REGULAR BOARD MEETING
March 28, 2022
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, March 28, 2022
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert at 6:26 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, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy. Trustee Blake Brigman attended by Web Ex.
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the February 2022 Regular Board Meeting. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to accept the minutes as emailed with the needed correction. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. The committee members are Trustees C.J. Bishop, Johnnie Dickert, William Lominick, and John Nichols. All were present except President and CEO Avery. Chief Financial Officer Arthur Guy attended in President Avery’s absence.
Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for February 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.
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 Kesler 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 Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of March. He conducted a meeting with the County Administrator Christopher Iglesias. He also attended the NRECA PowerXchange Meeting with Trustees Brigman, Fulmer, Hawkins, Hipp, Kesler, Lominick, and Nichols. He also attended A fundraiser for SC Governor McMaster with Trustees Dickert and Nichols.
President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for February 2022. The amount of write offs for February is $2753.28. 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. A replacement service truck has been received.
President Avery reviewed an email with important information about the Washington Legislative Conference to take place Sunday, May 1-Tuesday, May 4, 2022. Four trustees expressed an interest to attend.
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. Seven trustees expressed an interest 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. Six trustees expressed and interest to attend.
President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees of the CEE-US and Line Equipment Show on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. Six trustees are planning on attending.
President Avery referenced the Safety and Loss Prevention Assessment from Federated Rural Electric Insurance for February 2019 - February 2022. The assessment stated that Newbery Electric has established programs for safety and loss prevention, and these programs address issues that are of concern to Federated. The insurance renewal was also reviewed. After some discussion, more information is needed before the renewal will be approved. The additional information will be provided at the April Board Meeting.
The Central Electric Power Cooperative Inc. March 2, 2022 Bylaw Review Committee: Simple vs. Supermajority Requirements Meeting Summary was accepted as information.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the CoBank loan documents to help CarolinaConnect continue to build the fiber system. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to accept the terms as outlines in the documents. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
The following reports were accepted as information: Central Electric Power Cooperative Annual Meeting and Board Meeting Summary, Central Electric Power Cooperative March 15, 2022 G-20 Meeting Summary, and the ECSC Communications Committee Meeting.
President Avery reference information for the 2022 NRECA Directors Conference to be held in April. No trustee wanted to attend in person, but three stated they would attend virtually on April 4.
President Avery explained a reminder of important information concerning the 2022 Annual Meeting.
President and CEO Avery referenced a map showing the property near the Belfast substation needed to expand the substation for future use. A motion was made by Trustee Nichols to buy two acres of land from Bel-Ivy Farms to be able to complete the process. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the March 2022 Regular Board Meeting at 8:12 p.m.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN