their seats for them to sign and update if needed. President Avery asked the trustees to turn in their sheets before leaving the meeting.

CONSIDER CONTRIBUTIONS TO MAIN STREET LIGHTS
President Avery reviewed a letter from Anne Pinckney with the Main Street Lights Community Christmas Tree Committee. They are asking for contributions to purchase new decorations and provide maintenance for the existing decorations. A motion was made to donate $500.00 as a Blitzen sponsor. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO NEWBERRY COLLEGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT
President and CEO Avery referenced information from Mike Hold at Newberry College asking for a contribution to the Athletic Department.
After some discussion, a motion was made to contribute to have a baseball outfield fence sign (4 X 12) for $1000.00. The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.

 

 

CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO LIFEBRIDGE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
President Avery reviewed the information from Catherine Johnson, Executive Director of LIFEBRIDGE of South Carolina, requesting a contribution to their 2nd Annual Comedy Night Fundraiser being held on September 27, 2018. LIFEBRIDGE provides free, direct client services and education to help eliminate child abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and teen pregnancy in Newberry and surrounding counties. 
After some discussion, a motion was made to contribute $500.00 to LIFEBRIDGE as a Silver Sponsor to have NEC’s logo on all printed material for the event. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
President and CEO Avery referenced information from Casey Pash, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina, requesting a contribution. Junior Achievement provides students K-12 with financial literacy, workforce readiness, and entrepreneurship programs. This is an effective way to help kids in the Fairfield, Laurens, Lexington, and Newberry counties become financially aware and better prepared for the workforce they will enter.
After some discussion, a motion was made to contribute $500.00 to Junior Achievement of South Carolina. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO NEWBERRY AG EXPO KIDS ZONE
President Avery reviewed a request from Lisa Sligh, Committee Member of the Newberry County Agricultural Expo, for a contribution to the annual Kids Zone to take place on September 7-8, 2018 in Newberry. The Kids Zone provides fun activities for ages 12 and under in a family-oriented event to highlight Newberry’s Agricultural Heritage and introduce Newberry’s children and young adults to the many aspects of agriculture.
After some discussion, a motion was made to contribute $1500.00 to the Kids Zone. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

CONSIDER NRECA ANNUAL AND REGIONAL MEETING VOTING DELEGATE CERTIFICATION AND CREDENTIALING PROCESS
President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees that the NRECA Regional Meting will be held in Atlanta, Ga in October, and a voting delegate and alternate are needed for the Business Meeting. After a brief discussion, a motion was made to keep President G. Keith Avery as the voting delegate and Chairman Johnnie Dickert as the alternate. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

ECSC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MINUTES FROM MAY 9, 2018
President Avery referenced the ECSC Executive Committee minutes from the May meeting. This was accepted as information.

REVIEW THE CFC INDEPENDENT KEY RATIO TREND ANALYSIS (KRTA) FOR THE FIVE YEARS ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2017
President and CEO Avery briefly reviewed the CFC Key Ratio Analysis. He is going to have Mr. Hampton Oxendine from CFC come and review the analysis in detail at a later board meeting.

CAROLINACONNECT BOARD PRESENTATION FOR JULY 2018
President Avery reviewed the pertinent Newberry Electric information from the CarolinaConnect board presentation. As of July 23, 2018, Newberry has 161 consumers connected to fiber. President Avery asked the trustees to think about allowing non-NEC consumers to connect to the fiber. He will get some figures on cost and will review at a later board meeting.

DONATION PROSPERITY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
President and CEO Avery referenced an email from Andy Hawkins for the Prosperity Business Association requesting a donation for book bags with school supplies for deserving children. The giveaway will take place on Saturday, August 11, from 5 pm to 10 pm in the town square. The bags with supplies will cost about $13.00 each. After some discussion, a motion was made to donate $390.00 to purchase 30 book bags. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

NOT ON AGENDA
President Avery asked the trustees to please turn in their biography sheets. President Avery wants to include the bios on the NEC website.
President Avery stated that a spec building idea has been presented to the county council. Newberry needs a spec building to be able to present to potential businesses. 
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the July 2018 Regular Board Meeting.

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SECRETARY
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CHAIRMAN