REGULAR BOARD MEETING
July 26, 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, July 26, 2021 at 6:30 pm. Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert presided.
After the call to order, invocation, and establishing all members present, except for CJ Bishop who was unable to attend, Trustee Kesler made a motion to approve the Regular Board Meeting minutes from June 2021 as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Finance Committee Chairman John Wayne Nichols reported that the Finance Committee met on Tuesday, July 20, 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 have an Attorney’s Report and requested that the meeting adjourn into Executive Session. Trustee Hipp made a motion to go into Executive Session. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. Chairman Dickert adjourned into Executive Session.
After updates from Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, Trustee Hipp made a motion 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 G. Keith Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of July. On July 15th, he met with the SC Power Team for a strategic planning session. On July 26th he and Nick Shealy, VP of Engineering and Operations, met with Davis and Floyd Engineering regarding plans for a proposed project in Newberry County.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed in detail the financial and operational data for June 2021. The amount of write-offs for June is $2,669.47. Trustee Brigman 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 is working on blinking lights in various areas, the installation of two new transformers at KRA to service their expansion, and the continued review of options to best serve MC Commerce Park II.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed the fiber projections for the upcoming months. NEC through CarolinaConnect has 3990 active fiber accounts for billing as of July 26, 2021.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed in detail an advertising agreement with Best Version Media for advertising opportunities in the Newberry Now magazine. A motion was made to approve an advertising agreement with BVM and passed with an 8-1 majority. Trustee Hipp opposed advertising in the Newberry Now publication.
The Trustees reviewed the information for the NRECA Regional Meeting to be held October 5-7, 2021. After some discussion, Trustee Dickert made a motion to keep President Avery as the delegate and Trustee Nichols as the alternate for the meeting. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery gave an overview of the minutes for the Central Electric Cooperative July Board Meeting summary. The report was accepted as information.
The Trustees accepted as information the minutes for the Central Electric Cooperative Called Engineering Committee Meeting Summary held on July 14, 2021.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed the minutes for the Central Electric Cooperative Called Power Committee Meeting Summary held on July 2, 2021. The report was accepted as information.
The Trustees also accepted as information the minutes for the Central Electric Cooperative Called Engineering Committee Meeting Summary held on July 2, 2021.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery referenced of the minutes for ECSC’s Communications Committee Meeting, held on May 19, 2021. The report was accepted as information.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed information from Lisa Sligh, committee member of Newberry County Ag Expo. The Kids Zone will take place September 10-11, 2021 in Newberry, SC. A motion was made by Trustee Lominick to donate $1500.00 to the event. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed information from Terry Cotney, Executive Director of the Freedom and Hope Foundation, A SC non-profit organization providing outdoor activities for children with life-threatening diseases and for wounded military, both active duty and veterans. A motion was made by Trustee Nichols to donate $2,500.00 to their organization. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
The trustees reviewed a memo from Leann Hutto reminding them that it is time to renew their Acre and Echo memberships. A motion was made by Trustee Kesler for all trustees to be a Century Member for Acre and a Silver Member for Echo. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Because of COVID-19, the 2021 Washington Youth Tour and the Youth Summit were cancelled but the Virtual Youth Summit was held on June 21-25, 2021. Newberry Electric Cooperative selected one student to attend the event. After some discussion, Trustee Kesler made a motion to present the student with a $500.00 scholarship to the school of their choice. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the July 2021 Regular Board Meeting at 7:36 p.m.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN