Board Spotlight: Annual Meeting Review
A regular meeting of the Board of Directors of SEMO Electric Cooperative, Inc., (hereinafter referred to as “Cooperative”) was held on Monday, May 17, 2021, at the office of the Cooperative in Sikeston, Missouri. 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, Amanda Burnett, Loyd Rice, Becky Ivester, Chris Freed, Marty Vineyard, Dannett Cooper, Ron Montgomery, and Brad Milam. The meeting was called to order at 1:15 p.m. by Vice President Bledsoe.
A prayer of invocation was offered by Ivester. 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 April 19, 2021; new membership applications; membership cancellations; review of Policy 312, Application and Agreement for interconnection and Net Metering; and review of Policy 313, Identity Theft Prevention.
Montgomery presented the monthly safety report and discussed heat-related illnesses and highlighted the difference between a heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion begins with general muscle weakness, sudden excessive sweating, nausea and vomiting, and possible fainting. A heat stroke is when your body's internal temperature reaches over 103 degrees. Both are serious conditions. Montgomery also discussed the results of a recent MECIP (Missouri Electric Cooperatives Insurance Plan) Safety Audit.
Burnett reviewed the financial summary for the month of April 2021 with revenue and expense analysis and budget comparisons. Compared to budget, year-to-date expenses are up 7.31%, revenue is up 2.86% and power costs are up 4.10%. Eftink reported on business from the M&A Electric Power Cooperative meeting. Items of interest included: safety, sales, reliability, construction, and finances.
Under old business the Board: reviewed its schedule of meetings; Policy 310, Indemnification; and Policy 311, Record Retention, was affirmed as presented. Under new business the Board reviewed and discussed known membership concerns. The Board reviewed the 2021 Annual Meeting, which was held on May 13 at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Grounds. 566 member-owners registered to vote during the drive-thru event that was open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Members approved minutes, financial reports, bylaw changes, and elected four directors (Tim Coppage, John Bledsoe, Carla Moore and Carl Eftink). Seven members won a $250 bill credit: Bart Lowe, Dorothy Hinkebein Family, Michael Miller, Jane Lix, Gerald Seyer, Gerald Blattel and Dale Graham. The Board thanked Team SEMO for planning, set up and clean up and started discussions about 2022. See the 2021 Annual Meeting video at https://bit.ly/3c9OsWL.
The board reviewed written staff reports and department leaders were present to supplement their reports. The Board entered into Executive Session to discuss personnel matters. There being no further business to come before the Board, on motion made, seconded and passed, the meeting was adjourned.
Team SEMO works to make SEMO Electric Cooperative's 2021 Annual Meeting a success. Team SEMO’s Peggy directs the set up of eight tents, Brad (left) and Jared prepare one of many power stations and Josh (left) and Chris take care of trash on May 13 at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Grounds.
