REGULAR BOARD MEETING
September 26, 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, September 26, 2022.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert at 6:33 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, Attorney Thomas Pope, III, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.
The presentation by Mr. James Chavez, President and CEO of the SC Power Team, and the Executive Session were tabled until the October Regular Board Meeting.
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the August 2022 Regular Board Meeting. A motion was made by Trustee Kesler 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 Membership & Public Relations Committee Meeting. A motion was made by Trustee Hawkins 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, September 19, 2022 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 along with President and CEO Avery.
Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed the cash disbursements for the month of August. 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 did not have an Attorney Report.
President Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of September. He had two meetings with potential businesses that may locate to Newberry County. He also met with the Bush River Young Farmers and Samsung. He and Chairman Dickert attended the monthly CarolinaConnect meeting.
President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for August 2022. The amount of write offs for August is $2235.37. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Overhead work is still in progress on Long Lane Circuit 3 upgrades. The men are working on replacing the aging primary underground cable system wide as the budget allows. These lines are approximately twenty years old. They are strategically installing new Air Break Switches to allow for line sectionalizing. Construction is re-routing the 3 phase line along Hwy 773 for the Daeyoung expansion and turning lane. Phillip Padgett completed the 30-hour OSHA class.
President and CEO Avery stated that the SC Rural Broadband Grant is ongoing, and NEC is currently working on ARPA Fiber Grants to include priority areas for non-members. Locations awarded will be announced on November 14.
Construction is complete on Key Island Road, Vinge Road, and Bedford Way. These areas have been released to subscribers.
President Avery requested an Executive Session. Trustee Hipp made the motion for Executive Session. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. Chairman Dickert convened the meeting into Executive Session. After some discussion, Trustee Hipp made a motion to come out of Executive Session and reconvene into Regular Session. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. No actions or voting took place during the Executive Session.
The Central Electric Power Cooperative August FAR Committee Meeting, the Central Electric Power Cooperative August Member & Energy Services Committee Meeting, the Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. August 24, 2022 Engineering Committee Meeting, and the Central Electric Power Cooperative August 2022 Power Committee Meeting summaries were all accepted as information.
President Avery reviewed a memo from Mike Couick, President and CEO of the ECSC, in reference to the voting delegate and alternate for the ECSC Annual Meeting to be held on December 6, 2022. Trustee Lominick made a motion to keep the Chairman Dickert as the voting delegate and President and CEO Avery as the alternate. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
President and CEO Avery also stated the ECSC needs two trustees to serve on the Board of Trustees. Trustee Nichols made a motion to keep Chairman Dickert and President Avery as the trustees. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
President Avery reported that to comply with Board Governance, all trustees’ compensation from all entities will be reported on the Newberry Electric website under the member portal.
President Avery reviewed Article IV, Section 4.02 of the Bylaws. This is information on qualifications to be a trustee on the Board of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc.
The Central Electric Power Cooperative Special Called September Executive Committee Meeting, the Central Electric Power Cooperative September 13, 2022 G-20 Meeting, and the Central Electric Power Cooperative September Board Meeting summaries were all accepted as information.
President Avery referenced information for the 2022 ECSC Winter Conference in December. Six trustees expressed an interest in attending the conference.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the details from the 2022 NEC Operation Round Up Golf Tournament held on September 12 at the Country Club of Newberry. Over $29,000.00 was raised. These funds will be split in two; half will go to the Newberry WIRE chapter and half will go to the Interface Community Service to be used for needs in the community.
President Avery referenced information for the 1st Annual Classic Car & Antique Tractor Cruise In to be held on November 19, from 10 AM- 2 PM, in the Newberry Tractor Supply Parking Lot. Anyone interested in being a sponsor and/or entering a tractor or car, please contact Debra Shaw.
President Avery stated that EZ Blockchain will start up production on November 1, 2022. They will be leasing four sites. A fee is required for each lease site. Trustee Hipp made a motion to charge no less than $100.00 per site, but the final amount will be set by President Avery. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the September 2022 Regular Board Meeting at 8:30 pm.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN