REGULAR BOARD MEETING
June 28, 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, June 28, 2021 at 6:30 pm. Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert presided.
After the call to order, invocation, and establishing all members present, except for Blake Brigman who was unable to attend, Trustee Hipp made a motion to approve the Regular Board Meeting minutes from May 2021 as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Finance Committee Chairman John Wayne Nichols reported that the Finance Committee met on June 22, 2021. The finance report was submitted as information. The consensus of the Board was to accept the report.
Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III was unable to attend the regular Board Meeting, therefore there was no Attorney Report.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed his activity and meetings for the month, including the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina Summer Conference, which he attended alongside NEC Board Members. He discussed the information provided at the conference by key industry leaders that will help to guide NEC’s decision-making regarding current and future initiatives. In addition, Board Chairman Johnny Dickert read a letter of recognition he received from Mike Couick, President and CEO of ECSC, regarding President and CEO G. Keith Avery’s outstanding contributions to the success of this year’s summer conference. President and CEO G. Keith Avery went on to discuss a meeting he had with Carolina Connect regarding their broadband expansion into Aiken County to provide service to the members of Aiken Electric Cooperative. He also reviewed his meeting with Newberry County officials on June 28, 2021 regarding funding for broadband internet service in Newberry County.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed in detail the financial and operational data for May 2021. The amount of write-offs for May is $845.29. Trustee Kesler 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 has completed an inspection of all substations to include taking readings and performing maintenance where necessary. He also noted the extensive ROW clearing being performed due to the overgrowth of vegetation as a result of recent weather conditions in our area.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery recommended the revised proposal terms and conditions provided by Emily Marketing to advertise in the Newberry Now magazine be placed on hold until advised by attorney Thomas H. Pope, III to proceed with entering an advertising agreement.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed the registration information and course itineraries for NRECA’s 2021 Regional Meeting to be held in Birmingham, AL on October 5-7, 2021.
President Avery gave an overview of the minutes for the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina Board Meeting Highlights held on June 8, 2021. The report was accepted as information.
President and CEO G. Keith Avery reviewed several economic development projects that will further the interests of Newberry County residents.
The Board reviewed Central Electric Power Cooperative’s 10 Year Evolution Plan and Committee Meeting Summary and accepted it as information.
President Avery gave an overview of the minutes for Central Electric Power Cooperative’s June Executive Committee Meeting Summary. The report was accepted as information.
Trustee Hipp made a motion to go into Executive Session. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. After some discussion, Trustee Hipp made a motion to reconvene into Regular Session. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. There were no actions and no voting acted upon during the Executive Session. Chairman Johnnie Dickert took a vote on temporarily postponing the buildout for broadband internet service at our Bush River substation and move ahead with the buildout of our Long Lane substation. This would ensure construction can be completed by October 2022 as required to receive the grant awarded to NEC in the amount of $639,061.00 for providing broadband internet service to members served by our Long Lane substation. The aforementioned vote passed with a 6-3 majority. Chairman Johnnie Dickert, Trustees Doug Hipp, William Lominick, Leon Fulmer, Melanie Hawkins, and Blake Brigman, (who voted by proxy), voted in favor of the proposed change in schedule. Trustees C.J. Bishop, John Nichols, and Craig Kesler opposed the request to postpone the Bush River substation buildout.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert
adjourned the June 2021 Regular Board Meeting at 8:16 pm.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN