MOUNTAIN PARKS ELECTRIC, INC.
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
Granby, Colorado
February 11, 2021
8:00 A.M.
Attendance
Present: Scott Simmons, Jeff Hauck, Carl Trick, Richard Zieff, Mark Volt, Liz McIntyre, Kristen Taddonio, Justin Fosha, Mark Johnston, Joe Palmer, Stacie Dellamano, Rob Taylor, Jessica Rahn, Michelle Kloss, Donn Finn, Brian Lee and Levi Williamson via Zoom Meetings.
Call to Order
President Jeff Hauck called the meeting to order at 7:59 a.m.
Determination of Quorum
A quorum was declared.
Public Comment
Verbal request from Dan from Slope side internet for next month. No public comment this month
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
The Board reviewed Attorney Williamson’s summary fees report. There were no questions or comments for open session.
Manager’s Report
General Manager Johnston introduced Operations Manager Don Finn and Safety Coordinator Brian Lee. Johnston discussed staff reports changing format to have focal point be strategic plan. Johnston reported that he and Manager Palmer are exploring new business possibilities for fiber project as possible partner is struggling to find financial backing. Solar project is on final draft with one outstanding item, noise concerns. Two additional sites proposed that might improve production. Wildfire plan for Mountain Parks Electric had been based on community wildfire and vegetation mitigation. One of Manager Finn’s goals will be to come up with a wildfire plan customized to Mountain Parks Electric. There is a wildfire plan meeting with legislation on the 18th that Johnston will be listening in on. Troublesome fire documents have been starting to be uploaded to the FEMA website, money amounts should go down and amounts will be reported to the board every month. Mountain Parks Electric is working with contractors on pricing and trying to lower our overhead with regards to the fire.
Outage management system went live on Wednesday. Members can sign up through smart hub and be notified when outages are present in their area. Mountain Parks Electric is trying to get as many members to sign up as possible, there is also an option for members to call in and if the number is the same number as on the account the system will notify that customer of an outage in their area.
Brian Lee Safety Coordinator will be working on a new safety plan for Mountain Parks Electric to help create a safer work environment. He has experience with training staff safety protocols.
General Manager Johnston is working on a draft press release with Manager Taylor discussing alternative power supplier. This will be presented to the board prior to publishing. Also, working on press release discussion projected savings for solar in Walden. There is smaller savings upfront to recoup solar costs, with bigger cost saving projected to happen after year 9.
Johnston reported that Mountain Parks Electric was approved for the CREA grant and there will be a presentation for this on February 18th with pictures of the recipients being taken at that time. Tri-State employees also set up a Go Fund Me for employees that will be distributed.
E-bus is in Denver receiving its after-market items. There will be an event for delivery in March.
There is still money for employees affected by the fire available at Mountain Family center.
Discussion/Action Item A: D-3 Conflicts of Interest
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this policy
Discussion/Action Item B: D-4 Directors Attendance at Meetings and Compensation
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this policy
Discussion/Action Item C: D-6
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this policy
Discussion/Action Item D: D-7
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this policy
Discussion/Action Item E: D-8
Discussed to remove must be post marked 7 days prior to election considering post office delays. Possibly accept ballots up until the day before the election to be counted. Add deadline to drop off ballots in person to the first section under deadlines.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to table this policy to be redlined for next meeting.
Discussion/ Action Item F. DOE Grant
Concept was sent but decision was not made yet. Asked for 7 million, proposal included pilot projects of Mountain Parks Electric on a larger scale. Concept included three electric vehicles transit bus, school bus and delivery vehicle. Investment in Fiber backbone used as part of Mountain Parks Electric’s investment in this. Waiting for DOE’s approval to complete full application.
Discussion/ Action Item G: Strategic Plan
Full update completed last month. Staff reports are now focused on strategic plan. Proposed September review with potential new board members.
BREAK
Board Expense Reports
Michelle will send out excel spreadsheet to board members to fill out for now until IT comes up with a new format for submitting these.
Discussion/ Action Item H: Basin/ Touchtone Membership
Benefits outweigh the costs. Staff recommendation is to continue at least a year. This is a month to month membership.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to keep this membership.
Discussion/ Action Item I: Football Team Education Fund Request
Middle Park Football team requested $10,000 for new helmets for the team.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this money for the football team.
Discussion/ Action Item J: NRECA Resolutions
Dick is the representative and Mark is the alternate. Meeting is February 22-23 and March 2&4. Requested advantages and benefits of what is offered through them. Manager Rahn will put together a report for this.
Discussion/ Action Item K. Director Election SPS
This was moved to executive session.
Discussion/ Action Item L. Ratification of January 14th Items
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve these items.
Discussion/ Action Item M: MPEI Deferred Revenue
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this.
Engineering Report
No questions asked of Manager Simmons
Operations & Safety Report
The Operations and Safety Report as prepared by Manager Simmons was reviewed. No near misses were reported.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve safety report.
Finance Report
Manager Dellamano reported Tri-State bill was less than budgeted.
Information Technology Report
The Information Technology Report as prepared by Manager Joe Palmer was reviewed. Manager Palmer reported that he and General Manager Johnston have a meeting scheduled with Conexon on Tuesday.
Human Resources and Administration Report
Questions will be answered in Executive Session.
Member Relations and Communications Report
The Member Relations and Communications Report as prepared by Manager Taylor was reviewed. Taylor reported charger has been installed for the bus.
Bills for Payment
The Board reviewed the list of cash disbursements for January 2021. Director Zieff asked about medical premiums since they seem quite large and asked if anyone was reviewing these compared to last year. Manager Rahn stated that she is doing a cost analysis and that she will know more after a full plan year. There is a projected Stop Loss reimbursement for items paid over our stop loss agreement.
Board Open Forum
Green Power: Director McIntyre reported receiving six new applications five were approved and one needs to re-fill out the paperwork. Reported that Green Power is considering giving money to the CARE Program to help families with utility upgrades. It was mentioned that the Education fund can also potentially help with this. Director McIntyre stated that she will find out how much other utilities end up giving, General Manager Johnston said that he can do a list serve to find this out.
If installs were destroyed in the fire, members can reapply to have them reinstalled.
They are still trying to get chargers installed in remote parts of the state. Walden is still being looked at, however the town isn’t interested.
Charitable Trust: Winterized a trailer
Western United: Director Zieff reported that business is fantastic. The construction boom is driving this. Saint George office has been started and the cable cutting machinery is coming in.
CARE: Post mortem after election results. There have been discussion regarding several candidates and how they are going to handle candidates in the future.
Tri-State: Director Trick reported Tri-States strategic plan meeting. Co-Bank reported that 57% of customers looking to create their own power. Tri-State reports that EV cars will soon be less than gas powered cars. Carbon Tax may be instituted in President Biden’s first term. Tri-State’s attorney is filing a formula rate at FERC in 2-3 years. Open meeting law may soon apply to Tri-State. Board policy 125 sets contract term procedures. No more than three calculations will be given to customers per year. Shoshone number will be given out each year to all customers. Filing with FERC doesn’t allow for own calculation. December sales are down 8% with non-member sales up 12%.
General Manager Johnston reported hybrid board meeting with 25 members in person and the rest virtual. Municipals and tribal can opt out of coops and IOU’s and able to provide their own power. Concerns with loss of business and equipment concerns.
CREA: Director Hauck reported sponsors for wildfire bill with talk of policies on conflict of interest. They will suspend PAC money for ACRE. CREA is still planning their meeting in Grand Lake in August at the Grand Lake Lodge.
Old Business
No Old Business Reported
New Business
Risk assessment for flooding for Mountain Parks Electric for the county. CREA recommends that we don’t work on the county assessment as we are working with FEMA.
Executive Session
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to go into executive session after lunch to discuss director elections and the FERC settlement. All directors, General Manager Johnston, Managers Rahn, and Attorney Williamson were present.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to come out of executive session.