July 2019 Board Meeting Report

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

July 29, 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, July 29, 2019.

         The meeting was called to order at 6:30 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, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.

 

READING AND APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES

         The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the June 24, 2019 Regular Board Meeting.  A motion was made to approve 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, July 22, 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 June 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 business 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 July.  He attended lunch with Charlie Boswell from Santee Cooper.  He and Nick Shealy met with Patterson & Dewar Engineering from Atlanta, GA about engineering classes that they offer.  President Avery and Mr. Dickert attended a CarolinaConnect Board Meeting.

 

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

         President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for June 2019.  The amount of write offs for June is $5,718.47.  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 2, and Bush River 4.
• The Samsung Phase 3 is connected.
• Stoney Hill, Prosperity, New Hope, Trinity 3 and Edgewater Shores data for Fiber is ongoing.
• There are 1168 active fiber accounts and 1258 people have signed up.

  OLD BUSINESS

   

2019 NRECA REGIONAL MEETING-LOUISVILLE, KY

         President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees of the 2019 NRECA Regional Meeting in Louisville, KY October 8-10, 2019.  Any trustee wanting to attend need to turn in their information sheet as soon as possible.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

SAMSUNG PAYMENTS

         President and CEO Avery reviewed the payments from Samsung Electronics that Newberry Electric has received for electrical improvements at their site.

 

CONSIDER DONATIONS TO AG EXPO KIDS ZONE

         President and CEO Avery reviewed information from Lisa Sligh, committee member of Newberry County Ag Expo.  The Kids Zone will take place September 6-7, 2019 in Newberry, SC.  A motion was made to donate to the event.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

 

CONSIDER PARTNERSHIP WITH MISS NEWBERRY/TEEN ORGANIZATION    

         President Avery directed attention to an email from Christie Gardner asking Newberry Electric to partner with the Miss Newberry/Teen Organization.  After some discussion, a motion was made to accept this email as information.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

 

CONSIDER PROPOSED PAC COMMITTEE CHANGES

         President Avery referenced information from the Policy Advisory Committee on proposed changes to Policy 300-205, Insurance, Retirement, and Savings Plans.  Attorney Pope stated that he has not reviewed the changes, so this policy will be tabled until the next board meeting.

 

RESOLUTION FOR COBANK

         President and CEO Avery referenced a resolution from CoBank for NEC to guarantee a CarolinaConnect loan for the fiber project.  After reviewing the resolution, a motion was made to accept its terms.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

 

PROJECT REQUESTS

           President Avery informed the trustees of two potential projects coming to Newberry County.  The first project would bring 56 jobs and a 5 MW load of service.  The second project would bring 16 jobs and 1 MW load of service.  Each project is asking for Newberry Electric to donate funds to bring them to the county, and these funds will be matched by the Power Team.  After some discussion, a motion was made to donate to both projects.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

 

NOT ON AGENDA

         President Avery stated that the Family Fun Day will be held on Saturday, September 21 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Please have your number of family members who will be attending at the next board meeting so that food can be prepared.

         President Avery asked all trustees to turn in their ACRE/ECHO contribution sheets.  A motion was made for all board members to join at the Century Level.  The motion died.

         President Avery met with AFL concerning the fiber Newberry Electric is purchasing from them.  The fiber has a gel that is leaking and causing a loss of bandwidth.  AFL is committed to correcting the problem, and they will give Newberry Electric an extended warranty on the fiber.

         President Avery informed the trustees of the light blinking problems brought on by the buzzards flying around the transmission lines.

         President Avery stated that only 3 people have called about the facility charges that are going into effect on August 1, 2019.    

         President and CEO Avery informed the trustees that a new NRECA Director from South Carolina will be voted in on August 1 in Columbia.  The consensus of the board is for Newberry Electric to vote for Norris Fowler of Broad River Electric Cooperative in Gaffney, SC.          

ADJOURNMENT

         There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the July 2019 Regular Board Meeting at 7:52 p.m.

 

                                                                                    ____________________________

                                                                                    SECRETARY

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CHAIRMAN