REGULAR BOARD MEETING

September 24, 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, September 24, 2018.

         The meeting was called to order at 6:31 p.m. by Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert, with the determination of a quorum present. 

         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 August 2018 Board Meeting.   In the Attorney’s Report, the statement should read, “Since Mr. Pope was absent, President and CEO Avery requested that the meeting adjourn into Executive Session for the purpose of updating the board on some legal issues.”  And in the next paragraph, the last sentence should read, “Chairman Dickert reconvened the meeting into Regular Session, and no actions were taken.”  A motion was made to accept the minutes as emailed with the above corrections.  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, September 17, 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 August 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 some legal issues. 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 September.  He attended the 3rd Quarter Partnering Session in Wampee.  He conducted a meeting here at the office with the HOA of Edgewater Shores to discuss their interest in getting fiber.   

President Avery also met with Newberry College President Morrie Scherrens to discuss a potential accountant intern.  President Avery and Chairman Dickert attended the CarolinaConnect Board Meeting.  Everyone at the Coop was on standby during the time of Hurricane Florence.  There were sporadic outages, but nothing major.

 

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

         President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for August 2018.  The amount of write offs for August is $2,914.72.  A motion was made to accept this amount.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

 

 

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

DEPARTMENT 600-Engineering and Operations

  • Samsung Scada to be commissioned by the end of September.
  • NaturChem is spraying the ROW for Belfast, Blair 3, and Trinity 1.
  • Substations and the Solar Farm have been sprayed.  Central will be billed for this.
  • Samsung Phase I is complete.  Samsung Phase II is ongoing.  
  • The safety meeting for Accident Investigation was postponed due to Hurricane Florence.
  • Fiber As-Builts for Hollands and Fairview is ongoing.
  • Pole inspections for Trinity is ongoing.
  • Preparing railroad permitting data for Fiber Project.
  • Fairview Ckt 1 & 2 are complete.
  • Fairview Ckt 3 & 4 are in progress and should be complete by the end of November.

     

     

    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

     

    FIBER FOR NON MEMBERS

                President and CEO Avery reminded the trustees of the meeting he had with some residents of Edgewater Shores about their interest in getting fiber to their homes.  Since they are not members of Newberry Electric, their package will need to be different than the one for members.

                Members pay a $100.00 installation fee and $49.95 a month for 100 MB.  Non members should pay more than members, and this will help get more revenue to help get the fiber to members quicker.  The suggestion is for non members to pay a $300.00 installation fee, and an extra $10.00 a month for the package they want, and sign a two year contract.  Newberry Electric will have to check with CarolinaConnect to see if this feasible.  The billing will be different because this will be for non members. 

                After some discussion, a motion was made to use the numbers President Avery presented and let CarolinaConnect start working on the contract.  The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.           

    NEW BUSINESS

     

PATRONAGE FROM CFC

         President and CEO Avery referenced the Patronage Capital Certificate from CFC for the fiscal year 2018 in the amount of $158,142.83.  This is capital credit for being a borrower of CFC.

 

CONSIDER A MEMBERSHIP & PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

         President Avery reminded the trustees that it is time to consider the Annual Meeting 2019 door prize and entertainment.  The members of this committee are Trustees Bishop, Brigman, Dickert, and Hawkins.  The consensus of the committee is to meet with Debra Shaw, Vice President of Member, Public & Government Relations, on Thursday, October 18, at 3 pm here at the office.

 

CONSIDER CEE-US VOTING DELEGATE AND NOMINEES

         President Avery reported that voting delegates must be appointed for the membership meetings of Cooperative Electric Energy Utility Supply, Inc. (CEE-US) to be held on December 4, 2018.  A motion was made to appoint President and CEO Keith Avery as the voting delegate and Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert as alternate delegate.  The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.  They will serve for a period of one year or until their successors have been named.

         President Avery reported that Trustees must be nominated to serve on the Board of CEE-US.  A motion was made to nominate President Avery and Chairman Dickert as Trustees.  The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.  Each will serve for one year or until their successors have been named.

 

CONSIDER LINE EQUIPMENT VOTING DELEGATE AND NOMINEES

         President Avery reported that voting delegates must be appointed for the membership meetings of Line Equipment Sales Company, Inc. to be held on December 4, 2018.  A motion was made to appoint President and CEO Keith Avery as the voting delegate and Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert as alternate delegate.  The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.  They will serve for a period of one year or until their successors have been named.

         President Avery reported that Trustees must be nominated to serve as Trustees on the Board of Line Equipment Sales Company, Inc.  A motion was made to nominate President Avery and Chairman Dickert as Trustees.  The motion was seconded and passed without any opposition.  Each will serve for one year or until their successors have been named.

 

CONSIDER ATTENDING THE CEE-US/LINE EQUIPMENT SHOW

         President Avery directed attention to the invitation to the CEE-US/Line Equipment Sales Show to be held on Wednesday, October 17 in Columbia, SC.  Transportation will be available for trustees.  They will leave from the Coop at 2:00 pm.

 

CONSIDER ATTENDING THE 2018 ECSC WINTER CONFERENCE-DECEMBER 3-5, 2018-GROVE PARK INN, ASHEVILLE, NC       

         President Avery             reviewed information on the 2018 ECSC Winter Conference to be held December 3-5, 2018 in Asheville, NC at the Grove Park Inn.  Any trustee that is attending is asked to turn in their registration form as soon as possible so that reservations can be made.

 

CONSIDER PAID TIME OFF (PTO) POLICY FOR EMPLOYEES

         President Avery referenced information on the Employee Policies 300-207 Sick Leave and 300-209 Annual Leave submitted by the Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) that is made up of employees.  The objective of the committee is to review the policies and try to improve them.  After some discussion, a motion was made to accept the changes the committee submitted.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

 

NOT ON AGENDA

         President Avery informed the trustees that because of Hurricane Florence, the SC Cooperative Care Foundation, a 501© (3) charity has been set up again to help cooperative employees who have suffered damage from the hurricane.  After some discussion, a motion was made to donate $5000.00 to Cooperative Care.  The motion was seconded and passed with any opposition.  Because NEC is a CoBank customer, CoBank will match the funds donated.

         President Avery reminded the trustees of the Special Board Meeting to be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2018.  Mr. Hampton Oxendine, Regional Vice President od CFC will discuss the KRTA for the year.  Mr. Lynn Lanier will discuss the rate study done for the cooperative.

         Chairman Dickert thanked the staff and employees for the preparation and work done during Hurricane Florence.

        

ADJOURNMENT

         There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the September 2018 Regular Board Meeting at 8:19 p.m.

 

                                                                                    ____________________________

                                                                                    SECRETARY

____________________________________

CHAIRMAN