REGULAR BOARD MEETING
September 25, 2023
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, September 25, 2023.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. followed by the invocation with the determination of a quorum present.
The secretary reported that the following Board Members were present:
Barbara C. 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, Engineering Analyst Michael Martin, and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.
Chairman Dickert asked if anyone wanted an Executive Session. Trustee Kesler made a motion to go into Executive Session. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. President Avery, Ms. Murphy, and Mr. Martin left the room. After they returned, Trustee Hipp made a motion to come out of Executive Session. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved. No voting or actions took place during the Executive Session.
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the August 2023 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 September 7, 2023 Special Board Meeting Minutes. Trustee Kesler made a motion to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the Membership & Public Relations Committee Meeting and accepted the minutes as information.
Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. The committee members are Trustees Johnnie L. Dickert, J. Craig Kesler, 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 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 requested an Executive Session. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to go into Executive Session. The motion passed without opposition. After some discussion, Trustee Hipp made a motion to return to Regular Session. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. No voting or actions took place during the Executive Session.
Trustee Kesler made a motion for Attorney Pope to compose a letter concerning EZ Block Chain. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
President Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of September. He and Chairman Dickert met with Mike Couick, President and CEO of ECSC. He met with Matt Stanley, President and CEO Elect of Laurens Electric Cooperative and Bobby Smith, President and CEO of New Horizon.
President Avery met with Jay Salter of the Marketing Department at Newberry College, and he attended the Business after Hours at the Venue at Black Grove.
President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for August 2023. The amount of write offs for August is $1229.01. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees of the Shred Day on Wednesday, September 27, from 11:00 am-2:00 pm in the Coop parking lot. All are asked to bring non-perishable items for the Manna House.
President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees of the Central Electric Dinner Forum to be held on October 2, 2023. Eight trustees are interested in attending.
The Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. August 29, 2023, Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee Meeting Summary was accepted as information. The Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. August 29, 2023, Member & Energy Services, the Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. August 30, 2023, Engineering, and the Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. August 30, 2023, Power Committee Meeting Summaries were all accepted as information.
The Government Relations Committee Meeting Minutes (Unapproved) August 3, and the ECSC Communications July 25 Committee Meeting Summaries were accepted as information.
President Avery informed the trustees of a forum to be held for Congressman Ralph Norman on Monday, November 6 in York, SC. This was accepted as information.
The Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. September 12, 2023 G-20, August 29, the Central Electric Cooperative, Inc. September 12, 2023, Rates Task Force, and the Central Electric Cooperative September 2023 Board Meeting Summaries were 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 Membership Meeting to be held on December 5, 2023. Trustee Hipp made a motion to nominate President Avery as the voting delegate and Chairman Dickert 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 Hipp made a motion to keep Chairman Dickert and President Avery as trustees. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
President Avery informed the trustees that the 2023 Winter Conference will be held in December. Eight trustees expressed an interest in attending.
The ECSC Communications Committee Meeting September 13, 2023 Minutes (Unapproved) were accepted as information.
The consensus of the Board is to hold the November Regular Board Meeting on Monday, November 27, and the December Meeting on Wednesday, December 27, since the regular meeting day is December 25, and the office will be closed for the Christmas holiday.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the results of the 2023 NEC Operation Round Up Golf Tournament held on September 11 at The Country Club of Newberry. $32,418.00 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 reminded the trustees that they could still donate to the SC Cooperative Care Foundation. A lineman was recently killed at Black River Electric Cooperative, and funds will be donated to his wife and two children.
President Avery referenced a press released from Central Electric Power Cooperative announcing that a grant from the Department of Energy for the Blair substation to install five vanadium flow batteries capable of discharging 700kW to 3.6MW of electricity for up to 20 hours.. These batteries will help especially during extended power outages. Newberry Electric will be able to rely on the batteries to keep the power on in Blair while line crews assess and address those outages. Blair is one of five rural communities from the Midwest to the East Coast to receive the grant.
President Avery shared with the trustees that he and three other CEOs are considering developing a certificate program with Newberry College. The program would concentrate on the seven Cooperative Principles. There would be five classes and one must meet the requirements to attend. Once completed, the certificate classes can transfer to the Masters’ degree.
President Avery informed the trustees of the yearly report from the consultation company concerning employee salaries. The Finance Committee was informed of suggestions at the Finance Committee Meeting on September 21. Finance Committee Chairman John Nichols stated that the Committee recommends the consultation company’s suggestion of a total increase of 5.03% for employees. A motion was made by Trustee Hipp to accept the recommendation presented. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the September Regular Board Meeting at 8:40 pm.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN