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, July 21, 2025.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., followed by Trustee John Wayne Nichols' 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
Douglas E. Hipp Melanie B. Hawkins William Lominick, Sr.
Johnnie L. Dickert John W. Nichols M. Blake Brigman
President and CEO G. Keith Avery was present at the meeting, along with Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, Nick Shealy, Vice President of Public and Government Relations, and Tara Chapman, Executive Assistant.
The meeting continued with Mr. Shealy presenting the correspondence received regarding requests and sponsorships to the board.
Oak Grove Presbyterian Church USA is celebrating its 150th anniversary and is requesting a contribution to be included in its Anniversary Souvenir book. Trustee Hipp made a motion to table this request for consideration at a later time. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
New Hope United Methodist Church is organizing its 12th annual Earl A. Graham Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament and is seeking donations for the event. The funds raised will go toward building an expansion for the church. Trustee Hipp again made a motion to table this request for consideration at a later time. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The Cooperative Family Fund is requesting a contribution to assist children who have lost parents who worked for electric cooperatives across the country. Trustee Kesler made a motion to table this request for consideration at a later time. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The Newberry Housing Authority requested sponsorship to support their holiday meal celebration. Trustee Hipp made a motion to include this request for consideration at a later time. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Newberry College provided information regarding their sponsorship package options. After some discussion, Trustee Nichols made a motion to proceed with the corporate partnership package sponsorship with Newberry College. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Mr. Shealy left the meeting after completing his presentation.
The meeting proceeded with the reading and approval of the minutes from the June 2025 Regular Board Meeting. Trustee Hipp made a motion to approve the minutes. The motion was seconded and approved with a unanimous vote.
Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Thursday, July 17, 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 the President and CEO Avery.
Committee Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee had reviewed the cash disbursements for June 2025. All expenditures were in order, and the committee presented this report as general information. The board's consensus was to accept the report.
Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, did not request an Executive Session.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the functions and activities he attended in July 2025. This included meetings with FEMA, where he provided the Board with an update on the status.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the operational data for June 2025 in detail. The total amount for June 2025 write-offs is $1,059.75. Trustee Hipp motioned to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the Engineering and Operations, as well as the Operational Support reports for June 2025. A new voltage reduction switch has been installed, which has allowed for integration with the new SCADA system and for all TS2 substation equipment to be de-energized and retired from the substations. A review of all of the electric line system circuits has been completed to identify any phase balancing corrections that need to be addressed.
Chip Moore attended the ECSC Summer Conference, where he participated in a discussion panel. Phillip Padgett completed the Supervisor and Manager Development program as well as the SC Hires Human Resource meeting. Daniel Hesson attended the Fiber Networking Conference.
President and CEO Avery informed the Board of details regarding the NRECA’s Region 2 Meeting. Seven of the Trustees expressed interest in attending the conference in October 2025.
President and CEO Avery discussed the Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc.’s Advisory Committee. The Board will be submitting member appointments for the committee from each district.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the details of the NRECA Director Election, which will take place on August 7, 2025.
President Avery reviewed a memo from Newberry Electric’s PAC/ECHO representative, Leann Hutto, asking the trustees and Attorney Pope to consider continuing their membership in PAC and/or ECHO.
President and CEO Avery discussed the second phase of the Basic Facilities Charge increase, which had been approved earlier this year. However, a specific date for the implementation needed to be determined and approved by the Board. After some discussion, it was decided that the increase would take effect on September 1, 2025. Trustee Brigman made a motion to approve this effective date, which was seconded and unanimously approved.
President and CEO Avery informed the Board that the 12th Annual Operation Round Up Golf Tournament will be held on September 8, 2025.
President and CEO reviewed a request for contributions to the Kiswire Pro-Am Mid Carolina Golf Tournament. The funds will be used to provide scholarships to local dependents of First Responders in Newberry County and members of the Mid Carolina Club. Trustee Kesler made a motion to sponsor the event. The motion was seconded and approved by a unanimous vote.
Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., July 8, 2025, G-20 Meeting Summary, and Central Electric Cooperative, Inc., July 9, 2025, Board Meeting Summary were accepted as information.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the renewal notice for the SC Living Magazine Subscription for 2026. After some discussion, Trustee Lominick made a motion to continue with the 11 month subscription for the year. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
President and CEO Avery informed the Board that a voting delegate would need to be determined for the 2025 NRECA Regional Business Meeting, which will be held in October 2025. Trustee Brigman made a motion to have President and CEO Avery serve as the voting delegate and Trustee Nichols serve as the voting alternate.
President and CEO Avery informed the members of the Finance Committee that a date would need to be determined for the August 2025 Finance Committee Meeting. After some discussion, it was determined that the next meeting will be held on August 21, 2025.
Trustee Kesler made a motion for the meeting to go into executive session. The motion was seconded and approved unanimously. President Avery and Mrs. Chapman left the room during this time. Once the executive session was concluded, President Avery and Mrs. Chapman returned to the meeting. No voting or actions occurred during the executive session.
The next Regular Board Meeting will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025.
There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the July Regular Board Meeting at 8:13 p.m.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN