REGULAR BOARD MEETING

September 25, 2019

 

         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 Wednesday, September 25, 2019.

         The meeting was called to order at 6:32 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, Distribution Engineer EJ Altman, 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 26, 2019 Regular Board Meeting.  A motion was made to approve 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, September 23, 2019 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 2019.  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 business 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 September.  He and several staff members attended a luncheon for Congressman Ralph Norman.  He met with Samsung representatives to amend their billing contract.  President Avery and Mr. Dickert attended a CarolinaConnect Board Meeting.

 

FINANCIAL AND OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS

         President and CEO Avery reviewed in detail the operational data for August 2019.  The amount of write offs for August is $1,700.48.  A motion was made to accept this amount.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

 

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS

 

DEPARTMENT 600-Engineering and Operations

  • Davey Tree crews are continuing right of way clearing in Blair.
  • The Samsung Phase 3 and the parking lot lighting are completed.
  • Animal Safety was the topic of the monthly Safety Meeting.
  • There are 1314 active fiber accounts and 1356 people have signed up.

     

     

    OLD BUSINESS

     

         There was no old business.

NEW BUSINESS

 

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 16 in Columbia, SC.  Transportation will be available for trustees.  They will leave from the Coop at 2:00 pm.

 

CONSIDER CONTRIBUTION TO JEFF DUNCAN FOR CONGRESS

         President and CEO Avery reviewed information from Mike Couick, President and CEO of ECSC, requesting a contribution to the Jeff Duncan for Congress campaign.  Only personal checks can be accepted.  The board accepted this as information.

 

THE URBAN RENAISSANCE EVENT    

         President Avery directed attention to an email from Terrence Gallman requesting assistance with the Urban Renaissance Festival on June 20, 2020.  The festival will help promote and develop urban communities through their businesses, volunteers, social groups, and churches.  

         After some discussion, this was accepted as information, and the consensus of the board is to see what happens with this project between now and April 2020.  President Avery agreed to email Mr. Gallman and let him know to contact NEC again in April 2020.

 

CELEBRATE FREEDOM FOUNDATION STEM PROGRAM

         President Avery referenced information from the Celebrate Freedom Foundation explaining CFF’s STEM Education Program.  This program emphasizes the necessity for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects in middle and high schools.  They also are dedicated to educate children, promote lasting patriotism and honoring the military. 

         After some discussion, a motion was made to partner with Newberry County Workforce Development to bring the Cobra helicopter to Piedmont Tech for the middle and high school students to see.  The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.

CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER COOPERATIVE SEPTEMBER BOARD MEETING SUMMARY

            President and CEO Avery reviewed the Central Electric Power Cooperative September Board Meeting Summary.  This was accepted as information.

 

ECSC WINTER CONFERENCE AND PRAYER REQUEST      

         President Avery             reviewed information on the 2019 ECSC Winter Conference to be held December 9-11, 2019 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.

         President Avery also reviewed a request from Caroline Robinson asking if one of the trustees would say the prayer at the Board Meeting.  Trustee Craig Kesler graciously volunteered.

 

CONSIDER VOTING DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE FOR ECSC ANNUAL MEETING AND TRUSTEE NOMINATIONS

         President Avery directed attention to the memo from Mike Couick, President and CEO of ECSC.  It states that one voting delegate and one alternate voting delegate are needed for the ECSC Annual Meeting to be held on December 10, 2019.  A motion was made and seconded for Chairman Dickert to be the voting delegate and President Avery to be the alternate delegate.  This motion passed unanimously.

         Two trustees are also needed to serve on the Board of the ECSC.  A motion was made and seconded for President Avery and Chairman Dickert to serve.  The motion passed without any opposition.

 

NET BILLING

         Distribution Engineer EJ Altman presented the new rate structure for solar customers entitled “Net Billing”.  The rider reimburses members for energy not used and placed back on the grid.  Credit will be applied to the members bill at the avoided cost of solar.

         After some discussion, a motion was made to accept the net billing rider.  The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.  The rider will go into effect immediately.

 

NOT ON AGENDA

         President Avery stated that Newberry Electric Coop has 63 solar panels that can be leased to consumers.  Samsung and Komatsu are interested in leasing panels.  Central Electric Power is looking into partnering with other coops to let industrial consumers lease the panels if the local cooperative does not have enough panels for the industrial consumers.

         President Avery stated that the Breast Cancer Awareness Family Fun Day at Do-Si-Jo’s raised $1100.00 in donations, and Do-Si-Jo’s will donate 10% of their proceeds for the month of October to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation as well.

         Trustee Hipp requested that the November Regular Board Meeting be held on November 20 because of the Thanksgiving Holiday.  This will be discussed more at the October meeting.

        

ADJOURNMENT

         There being no further business and without objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the September 2019 Regular Board Meeting at 8:04 p.m.