REGULAR BOARD MEETING
October 29, 2018
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, October 29, 2018.
An Executive Meeting was called to order by Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert at 6:32 pm with the determination of a quorum present. No actions or voting took place during this session. The Regular Board Meeting was called to order at 6:38 pm.
The secretary reported that the following Board Members were present:
C.J. Bishop Leon Fulmer, Jr. Craig Kesler
Blake Brigman Melanie B. Hawkins William Lominick
Johnnie L. Dickert Douglas Hipp John W. Nichols
Also present were President and CEO G. Keith Avery, Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III and Executive Secretary Deirdre Murphy.
READING AND APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MEETING MINUTES
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the September 2018 Board Meeting. A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
READING AND APPROVAL OF SPECIAL BOARD MEETING MINUTES
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the September 2018 Special Board Meeting. A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
READING AND APPROVAL OF THE MEMBER, PUBLIC & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS MEETING MINUTES
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the Member, Public & Government Relations Meeting. A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT
Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Monday, October 22, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. Trustee Nichols stated that all members were present. President and CEO Avery was also present.
Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for September 2018. All expenditures were found to be in order, and the committee is presenting this report as information. The consensus of the board was to accept the report.
ATTORNEY REPORT
Mr. Pope requested that the meeting adjourn into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing a personnel matter. A motion was made to adjourn into Executive Session. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. Chairman Dickert adjourned into Executive Session.
After Mr. Pope updated the Trustees, a motion was made to reconvene into Regular Session. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. Chairman Dickert reconvened the meeting into Regular Session. There were no actions and no voting acted upon during the Executive Session.
PRESIDENT AND CEO REPORT
President and CEO Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended or participated in during the month of October. He attended the ECSC Board Meeting at Statewide. He also attended meetings with Representative Ralph Norman to discuss funds for broad band fiber in rural areas. He informed the trustees that Samsung is interested in getting solar at their plant.
FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS
President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for September 2018. The amount of write offs for September is $1,380.22. A motion was made to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
DEPARTMENT 600-Engineering and Operations
Cannons Creek SCADA is complete.
Samsung Phase 1 is complete. Phase 2 is complete and billed.
ECSC Confined/Enclosed Space Rescue was held on October 3 and 4.
EJ Altman, Michael Martin, Alex Brandt, and Daniel Hesson completed Drone Certification. With four pilots, we will be able to deploy in two teams as needed.
Fiber As-Builts for Hollands and Fairview is ongoing.
Fairview Ckt 1, 2, and 3 are complete.
Fairview Ckt 4 is in progress and should be complete by the end of November.
Hollands Substation is completed.
There were two virus attempts this past month which were blocked.
There are 151 of 240 solar panels leased to consumers.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
CONSIDER ATTENDING THE 2018 ECSC WINTER CONFERENCE-DECEMBER 3-5, 2018-GROVE PARK INN, ASHEVILLE, NC
President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees of the Winter Conference. President and CEO Avery will be attending the meeting as well.
NEW BUSINESS
CONSIDER A DATE FOR THE PROPOSED 2019 NEWBERRY ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE’S CAPITAL AND EXPENSE BUDGET AND STRATEGIC PLAN MEETING
President Avery reminded the trustees that it is time to review the 2019 Capital and Expense Budget along with the Strategic Plan. After some discussion, Tuesday, November 20, at 3:00 pm was agreed upon by the trustees as the meeting date.
CONSIDER ATTENDING THE 2018 NRECA DIRECTORS WINTER SCHOOL- NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 5, 2018-NASHVILLE, TN
President Avery informed the trustees of the 2018 Directors Winter School to be held November 30-December 5, 2018 in Nashville, TN. He reminded them that this meeting will overlap the Winter Conference in Asheville, NC. Anyone interested in attending the Winter School needs to let Deirdre Murphy know as soon as possible so reservations can be made.
CONSIDER DONATION TO THE TOUCHSTONE ENERGY COOPERATIVE BOWL
President Avery referenced information from Mike Couick, CEO of ECSC requesting a donation to the Touchstone Energy Cooperative Bowl to help cover the cost of equipment, food, hotels, transportation, and a shopping trip. After some discussion, a motion was made to donate $500.00. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING REPORT
President Avery directed attention to the Central Electric’s September Board Meeting Report. This was accepted as information.
CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE OCTOBER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT
President Avery directed attention to the Central Electric’s October Executive Committee Meeting Report. This was accepted as information.
ECSC BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
President Avery directed attention to the ECSC Board Meeting Highlights. This was accepted as information.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RATE STUDY
President Avery reminded the trustees of the presentation giving by Lynn Lanier of GDS Associates on the rate study. After some discussion, a motion was made to accept the rate study. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF CAPITAL CREDIT ALLOCATIONS
President Avery referenced information on paying out Capital Credit checks for this year. If NEC pays for the 1998 year, the total would be $525,875.55 and year 1999 would be $436,018.31. A motion was made to pay for the 1998 year at $525,875.55. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
CONSIDER EMPLOYEE SALARY APPROVALS
President Avery informed the trustees that Human Resources has done a survey on salaries with similar companies and cooperatives in the area and NRECA. Some jobs were below mid-point and some were right at mid-point. President Avery is asking for a total increase of 4.1% for employees. After some discussion, a motion was made to approve the increase. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
CONSIDER AUDIT FOR 2018
President Avery reminded the trustees that it is time for the yearly audit. Randy Nichols did the audit last year and everyone thought he did an excellent job. A motion was made to
contact Randy Nichols to do the audit for 2018. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO MCMASTER FOR GOVERNOR
President Avery referenced a request from Mike Couick, CEO of ECSC, for a contribution to McMaster for Governor. He is asking all cooperatives in SC to contribute at least $1000.00. Since the deadline was before the regular board meeting, President Avery contacted Chairman Dickert and got the approval for the contribution. A contribution of $1000.00 was sent to the McMaster for Governor campaign.
CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO TIM SCOTT FOR SENATE
President Avery referenced a request from Mike Couick, CEO of ECSC, for a contribution to Tim Scott for Senate. Senator Scott will be attending the Winter Conference in Asheville, NC, and checks will be presented to him there. All personal checks should be made payable to Tim Scott for Senate. This was accepted as information.
BANK FEES
President Avery informed the trustees that South State Bank was increasing their service fees, so NEC got quotes from First Citizens and First Community banks to compare their fees against South State. After the comparison, First Community would save the cooperative over $100,000 a year. A motion was made to change from South State Bank to First Community Bank. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition. President Avery stated that the change will go into effect after the first of the year.
VETERANS DISPLAY
President and CEO Avery informed the trustees that Debra Shaw has requested on the behalf of WIRE to place a plaque in the lobby with the names of Newberry Country veterans. The initial cost of the plaque is $1400.00. Each name plate would be $6.00. WIRE would also like to put a display in the front yard of flags and crosses to honor vets for Veterans Day.
After some discussion, the consensus of the trustees is to have one plaque in the lobby that recognizes veterans (no names) who have served and continue to serve. They also agreed to place the flags and crosses in the front yard to be on display.
CONSIDER ATTENDING NRECA 2019 ANNUAL MEETING-MARCH 7-13, 2019-ORLANDO, FL
President Avery reminded the trustees that the NRECA 2019 Annual Meeting will be held March 7-13, 2019 in Orlando, FL. All trustees who are attending are asked to turn in your travel sheets so that reservations can be made.
CONSIDER ECSC BUILDING RENOVATION SPECIAL ASSESSMENT
President Avery referenced a memo from ECSC on the building renovation special assessment. The ECSC Board of Trustees approved on October 4, 2018 the amount of $45,664.66 per cooperative for the renovations to the ECSC building.
After some discussion, a motion was made to make this payment in January 2019. The motion was seconded and approved without opposition.
CONSIDER MEMBERSHIP TO THE STATEWIDE ASSOCIATION AND SUBSCRIPTION TO SOUTH CAROLINA LIVING MAGAZINE
President Avery referenced a memo from Lou Green from ECSC on membership to Statewide and the subscription to the SC Living magazine. A motion was made to remain a member of Statewide and to continue to mail the SC Living magazine to consumers for eleven months of the year at 52¢ per magazine as a Platinum member. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
NOT ON AGENDA
President Avery reminded the trustees of the Children’s Christmas Party to be held on Saturday, December 1. Please turn in your children’s information for the party.
Trustee Melanie Hawkins was presented her Credentialed Cooperative and Board Leadership certificates by Chairman Dickert.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the October 2018 Regular Board Meeting at 8:40 p.m.
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SECRETARY
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CHAIRMAN