MOUNTAIN PARKS ELECTRIC, INC.
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
Walden, Colorado
August 08, 2024
10:00 A.M.
Attendance
Present: Liz McIntyre, Ty Wattenberg, Mark Volt, Cray Healy, Mike Sjobakken, Virginia Harman, Adam Paulson, Angie Wallace, Aaron Street, Sue Henderson, Joe Palmer, Emily Meek, Jodi King, and Attorney Levi Williamson attended in person. Ryan Zorn and Justin Fosha attended virtually. Volt entered the meeting at approximately 10:15 a.m. and Fosha entered the meeting at 11:23 a.m. Kent Singer with Colorado Rural Electric Association.
Call to Order
President Liz McIntyre called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
Determination of Quorum
A quorum was declared.
Public Comment
Beverly Andrus, with the Smile Boxes program through Jackson County Council on Aging, thanked the Board for their support and presented details of the program to the Board.
Suze Kanack, North Park Pioneer Museum, addressed the Board about improvements needed to the museum’s heating system.
Kelly Loynachan, Jackson County Council on Aging, invited the Board to the local senior lunch.
Claire Chacon, Walden resident, addressed the Board about non-frequent power blinks.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Consent Agenda contained the following items:
Minutes of July 11, 2024, Meeting of the Board of Directors
Bills for Payment
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the Consent Agenda.
Operations Report
Adam Paulson presented the Operations Report. Paulson reported that the scheduled outage at Lakota has been reenergized and took 1 hour and 15 minutes compared to 2 hours. Paulson stressed the importance of having loop fed subdivisions, so an entire subdivision won’t have an outage when repairs are needed. MPE is currently looking for a new locate provider.
Engineering Report
Sue Henderson presented the Engineering Report. Henderson reported on construction season with 68 new work orders and 42 new services. MPE notified contractors of the 08/15/2024 deadline for new services. Henderson also reported that MPE received approval to move to Phase A on the FEMA fire mitigation and is currently working on environmental surveys for this. MPE is also moving forward on NITSA.
Finance Report
Information Technology (IT) Report
Joe Palmer presented the IT Report. Palmer reported that the SCADA update finished up on August 8th. Many hours were put into having the same level of security on schedule to finish the upgrade. New software will be installed to read real-time data for substation readers. MPE will need to add some modems to read some of the meters. The installation is currently scheduled to be implemented by the end of October. Palmer expressed kudos to the IT department and the line crew for getting the UPS system installed and running ahead of schedule. They finished an hour earlier than expected.
Human Resources, Safety, and Administration Report
Angie Wallace presented the Human Resources and Administration Report. Wallace reported that both the Journeyman and Apprentice positions have been filled. The Lands Rights position will begin interviews the week of August 12th. The interview process began for the SCADA Sub Technician the week of July 30th. Wallace also reported on a mentoring/shadowing program for MPE she is working on and will be reaching out to other coops. There were no lost time accidents in July.
Member Relations and Communications Report
Aaron Street presented the Member Relations and Communications Report. Street reported that MPE received good news in the past week on grants, which is outlined in his report. The Member Appreciation event will be on September 4th, in the morning at Polhamus Park in Granby from 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Street also reported on the first Employee Newsletter that will be coming out soon.
Attorney Report
Attorney Levi Williamson referred to his summary written report.
Manager’s Report
Manager Harman referred to her written report. Harman reported that she will be focusing on New Era and Power Supply in the coming weeks and her upcoming travel for the month of August.
New Business
CREA Updates
Kent Singer with Colorado Electric Rural Association presented updates to the Board on changes in staff, net metering, and wildfire mitigation issues.
Kent Singer left the meeting.
President McIntyre recessed the meeting at 11:08 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 11:22 a.m.
Director Fosha entered the meeting via video conference.
Action Items
Consideration and Approval of the 2024 Audit Engagement Letter
Emily Meek presented the 2024 Audit Engagement Letter. Meek recommended approving the engagement letter. Discussion took place.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the 2024 Audit Engagement Letter as presented.
Certificate of Authorization & Resolution
Emily Meek presented the Certificate of Authorization & Resolution authorizing General Manager Harman and Manager of Finance, Emily Meek, to execute RUS Form 595 for the purpose of requisition and account for RESP funds.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the Certificate of Authorization & Resolution as presented.
Budget Amendments
Virigina Harman presented the budget amendment for legal expenses associated with power supply. Discussion took place.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the budget amendment as presented.
Adam Paulson presented the budget amendment for the Murphy feeder exits in Granby. Discussion took place.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the budget amendment as presented.
Joe Palmer presented the budget amendment for the MV90xi software required for metering data. Discussion took place.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the budget amendment as presented.
Policies
A3 Mountain Parks Services
Liz McIntyre presented revised Policy A3 and discussed minor changes to the policy to make the policy consistent throughout. The Executive Committee recommended approving the policy.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve Policy A3 as presented.
A4 Policy Formation and Approval
Liz McIntyre presented revised Policy A4 and discussed minor changes to the policy to make the policy consistent throughout. The Executive Committee recommended approving the policy.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve Policy A4 as presented.
D4 Director’s Attendance at Meetings and Compensation
Liz McIntyre presented revised Policy D4. Discussion took place. The Executive Committee recommended approving the policy.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve Policy D4 as presented.
E7 Whistleblower
Angie Wallace presented revised Policy E7. Changes included language to make the policy consistent with Colorado laws. Wallace recommended approving the policy.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve Policy E7 as presented.
Board Open Forum, Committee Reports, Association Reports, and Upcoming Events
The Executive Committee met in July to review policies and discuss what the Board will want to see in the future.
Ryan Zorn had no updates to give for CREA. The next CREA meeting is in August.
Mark Volt reported that the next Western United meeting is at the end of August.
Basin Electric sent information on their annual meeting. There was no interest in attending at this time.
CoBank sent information on upcoming elections. There was no interest in participating at this time.
NRECA requested Annual and Regional Meeting voting delegates. There was no interest in voting at this time.
MPE received an invitation to attend the Middle Park Junior Livestock Sale, discussion took place, and arrangements were made to have MPE representation present.
No committee meetings were scheduled.
Discussion took place on upcoming Board meetings and coordinating travel to and from the meetings.
Old Business
No old business.
Mountain Park Services
No business.
Emergency Business
No emergency business.
President McIntyre recessed the meeting at 11:56 a.m. and reconvened the meeting at 12:32 p.m.
Executive Session
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to go into Executive Session regarding power supply, grant opportunity, member issue, employee matters, and legal matters. All directors, managers, Jodi King, and Attorney Levi Williamson were present for the entirety of the executive session.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to exit executive session.
The Board reviewed a resolution necessary for the New Era grant application discussed in executive session.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the resolution as presented.
The Board reviewed an Assurance Agreement, USDA Form RD-400-4, discussed in executive session.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the Assurance Agreement as presented.
The Board reviewed a Certificate of Authority, RDUP Form 674, necessary to submit or grant access to data for Form 7.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the Certificate of Authority as presented.
The Board reviewed a resolution for the Deferred Revenue Plan.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the resolution as presented.
The Board reviewed a resolution necessary to designate and authorize employees to certify and submit Form 7 data to RUS/USDA.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the resolution as presented.
The Board reviewed a resolution necessary to allow for modified financial ratio goals.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the resolution as presented.
General Manager Harman recommended scheduling a special meeting regarding MPE’s New ERA grant application to address any last-minute issues. If the meeting turns out to not be necessary, it can be cancelled before the scheduling meeting time.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to hold a special Board meeting regarding MPE’s New ERA grant application on August 22, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.
The meeting adjourned at 1:58 p.m.