REGULAR BOARD MEETING
January 30, 2023
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, January 30, 2023.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert at 6:30 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, Vice President of Engineering Kevin Shull, Compliance Coordinator Phillip Padgett, Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.
Mr. Padgett was congratulated by the trustees for graduating Magna Cum Laude from Columbia Southern University with a BS Degree in Occupational Safety and Health. Mr. Padgett thanked everyone and stated he is now working on obtaining his Master’s Degree in Project Management.
Mr. Shull explained the Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s Green RECs (Renewable Energy Credit) Market Rider. Central Electric Cooperative can sell green renewable made from solar, wind, hydro, or methane to industrial or commercial companies for them to be 100% green. After one year, the company will have to renew their contract. After some discussion, a motion was made by Trustee Hipp to adopt the Market Renewable Energy Credit Program Rider. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Chairman Dickert asked if an Executive Session was needed for discussion of some cooperative matters. No trustee had anything to be discussed in Executive Session.
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the December 21, 2022 Regular Board Meeting. 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, January 23 at 6:30 p.m. The committee members are Trustees C.J. Bishop, Johnnie Dickert, William Lominick, and John Nichols. President and CEO Avery was also present.
Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for December 2022. 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 Pope requested an Executive Session. Trustee Hipp made the motion to go into Executive Session. The motion was seconded and passed without objection. After giving an update on matters, Attorney Pope requested to come out of Executive Session. Trustee Hipp made the motion to return to Regular Session. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. There was no voting and no action taken during the Executive Session.
President Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of January. He and Attorney Pope conducted meetings with the Nomination Committee and the Credentials and Election Committee for candidates to be voted on at the Newberry Electric Annual Meeting. Voting will take place at Mid-Carolina High School on Tuesday, April 4 from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and on Wednesday, April 5 from 12 noon to 7:00 pm when the business meeting starts.
President Avery is to be interviewed about Newberry’s economic development for the RE Magazine. The EZ Blockchain started up their first data mining container on January 1, 2023 at 6:00 am.
President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for December 2022. The amount of write offs for December is $2,169.48. A motion was made by Trustee Brigman to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Vice President of Engineering Kevin Shull reviewed the Engineering and Operations and Operational Support reports for the month. The Prosperity Substation #2 is complete. Engineering has completed the downline communications on Hollands Substation. All nine downline reclosers are now connected to fiber and visible on SCADA. Long Lane Circuit #3 is complete. Engineering is continuing to replace the aging primary underground cable system that is over 30 years old. Engineering is also continuing to add isolation devices such as cutout and air brake switches to minimize outage times. Daeyoung has increased production. MM Technics is adding more equipment in their existing facility and are exploring doubling the size of the existing facility.
Newberry Electric did not receive any ARPA Grants for fiber, but will continue to look for opportunities rolled out by ORS.
President Avery referenced a thank you note from former State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman for the donation to her education scholarship at Lander University for students in Newberry and Saluda counties.
President Avery reminded the trustees of the Directors Conference to be held in February. Five trustees will participate in the conference virtually. He also reminded the trustees of the NRECA Power X Change to be held in March. Six trustees have expressed an interest in attending.
President Avery asked the trustees to review Board Policy No. 23, Procedures for Election of Board Trustees. Trustee Kesler made a motion to update the policy to provide a process to handle multiple candidates for one board seat. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. (See Attached)
President Avery reminded the trustees of the information needed for Annual Meeting shirts.
President Avery reminded the trustees of the S.C. Legislative Reception to be held on Tuesday, February 7, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. Six trustees expressed an interest in attending.
President and CEO informed the trustees of the Washington Legislative Rally to be held in April in Washington, DC. Four trustees have expressed an interest to attend.
President Avery referenced a memo from the President and CEO of Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. Rob Hochstetler, concerning the certification of Trustee qualifications for Central Trustee appointments at the March 15, 2023 Annual Meeting. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to keep Chairman Dickert as a trustee. President Avery is automatically a trustee because he is the CEO. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
The Central Electric Power Cooperative January 17, 2023 G-20, the Central Electric Cooperative January 2023 Board Meeting, the Central Electric Power Cooperative January 2023 Power Committee, and the Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina Communications Committee Meeting November 21, 2022 summaries were accepted as information.
President and CEO Avery reviewed a memo from Chris Koon, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of ECSC, concerning the death of a Co-op employee in Georgia during recent storm restoration work. The employee is survived by his wife and four children under twelve years old. A fund has been set up for the family. Mr. Koon is asking for co-op contributions to SC Cooperative Care Foundation for the family. Trustee Kesler made a motion for the Board to match whatever contributions the Newberry Electric employees raise. The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.
President and CEO Avery informed the trustees that a new company has been formed, The Broadband Cooperatives of South Carolina, Inc. This a group of telephone and electric coops over the state who are providing broadband internet to their members. The first board meeting for this company will be on Monday, February 13, 2023. They are requesting board members from each coop and are initially suggesting that the members be the CEO and the Board Chair of that cooperative where the Board Chair appointment can be changed at any time. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to appoint President and CEO Avery and Chairman Dickert to the Broadband Cooperative board. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
President Avery informed everyone that US House Representative Jeff Duncan will be in Newberry on Tuesday, February 21 for a Meet and Greet and plans on presenting Mr. Henry “Buddy” Kunkle, Sr. a US flag, thanking him for his service in World War II.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the January Regular Board Meeting at 8:25 p.m.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN