Board Spotlight: Senior Manager Kelly to Retire After 26 Years

A regular meeting of the Board of Directors of SEMO Electric Cooperative was held on Monday, June 15, 2020, at the offices of the Cooperative in Sikeston, Mo. The meeting was called to order at 12:59 p.m. by Vice President John Bledsoe. The following Directors were present: Butch Dirnberger, Carl Eftink, Dennis Fowler, Myron Hawes, James Deneke, Carla Moore, Keith Haynes, Dicky Hanor, Tim Coppage, John Bledsoe, and Hamil Corse. Directors absent: Richard Faulkner. Also present were Sean Vanslyke, CEO/General Manager; Megan Ray, General Counsel; and staff members Angie Byford, Larry Kelly, Amanda Burnett, Loyd Rice, Brad Milam, Ron Montgomery, Dannett Cooper, Becky Ivester, Chris Freed, Marty Vineyard, and interns Clayson Anderson and Josh Stinnett. A prayer of invocation was offered by Bledsoe. The Board approved its consent agenda consisting of: the minutes of the regular meeting of May 18, 2020; new membership applications; membership cancellations; initial review of Policy 219 Out of Area Storm Pay; and initial review of Policy 220 Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of the Uniformed Services. Montgomery presented the monthly safety report, which was safe driving. Burnett reviewed the financial summary for the month of May 2020 with revenue and expense analysis, budget comparisons, and a review of the arrears report. Compared to budget, year-to-date expenses are down 7.33%, revenue is down 1.43% and power costs are down 2.67. Eftink reported his attendance to the meeting of M&A. He also shared an annual meeting recap; officer election; safety; reliability; and finances. Haynes reported his attendance to the AMEC Board meeting.

Under old business, the Board reviewed its schedule of meetings; Policy 217 Personnel Required to Hold a CDL was affirmed as presented; and Policy 218 Nepotism was affirmed as presented. Under new business, the Board reviewed preparations being made for the special membership meeting to be held on July 2, 2020. Ivester presented information regarding a subscriber update. Burnett gave an overview of fiber financials. Rice provided an update on the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) auction. Freed delivered an update on fiber construction, and Milam shared an update on hotspots. Thereafter, the Board entered into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters. Kelly took a moment to announce his pending retirement and thanked the board for their support during the past 26 years. The Board gave Kelly a standing ovation. There being no further business to come before the Board, on motion made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned at 3:53 p.m.