NEC Board Meeting December 2022

REGULAR BOARD MEETING

December 21, 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 Wednesday, December 21, 2022.

         The meeting was called to order by Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert at 6:25 p.m. followed by the invocation with the determination of a quorum present. 

         The secretary reported that the following Board Members were present:

                        Charles J. Bishop        Leon Fulmer, Jr.          J. Craig Kesler

                        M. Blake Brigman      Melanie B. Hawkins   William Lominick, Sr.

                        Johnnie L. Dickert      Douglas E. Hipp         John W. Nichols                     

          Also present were President and CEO G. Keith Avery, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.  Trustee Brigman attended by WebEx.

The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the November Regular Board Meeting.  A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to accept the minutes as emailed.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the Special Board Meeting held on Wednesday, December 14, 2022.  A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

            Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Monday, December 19 at 6:30 p.m.  The committee members are Trustees Charles J. Bishop, Johnnie L. Dickert, William Lominick, Sr., and John W. Nichols. All were present including President and CEO Avery.

            Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed the cash disbursements for the month of November.  All expenditures were found to be in order, and the committee is presenting this report as general information.  The consensus of the board was to accept the report.

Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III stated that he had no Attorney Report.

            President Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of December.  He and several trustees attended the ECSC Winter Conference.   He attended the Touchstone Energy Bowl. He attended a Christmas Drop in for Samsung.  He and Trustee Nichols attended the monthly CarolinaConnect meeting.

President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for November.  The amount of write offs for November 2022 is $1216.62.  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.  He stated that Santee Cooper installed an Automatic GOAB Switch at Cannon’s Creek Substation to help with momentary interruptions.  All the work has been completed for Newberry Data Mine, and it is scheduled to energize on January 1, 2023.  Daeyoung has started up production and the load continues to ramp up. West Fraser is continuing to move forward with the Kiln expansion.  A replacement bucket truck has arrived.  The CarolinaConnect accounts are increasing beyond expectation.

            President and CEO Avery referenced a memo about the NRECA 2023 Directors Conference.  The consensus of the five trustees interested in participating is to attend virtually.         President Avery reminded the trustees of the 2023 NRECA Power x Change meeting in March.  Seven trustees expressed an interest in attending. 

            President and CEO Avery informed the trustees that the 2023 Newberry Electric Cooperative’s Annual Meeting will be a 2-day event where voting will be held on Tuesday, April 4 from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and Wednesday, April 5, 2023 from 12 noon to 7:00 pm with the Business Meeting starting at 7:00 pm.  It will be a contested race this year, because Trustee Bishop has decided to step down after 34 years of service.  Because it is a conflict of interest, Trustees Brigman and Hawkins recused themselves from voting on appointing members to the Nominating Committee, since they are running for re-election.  Trustee Bishop recused himself also.  A Nominating Committee needs to be appointed to make nominations for the election of trustees. A motion was made by Trustee Lominick to use the same committee members from 2022, but omit Mr. Larry Cromer since he is having health issues, and increase their compensation for time.  The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.  The members nominated are Mr. Paul Brown, Mr. Rick Farmer, Mrs. Ann Lominick, Mrs. Jennifer Moore, Mr. Randy Nobles, Mr. Wayne Satterwhite, and Mr. Lee Shaw.  Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy will check with the members of the committee to see if they are able to serve.

            President and CEO Avery also reminded the trustees that a Credentials and Election Committee needs to be appointed.  Again, Trustees Brigman and Hawkins recused themselves from voting on appointing members to the Credentials and Election Committee, because they are running for re-election. Trustee Bishop recused himself also.  A motion was made by Trustee Kesler to use the same committee members from 2022 and increase their compensation for time.  The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.  The members nominated are Mr. Robert Bannister, Mrs. Annette Bledsoe, Ms. Penny Hamm, Mr. Don Kunkle, Mr. Anthony Matthews, Mr. George Piersol, and Mr. Carold Wicker.  Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy will check with the members of this committee to see if they are able to serve.

President Avery reminded the trustees of the 2023 Washington Your Tour and Cooperative Youth Summit to be held this summer.  The students are to be a 10^th grader for the Youth Summit and an 11^th grader for the Youth Tour.  All applications need to be returned to the Statewide office by Monday, January 30, 2023.

President Avery reviewed a memo from NRTC requesting an alternate delegate for their 2023 Annual Meeting.  President Avery is the voting delegate.  Trustee Lominick made a motion to appoint Trustee Nichols as the alternate.  The motion was seconded and passed without objection. 

            The Central Electric Power Cooperative December 2022 Executive Committee Meeting and the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina Trustee Association Advisory Board Business Meeting summaries were accepted as information.

            President and CEO Avery referenced a memo requesting a voting delegate and alternate for the NRECA Annual Meeting. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to keep President Avery as the delegate and Trustee Nichols as the alternate.  The motion was seconded and approved without opposition. 

The ECSC Board Meeting Highlights for December 6, 2022 were accepted as information. 

President and CEO Avery reviewed a memo from Rob Hochstetler, President and CEO of Central Electric Power Cooperative, requesting delegates to the Central’s March 15, 2023 Annual Meeting.  After some discussion, Trustee Kesler made a motion to appoint President Avery and Chairman Dickert as delegates.  The motion was seconded and passed without objection.  Trustee Hipp also requested to attend.  He also made a motion to keep President Avery and Chairman Dickert as the trustees to serve on Central’s Board.  The motion was seconded and passed without objection.

President Avery informed the board that Capital Credit checks have been mailed to members.

            There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the December 2022 Regular Board Meeting at 7:35 pm.

___________________________________                                      ___________________

SECRETARY                                                                                    APPROVED

____________________________________

CHAIRMAN