Board Spotlight: Board Discusses Safety, Accepts Award
A regular meeting of the Board of Directors of SEMO Electric Cooperative, Inc., (hereinafter referred to as “Cooperative”) was held on Monday, November 21, 2022, at the offices of the Cooperative in Sikeston. 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, Carla Moore, Keith Haynes, Dicky Hanor, Tim Coppage, John Bledsoe, Myron Hawes, Von Priggel and Field LaPlant. Also present were Sean Vanslyke, CEO/General Manager; Megan McCord, Attorney for the Cooperative; and staff members Loyd Rice, Angie Byford, Jared Kelley, Becky Ivester, Amanda Burnett, Chris Freed, Brad Milam, Marla Wood and Ron Montgomery. A prayer of invocation was offered by Eftink. The chair asked for approval of the agenda. The Board considered its consent agenda consisting of: the minutes of the regular meeting of October 17, 2022; new membership applications; membership cancellations; initial review of Policy 214 – Retirement Age and initial review of Policy 215 – Insurance Benefits. The actions required for each were approved by consent. Montgomery presented the monthly safety report.
Department leaders presented strategic updates and answered questions from the Board. At this time, Jim McCarty and Mary Davis, of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives’ Rural Missouri magazine, entered the meeting and presented an award for the Best Overall Communications Program to SEMO Electric/GoSEMO. Following their presentation, they left the meeting. Burnett reviewed the financial summary for the month of October 2022 with revenue and expense analysis and budget comparisons. Compared to budget, year-to-date electric revenue is up 4.66%, electric expenses are up 6.63% and power costs are up 7.04%. Eftink reported on business from the M&A Electric (Transmission) Power Cooperative board meeting. Items of interest included: safety; finances; reliability; and AECI update. Haynes reported on business from the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives’ board meeting. Items of interest included: committee reports; statewide awards; audit and rates.
Under old business the Board reviewed its schedule of meetings and affirmed Policy 212 – Lost Time and Policy 213 – Jury Duty. Under new business, the Board reviewed and discussed district updates, Burnett presented a draft of the 2023 Operating and Capital Expenditures Budget, Vanslyke recommended changes to the April and June 2023 Board meeting dates due to conflicts with other meetings. The Board resolved to hold the April Board meeting on Friday, April 14 and the June Board meeting on Friday June 16, 2023. The other ten board meetings will be held on the third Monday of each month. Staff members Dannett Cooper and Jake Jones entered the meeting and discussed their NISC conference attendance. Marla Wood discussed her work on Lifeline and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Written staff reports were reviewed by the Board. Thereafter, the Board entered into Executive Session to discuss legal and personnel matters. There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
a presentation to help other electric and fiber cooperatives.
