REGULAR BOARD MEETING
June 24, 2024
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held at Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. located in Newberry County, State of South Carolina on Monday, June 24, 2024.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert called the meeting to order at 6:28 p.m. followed by the invocation with the determination of a quorum present.
The secretary reported that the following Board Members were present:
Barbara 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, Operational Support Tech Tara Chapman, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy. Mr. Brigman and Ms. Murphy attended by Web Ex. Attorney Thomas Pope, III was absent.
The Board dispensed with reading the minutes of the May 21, 2024 Regular Board Meeting. Trustee Hipp made a motion to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Committee Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Thursday, June 20, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. Trustees Johnnie Dickert, Craig Kesler, William Lominick, and John Nichols are the committee members. All were present along with President and CEO Avery.
Committee Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for May 2024. All expenditures were in order, and the committee is presenting this report as general information. The consensus of the board was to accept the report.
Due to Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III’s absence, there was no Attorney Report.
President Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month. He attended a meeting with Samsung executives, and he attended the ACES convention.
President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for May 2024. The amount of write-offs for May is $2,549.30. 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 finished installing a substation for SCADA. They worked with Santee Cooper to put Holland and Prosperity on the network to allow for real-time metering. Lee Electric continues to work on the overhead lines on Hwy. 176. Dollar General in Prosperity has been connected. Trane is working on its expansion. RESAP will take place any day now. Second quarter drug testing has been completed.
President Avery explained the take rate of the fiber project. After much discussion, Trustee Kesler made a motion to discontinue the installation fee. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
President Avery reviewed information on the 2024 NRECA Regional meeting to take place in Columbia, SC in October. All of the trustees expressed an interest in attending.
The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina Board Meeting Highlights from June 5, 2024 were accepted as information.
Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. June 5, 2024, Executive Committee Meeting Summary was accepted as information.
President Avery reviewed a request for a donation from the River Dogs to help with uniforms, travel, and insurance. This was accepted as information.
President Avery reviewed a letter from the Executive Director of the Newberry Opera House, asking NEC to consider renewing funding for the 2024-2025 season. After some discussion, Trustee Kesler made a motion to donate to the Opera House. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
President and CEO Avery informed the trustees of the yearly Patron Capital refund from CEEUS for $78,658.00
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the June Regular Board Meeting at 7:40 p.m.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN