Board Spotlight: Board Reviews Crisis Response Plan
A regular meeting of the Board of Directors of SEMO Electric Cooperative, Inc., (hereinafter referred to as “Cooperative”) was held on Monday, December 19, 2022, at the office of the Cooperative in Sikeston, Missouri. The meeting was called to order at 1 p.m. by President Richard Faulkner. The following Directors were present: Faulkner, Carl Eftink, Dennis Fowler, James Deneke, Keith Haynes, Dicky Hanor, Tim Coppage, John Bledsoe, Myron Hawes, Von Priggel and Field LaPlant. absent: Carla Moore. Also present were Sean Vanslyke, CEO/General Manager, Megan McCord, Attorney for the Cooperative, and staff members Bart Ziegenhorn, Angie Byford, Marty Vineyard, Becky Ivester, Amanda Burnett, Chris Freed, Brad Milam, and Ron Montgomery. A prayer of invocation was offered by McCord.
The chair asked for approval of the agenda. On motion made, seconded and passed, the agenda was approved. The Board considered its consent agenda consisting of the minutes of the regular meeting of November 21, 2022, new membership applications, membership cancellations, initial review of Policy 217 - Personnel Required to Hold a CDL, and initial review of Policy 218 - Nepotism. Montgomery presented the monthly safety report and reviewed the Cooperative's Crisis Response Plan to help prepare and train employees for appropriate responses during emergency situations. Plus, he shared information on the monthly safety focus of cold and flu season.
Department leaders presented strategic updates and answered questions from the board. Burnett reviewed the financial summary for November 2022 with revenue and expense analysis and budget comparisons. Compared to budget, year-to-date electric revenue is up 4.05%, expenses are up 7.02% and power costs are up 6.88%. On motion made, seconded, and passed, the Board accepted the financial report.
Eftink reported on business from the M&A Electric (Transmission) Power Cooperatives’ board meeting. Items of interest included: safety; finances; construction; reliability; and Associated Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Generation) update. Haynes reported on business from the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives’ (AMEC) board meeting. Items of interest included: committee reports; retirements; and rates.
Under old business, the Board reviewed its schedule of meetings, Policy 214 - Retirement Age and Policy 215 - Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, Insurance for Non-Union Employees and approved 2023's budget. Under new business, the Board reviewed and discussed district updates. Vanslyke presented the slate of directors designed as voting delegates for 2023 and discussed rules on campaigning at the 2023 Annual Meeting set for May 18. Burnett presented the bad debt write off information, which totaled $59,608.
The Board reviewed written staff reports. The remaining staff members were excused from the meeting. Therefore, the Board entered into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters. There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
