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 Monday, September 29, 2025.
Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m., followed by Trustee Douglas Hipp 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
Also present were President and CEO G. Keith Avery, Attorney Thomas Pope, III, Regional Vice President of National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation Hampton Oxendine, Chief Financial Officer Arthur Guy, Accounting Supervisor Lisa Wicker, Vice President of Human Resources Leann Hutto, and Executive Secretary Tara Chapman.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the outcome of the 2025 NEC Operation Round Up Golf Tournament that was held on September 8, 2025, at the Country Club of Newberry. The annual golf tournament raised $34,648.30. The funds will be split equally between the Newberry WIRE chapter and the Interface Community Service to be used for community needs.
Mr. Oxendine reviewed the 2024 Key Ratio Trend Analysis (KRTA). He stated that Newberry Electric has done very well financially. The industrial companies on the system have helped to keep the power bills down for residential members.
Mr. Avery requested an executive session. A motion made by Trustee Hipp to go into executive session was seconded and passed unanimously. After some discussion, Trustee Hipp made a motion to return to the regular session. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. No voting or actions took place during the executive session.
Mrs. Hutto presented the proposed salaries for the staff and employees for 2026 to the Board of Trustees. The Chairman of the Finance Committee, John W. Nichols, made a motion to approve the employee salary proposal, based on the Finance Committee's recommendation. The motion was passed unanimously.
The Board dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the August 25, 2025, Regular Board Meeting. Trustee Nichols made a motion to accept the minutes as emailed. The motion was seconded and passed without opposition.
Committee Chairman John W. Nichols reported that the Finance Committee held its regular meeting on Monday, September 22, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. The Committee members are Trustees Johnnie L. Dickert, J. Craig Kesler, William Lominick, Sr., and John W. Nichols. All were present, along with the President and CEO Avery.
Committee Chairman Nichols reported that the Finance Committee reviewed cash disbursements for August 2025. All expenditures were in order, and the committee presented this report as general information. The board's consensus was to accept the report as general information.
Attorney Thomas H. Pope, III, did not request an Executive Session.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the functions and activities that he attended in September. This included Meetings with Santee Cooper and a Benchmarking Meeting with Central and North Carolina Electric Member Cooperation. President Avery reviewed the September 15, 2025 NEC Staff Meeting Summary and a thank letter from Newberry County Opera House.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the operational data for August 2025 in detail. The amount of write offs for August 2025 is $2,083.97. Trustee Hipp made a motion to accept this amount. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the Engineering & Operations and Operational Support reports for August 2025. He noted that the Survalent SCADA system has been integrated for Holland's Substation. A faulty underground cable was discovered on Hwy 176. This line will be replaced with an overhead line. Arkevious Chapman attended Transformer and Metering School at ECSC.
President and CEO Avery reviewed details for the upcoming NRECA Regions 2 & 3 Meeting, scheduled for October 2025.
President and CEO Avery informed the board that the new Cooperative Training Center and the proposed payment share options discussed and voted on at the August 2025 Regular Board Meeting were not accepted by ECSC. As a result, a new decision will be necessary. Trustee Kesler made a motion to divide the payments into two equal installments: one to be made in 2025 and the other in 2026. The motion was seconded and passed without objection.
President and CEO Avery reviewed the memo from Ann Westbrook, ESCS, regarding the appointment of the 2025 ECSC voting delegate and alternate nominations for the ECSC Annual Meeting. Trustee Hipp made the motion to nominate President Dickert as the voting delegate. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Trustee Kesler made the motion to appoint Chairman Avery as the voting alternate. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
President and CEO Avery informed the board of a memo from Brad Captain, Senior Vice President & Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, regarding the appointment of a delegate and an alternate for the CFC District 2 Meeting to be held on October 22, 2025. Trustee Hipp made a motion to nominate President Avery as the delegate and Trustee Nichols as the alternate. The motion was seconded and approved without opposition.
The Central Electric Power Cooperative, Inc., September 10, 2025 Board Meeting Summary was accepted as general information.
President and CEO Avery informed the trustees that the 2025 Winter Conference would be held from December 7-10, 2025. Eight Trustees expressed interest in attending the conference.
President and CEO Avery informed the Trustees that the NRECA Directors Conference will be held January 26-28, 2025, and will be available to be attended online. Seven Trustees expressed interest in attending the online conference.
President and CEO Avery reviewed a letter from Russell Ott requesting that Newberry Electric Cooperative, Inc. host the Fall Festival Fundraiser for Russell Ott’s State Senate Campaign. Trustee Kesler made a motion to contribute to hosting the Fall Festival Fundraiser. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
President and CEO Avery informed the Board that the Finance Committee Meeting Date in October 2025 will need to be determined. After some discussion, it was decided that the Finance Committee will meet on October 15, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. for their Regular Finance Committee Meeting.
The next Regular Board Meeting will be held on Monday, October 27, 2025, at 6:30 p.m.
With no further business and no objections, Chairman Johnnie L. Dickert adjourned the September Regular Board meeting at 8:25 p.m.
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SECRETARY APPROVED
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CHAIRMAN