MOUNTAIN PARKS ELECTRIC, INC.
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
Granby, Colorado
April 8, 2021
8:00 A.M.
Attendance
Present: Scott Simmons, Jeff Hauck, Carl Trick, Richard Zieff, Liz McIntyre, Kristen Taddonio, Justin Fosha, Mark Johnston, Joe Palmer, Rob Taylor, Jessica Rahn, Michelle Kloss, Donn Finn, Brian Lee and Levi Williamson via Zoom Meetings. Mark Volt was absent.
Call to Order
President Jeff Hauck called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m.
Determination of Quorum
A quorum was declared.
It was requested to add audit to 10 a.m.
Public Comment
SWEEP members Travis Madsen, Neil Kolwey and Justin Brant joined the Zoom call. Mountain Parks Electric, Energy Smart and SWEEP have partnered together to help with the DOE grant pending approval of this grant. SWEEP presented ideas for electrification of vehicles, buildings and heat pumps as well as ideas for incentivizing members to electrify more items.
Minutes
Minutes were reviewed by the board.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the minutes as is.
Attorney Summary Fees Report
Attorney Williamson didn’t email his Fees report before the board meeting but will do so today.
Manager’s Report
General Manager Johnston reported the final draft of lease for community solar lease finalized and was introduced to their board today. MPEI is hopeful that this will move forward so it can be reviewed with the planning department with construction starting in May.
DOE grant was filed and is awaiting an answer.
NRECA beneficial electrification grant was sent in last week, the board can always turn it down. Ask is for $50,000 grant for a food delivery van for East Grand School District. Total cost would be approximately $120,000
Mountain Parks Electric is providing data to the technical advisory committee with Tri-State to help provide integral data to set rates
Capital credit payments that were approved in November will be released to members in May.
Level 3 tariff has been filed with FERC by Tri-State. It is approximately 90-120 days out.
Fiber project is starting May 1st, decision might need to be made today regarding partners as it may determine what materials are used.
Safety Report
The Safety Report as prepared by Safety Coordinator Lee was reviewed.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve safety report.
Discussion/Action Item A: D-10 Member’s Consumers and News Media
Kristen amended to remove the wording director, or change it to board president under section 2 A.
MOTION: It was properly moved and seconded. Discussion ensued to change to board president from director. Again moved and seconded, vote did not carry
Motion to change to Board president or cooperatives attorney and General Manager concur from director under section 2A.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this policy with the above changes.
Discussion/Action Item B: Scholarship Committee
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve scholarship committee selections.
Discussion/Action Item C: Date of Record for Annual Meeting
Date of record presented as May 3rd, 2021
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve date of record.
Discussion/Action Item D: Supervisory Committee
Supervisory committee recommendations presented to the board. It was discussed that the committee should be educated on policy and examples of what could happen. Manager Taylor explained that a training occurs explaining their job duties.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve supervisory committee
Discussion/Action Item E: CREA Voting Member and Alternate
Director Taddonio nominated Director Fosha as delegate and Director Zieff as the alternate.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve the two candidates.
Discussion/Action Item F: Tri-State Shoshone Number
Several Tri-State owners, including Mountain Parks, have requested buy out numbers and those requests are part of the FERC proceeding. Tri-State has argued the complexity of their filed methodology, makes it difficult to provide numbers to the requesting owners. Nine intervening cooperatives filed a request that Tri-State be directed by FEERC to provide buyout numbers on an expedited basis. FERC has not ruled on this request.
Tri-State countered with a proposal to provide indicative numbers using the Shoshone methodology which is plus or minus 10% of the expected number using the methodology filed with FERC. Tri-State calculated buyout numbers for all 42 owners, using the Shoshone methodology and provided them to the owners. Based on the Shoshone methodology, the buyout number for Mountain Parks is estimated to be $206 million. This buyout number is significantly higher than what previous owners (Kit Carson and DMEA) paid to exit.
Discussion/Action Item G: Northern Water solar Land Community Solar Lease
Looking at a lease for 12-13 acres for 25 years with the potential to have extensions. Landowner requested to add that they would have ability to use the project for their own purposes after lease is up. Members will be able to purchase a subscription for a percentage of the output, no number is finalized yet.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the land lease.
Discussion/Action Item H: Fraser Electric Bus Transit Support
Lift would like to replace their fleet with electric and have requested support from Mountain Parks Electric. General Manager Johnston will request more information and amount of money that they are requesting from Mountain Parks. A letter of support will be sent and it was discussed that this can be an opportunity for Mountain Parks Electric to be a part of how this project is engineered as well as give other input on how this can work.
Discussion/Action Item I: Auditor
Randy Robbins with our auditors entered the meeting.
New warehouse adjustments have been made that will clean up past reports. Auditors are comfortable with the plan for the warehouse. Everyone worked well together and the audit went smooth and was clean. Records are in good shape.
Executive Session
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to go into executive session to discuss audit with Randy Robbins with all directors present, General Manager Johnston, Assistant Manager Simmons and Manager Dellamano.
The Board came out of executive session at 11:03
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve audit to be ratified at May 13th meeting.
Engineering Report
ADSS Fiber would require redesign. Decision needs to be made on partnership to move forward with fiber project
Operations Report
Manager Finn reported that he is looking at different devices to prevent wildlife on lines.
Finance Report
Manager Dellamano’s financial report was reviewed. Capital credits in the amount of $1.8 million will be release in May. Final price for bus is $62,000 from the education fund. CO Bank is offering sharing success $10,000 donation for matching funds for the totes program with Mountain Family center. Once it is approved it will be brought to the board. 990’s were all received from the board. Board is to record all hours spend on board business on spreadsheets for expense reports. Manager Dellamano will send out an email determining when these should be submitted. Board should type their information into the spreadsheet not handwrite it.
Information Technology Report
The Information Technology Report as prepared by Manager Joe Palmer was reviewed.
Human Resources and Administration Report
The Information Technology Report as prepared by Manager Rahn was reviewed. No recommendations for changes on items listed in report.
Member Relations and Communications Report
The Member Relations and Communications Report as prepared by Manager Taylor was reviewed. Thanks to Chris and Rob for all of their hard work on the Electric Bus. Manager Taylor reported that he plans on having the bus at the annual meeting.
Bills for Payment
The Board reviewed the list of cash disbursements for March 2021.
Board Open Forum
Director McIntyre reported cyber security insurance is becoming more expensive and that phishing is still the number one way to get information.
Green Power: Director McIntyre reported that Green Power is still working with NWCOG and Tri-State regarding weatherization rebate program.
Tri-State: Director Trick reported new by-law amendment discussed at meeting. Annual meeting is scheduled August 4th -6th. Tri-State is revisiting the 50% level increasing it to 65% reassessing value and what revenue was brought in. Discussion regarding limiting members to allow only 10 non-utility members. Tri-State pulled out of Xcel agreement as they wanted more than Tri-State thought was appropriate. Also discussing doing a buy in number rather than a buyout number. Non-member sales are up. Escalante power plant may be developed into hydrogen plant. Tri-State is considering buying into Laramie to increase line transmission capabilities.
NRECA is upset at Tri-State is lobbying for with stranded coal assets.
Western United: Director Zieff reported Western United will have their meeting next month.
CREA: Director Hauck reported wildfire bill killed.
Senate bill 200 carbon reduction accelerates renewables to 95% by 2035. May 16th goes to the full board. Not currently supporting as it is hard to achieve these standards. With the renewable energy plan under this bill if you miss a goal you are penalized.
Old Business
No Old Business Reported
New Business
Director Zieff requested Member services meeting for next month.
Executive Session
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to go into executive session after lunch to discuss confidential business information, negotiations, contracts, cyber, employee housing, highway 125 and specific member issues. All directors were present as well as General Manager Johnston, Manager Dellamano, Manager Rahn, Manager Palmer and Manger Simmons.
The Board reconvened in executive session at 1:00 p.m. Dan Lubar left the meeting at 1:35 during executive session after his presentation. Director Trick left the meeting at 3:30. Director McIntyre left the meeting at 3:17. After they exited executive session, they made two motions:
MOTION:
- It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to list the MPEI Winter Park property for sale and to authorize General Manager Johnston to negotiate the sales price.
- It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to adopt the rental assistance program for current employees as discussed in executive session.