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, January 27, 2025.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., followed by Trustee Craig Kesler's 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
President and CEO G. Keith Avery, Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, Vice President of Engineering Kevin Shull, Vice President of Operational Support, Chief Financial Officer Arthur Guy, Accounting Supervisor Lisa Wicker, and Executive Secretary Tara Chapman were also in attendance.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert informed the Board of Trustees that Trustee Barbara Bishop had successfully completed the requirements to earn her Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate. Chairman Dickert presented Trustee Bishop with her certificate in recognition of this achievement.
Mr. Shull reviewed the 2024 Outage Indices report, which states the number of outages and the length of time the outages took place. Mr. Shull also reviewed the proposed solar rider. Trustee Hipp made a motion to approve the new Solar Rider to be put into effect on April 1, 2025. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Mrs. Sullivan presented the Fiber to the Home Annual Report for the year 2024. She reported that as of January 2025, 6,264 NEC members and 322 non-members were being billed by CarolinaConnect. Mrs. Sullivan requested the Board of Trustees' approval to proceed with developing a Fiber Subsidiary proposal to present to the Board. Trustee Kesler made a motion for Mrs. Sullivan to move forward with this proposal. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Mr. Guy reviewed the operational data for December 2024 as well as the operational data for the year 2024 in detail. The amount of write offs for December 2024 is $2,994.86. Trustee Kesler made a motion to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The meeting dispensed with the reading and approval of the December 2024 Regular Board Meeting minutes. Trustee Nichols made the motion to approve the minutes with corrections. The motion was seconded and approved.
Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Monday, January 20, 2025, 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 December 2024. 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 requested an Executive Session. Trustee Hipp made the motion to go into an Executive Session, which was seconded and passed without objection. After some discussion, Trustee Hipp made a motion to return to the Regular Session, which was seconded and passed without opposition. No voting or action took place during the Executive Session.
Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III reviewed the proposed Purchasing and Procurement Policy Resolution. Trustee Hipp made a motion to make the policy effective as of January 27, 2025. The motion was seconded and approved without opposition.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended in January. Mr. Avery informed the Board of Trustees of his meetings with the FEMA consultants and Santee Cooper System status updates meetings.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the Engineering and Operations reports and the Operational Support reports. Construction has begun on a new line between Belfast and Trinity. Groves Electric is assisting with work orders resulting from Hurricane Helene, while Lee Electric crews are engaged in new construction projects and will soon move to Rolling Hills Phase II. Additionally, Lee Electric is helping with pole changeouts and large construction jobs. Scheduled outages are being coordinated with EZ Block Chains for oil sampling. The Lucas Group has completed the DOT Compliance audit. Dawson Crowell has finished the Entry Level Driver Training provided by ECSC. In total, 24 new meters have been installed, and 46 projects have been completed in December 2024.
President and CEO Avery reminded the board of the upcoming Co-op Day at the State House, which will be held on February 13, 2025. Five trustees confirmed that they would be attending the event.
NRECA PowerXchange will be held on March 7 – 12, 2025. Six Trustees confirmed that they will be attending the conference.
President and CEO Avery updated the Trustees on the upcoming NRECA Washington Legislative Rally, the ECSC Trustee Association Spring Meeting, and the ECSC Summer Conference.
President and CEO Avery referenced a memo from the Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. requesting delegates for their upcoming Annual Meeting scheduled for March 19, 2025. Trustee Kesler made a motion to keep Chairman Dickert as a Trustee to serve on Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.’s Board. President Avery is automatically a Trustee because he is the CEO of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. The Motion was seconded and passed without opposition. Trustee Nichols and Trustee Hipp requested to be delegates to represent Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. at Central’s Annual meeting. Trustee Kesler made a motion to approve the delegates. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. G20 Meeting January 7, 2025, Meeting Summary and Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc. January 8, 2025, Board Meeting Summary were all accepted as information.
President and CEO Avery provided an update to the Board regarding the Emergency Revolving Line of Credit with the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC). This line of credit is being utilized to fund the repairs and replacements of facilities damaged by Hurricane Helene. Mr. Avery reported that it would take a few more months to determine the total costs associated with the storm as the calculations are still in progress. The final expenses will be established once these calculations are completed.
President and CEO Avery informed the Trustees that the information needed for Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. Annual Meeting Shirts will be collected at the February 2025 Regular Board Meeting.
President and CEO Avery informed the Board of the upcoming retirement lunch being held on January 31, 2025, for Ms. Dee Murphy and Ms. Wanda Johnson.
The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the January 2025 Regular Board Meeting at 8:14 p.m.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN