The Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held at Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc., located in Newberry County, State of South Carolina, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m., followed by Trustee M. Blake Brigman's invocation, with the determination of a quorum present.
The secretary reported that the following Board Members were present:
Barbara C. Bishop Leon Fulmer, Jr. J. Craig Kesler
Douglas E. Hipp Melanie B. Hawkins William Lominick, Sr.
Johnnie L. Dickert John W. Nichols M. Blake Brigman
President and CEO G. Keith Avery was present at the meeting, along with: Leann Hutto, Vice President of Human Resources; Stephanie Sullivan, Vice President of Operational Support; Nick Shealy, Vice President of Government and Public Relations; Lisa Wicker, Accounting Supervisor; Jocelyn Dussault, Communication Specialist; and Tara Chapman, Executive Assistant. Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, attended the meeting via Webex.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert recognized Nick Shealy with the NRECA Certified Key Account Certificate. He also recognized Mrs. Hutto for completing Santee Cooper’s Envoy Program.
Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Wicker provided an update on the Fiber Subsidiary. Following the update, Ms. Dussault presented the Fiber Subsidiary logo and name submissions. After some discussion with the board, Trustee Hipp made a motion to select a name and logo entry that was seconded and approved by a unanimous vote.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert indicated that it was necessary for the board to enter into an executive session. Trustee Nichols made a motion to go into executive session, which was seconded and passed unanimously. President Avery, Mrs. Hutto, Mrs. Sullivan, Mr. Shealy, Mrs. Wicker, Ms. Dussault, and Mrs. Chapman were requested to leave the room during this session. Upon resuming the regular session, President Avery and Mrs. Chapman returned to the meeting. Chairman Dickert affirmed that no actions or votes were taken during the executive session and indicated that the board would reconvene to continue further discussions.
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes from the April 2025 Regular Board Meeting. Trustee Kesler made a motion to approve the meeting minutes. The motion was seconded and approved with a unanimous vote.
Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee convened for its regular meeting on May 19, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. The committee members are Trustees Johnnie L. Dickert, J. Craig Kesler, William Lominick, and John W. Nichols. All members of the committee were present, along with President and CEO Avery.
Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for April 2025. All expenditures were found to be in order, and the committee presents this report to the Board as general information. The board's consensus was to accept the report.
Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, did not request an executive session.
President and CEO Avery provided an overview of his activities and engagements during the month of May 2025. These included a meeting with Rob Hochstetler, CEO of Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.; participation as a panelist at the Trustee Association Conference; and attendance at the ACES meeting.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the financial highlights for April 2025. Trustee Hipp made a motion to approve the bad debt write-offs for April 1, 2025, for the amount of $4,778.00. The motion was seconded and approved with a unanimous vote.
The meeting proceeded with President and CEO Avery reviewing the Engineering and Operations, as well as the Operational Support reports for the month. A recloser has been added to the Newberry Circuit 2 to enhance reliability. The ongoing replacement of concentric neutral underground lines continues as part of infrastructure upgrades and maintenance. Trent Swygert, Dawson Crowell, and Nick Woodruff completed Apprentice II training. Chip Moore and Austin Fulmer attended the Superintendent and Foreman Conference.
President and CEO Avery reminded the Trustees of the upcoming ECSC Summer Conference, scheduled for June 2025.
The 2025-2026 Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. Board Committee Appointments were reviewed. There were no objections to the committee's appointments as assigned by Chairman Dickert.
Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc.
2025-2026 Committee Appointments
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Executive Committee |
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Chairman: |
Johnnie L. Dickert |
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Vice Chairman: |
William B. Lominick, Sr. |
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Secretary-Treasurer: |
John Wayne Nichols |
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Finance Committee |
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Chairman: |
John Wayne Nichols |
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James Craig Kesler |
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Johnnie L. Dickert |
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William B. Lominick, Sr. |
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Member & Public Relations Committee |
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Chairman: |
Blake Brigman |
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Barbara Bishop |
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Johnnie L. Dickert |
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Melanie Hawkins |
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Employee Relations & Operations Committee |
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Chairman: |
James Craig Kesler |
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Leon Fulmer, Jr. |
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Douglas Hipp |
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Johnnie L. Dickert |
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Policy Review Committee |
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Chairman: |
Johnnie L. Dickert |
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Blake Brigman |
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Douglas Hipp |
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Barbara Bishop |
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John Wayne Nichols |
President and CEO Avery informed the Trustees that WIRE will host its fourth Annual Classic Cars and Tractor Cruise-In Fundraiser on June 21, 2025.
President and CEO Avery informed the board that the NRECA Regions 2 & 3 Meeting will be held in October 2025.
Resumes and letters from the NRECA Director Election candidates were presented to and reviewed by the Board.
President and CEO Avery reviewed a memo from Brad Captain, Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of CFC, regarding the 2025 Annual Membership Meeting, scheduled for June 2025 at the CFC Forum. A voting delegate and alternate are needed for the meeting. Trustee Brigman made a motion to keep the same delegates as last year, with President Avery as the voting delegate and Trustee Nichols as the alternate. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., May 6, 2025, G20 Meeting Summary and Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., May 14, 2025, Board Meeting Summary were accepted as information.
President and CEO Avery provided an overview of a proposed land purchase to support the expansion of the Longlane Substation. He requested the Board's approval to begin negotiations for the potential purchase. The final decision regarding the purchase of the property will be brought back to the Board for review and approval after gathering additional information. Trustee Hipp made a motion to approve the proposal and authorize the initiation of preliminary negotiations. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
President and CEO Avery informed the Board about scheduling conflicts regarding the date of the upcoming Regular Board Meeting in July 2025. After some discussion, the Board decided to reschedule the Finance Committee meeting for July 17, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. The Regular Board Meeting will now take place on July 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
The next regular board meeting will be held on June 30, 2025, at 6:30 P.M.
There being no further business and with no objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the May 2025 Regular Board Meeting at 8:54 p.m.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN