MOUNTAIN PARKS ELECTRIC, INC.

Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors Granby, Colorado

July 8th , 2021

8:00 A.M.

Attendance

Present:, Jeff Hauck, Carl Trick, Richard Zieff, Mark Volt, Liz McIntyre, Kristen Taddonio, Justin Fosha, Mark Johnston, Joe Palmer, Michelle Kloss in person, Rob Taylor, Donn Finn, Jessica Rahn, Stacie Dellamano and Levi Williamson via Zoom Meetings.

Call to Order

President Jeff Hauck called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.

Determination of Quorum

A quorum was declared.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Minutes

Minutes were reviewed by the board.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve minutes from April, May and June.

Attorney Summary Fees Report

Attorney Williamson didn’t have anything for open session, no questions were asked by the board.

Manager’s Report

  • Community Solar lease to own option, will discuss in executive session.
  • Fiber backbone kick off meeting with Conexon July 29th, solidifying price from contractor with potential start date end of July
  • Winter Park land has received several offers, town of Winter Park interest to be discussed in executive session.
  • Discussion with town managers has happened regarding outages.  Sky Hi News interviewed Manager Finn to talk about outages and addressing rumors of transformers exploding when in fact it is actually fuses due to one shot to prevent fires.
  • Reported that Mountain Parks Electric will be able to provide service to Fraser and Winter Park areas in light of Xcel energies announcement of its building moratorium.
  • Increase of electric outages are believed to be due to wildlife being displaced due to the fires. Colorado River Valley between Kremmling and Granby is experiencing the most outages.  MPEI is addressing this by adding more nesting poles and exploring other options other than one shot such as trip savers.
  • FERC Settlement meeting scheduled June 16th was canceled since Tri-State sent out proposal, next meeting is scheduled for July 19th.
  • ETS unit members will receive a letter asking if their ETS unit is still operational.  This request is due by January 1, 2022. ETS rate was discontinued in 2012 and MPEI is discontinuing service of these units in January. If members certify they will continue to get the ETS rate.
  • East Troublesome fire has cost 1.925 million to date. Going through the review process with FEMA $300,000 to $400,000 in reimbursable expenses currently. Mitigation monies are available through FEMA as well.
  • Employee Quarterly breakfast is scheduled for Tuesday July 13th so need a board member to be introduced, Director Zieff volunteered.
  • Federated notice of Nomination and Elections attached to board packet.

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:  E-7Whistleblower

Policy was reviewed with recommended changes

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve policy with changes and make it public.

Discussion/Action Item B: East Grand School District Electric Bus

Discussion/Action Item C: Wildfire Mitigation Plan Update

Don is on the Grand County Wildfire Council board

Working to reduce fire risk

  • Mitigation Plan Components
    • System hardening
      • Undergrounding of specific lines
      • Replacing expulsion fuses with Trip savers/hot taps
      • Specific transformer replacements
      • Identify and remedy long spans
      • Inspections and patrols (life extension)
      • Predictive maintenance
      • Hendryx spacer cable and / or tree wire in design
      • Pole wraps
      • System protection
         
    • Enhanced Vegetation Management
    • Enhanced Recloser Operation and Controls
    • Emergency Actin Plan
    • Emergency communication
    • Public Outreach
    • Outage Management
    • Conditions Monitoring Protocol

 

  • Looking at purchasing a drone and training an employee to run it.

Discussion/Action Item D: Janitorial Contract

Month to month contract with Allegiant Management until Janitor hired discussed

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve month to month contract with Allegiant.

Discussion/Action Item E: Consider Consent of Shareholders Electing Director to MPSI Board of Directors

This needs to be done every year after the annual meeting and set as a reminder to do so.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve consent of      shareholders Electing director to MPSI board of directors.

Discussion/Action Item F: Elections

President: Jeff Hauck Nominated, unanimous vote by board of directors to elect Jeff Hauck as president

Vice President: Richard Zieff and Elizabeth McIntyre nominated.  Elizabeth McIntyre voted with majority vote

Secretary: Kristen Taddonio nominated and elected with a unanimous vote

Treasurer: Justin Fosha nominated and elected with a unanimous vote.

Discussion / Action Item G. Underground Contract

Contract to be presented with Ozzy’s underground to have something in place. Will bid if larger contract.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve contract pending Levi’s review.

Engineering Report

Report created by Manager Simmons reviewed. Director Trick questioned why solar array in Walden isn’t working.  ISI is trying to get manufacturer out to service warrantee. New agreement with community solar will be addressed differently to lower amount of inactive time.

Operations Report

Manager Finn’s report was reviewed. Wildfire mitigation plan should be completed by early next year. Looking at insurance for Mountain Parks Electric to cover costs for poles and wires since these are items not covered currently by insurance or FEMA.

Finance Report

Electrify Everything updates have been added.  We wanted to be sure that we are utilizing the funds available to us for this program to help our members.  Five year data shows that large power sales are up compared to last year, however when looking at past years it isn’t up as much. Looking at trends over the last five years. Inventory accuracy in the warehouse is good. Discussed selling materials over the counter in the warehouse again, however at this time we are not going to change this at this time.

Information Technology Report

Report written by Manager Palmer reviewed.  Microsoft windows revealed a vulnerability with their programs. Make sure to update your computers as there is a patch to correct this.

Human Resources and Administration Report

Looking at partnership between town and other businesses to build affordable housing. Exploring funding options for this.  The housing problem is massive, but any little bit helps. Some employees are getting burnt out and we may need additional staff in the future, and trying to cross train employees more. May be asking for additional staff for 2022.

Member Relations and Communications Report

Electrify Everything drive event coming up.  There should be six vehicles at this drive event, there are other possibilities to get other vehicles up for our other pop up events.  Director McIntyre recognized for her contribution to Country Life Magazine. 

Bills for Payment

The Board reviewed the list of cash disbursements for June 2021.

Board Open Forum

Green Power

Todd Budin expressed interest in helping out with Green Power.  Green Power advisory committee has nominated him to the committee and would like the Mountain Parks Board to ratify this nomination.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this recommendation.

Educational Fund

Childhood education, talked to Grand Beginnings to see what kinds of things that they might need. Looking at how day care issues might impact out employees.

Tri-State

Meeting is today. Most items are discussed in executive session rather than in general session.  Annual Meeting is August 5-6. Dick is registered for the annual meeting.

Discussion / Action Item H: Tri State Delegate

Nomination of Richard Zieff as voting delegate for the annual meeting. Alternate nominated is Jeff Hauck.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve Richard Zieff as voting member and Jeff Hauck as the alternate member.

Western United

Hasn’t had a meeting.  Annual report will be presented at the next meeting

NRECA

Resolutions have gone to CREA, stranded assets will be sent to the regions, and then the annual meeting. 

CREA

Meeting is in Grand Lake at the end of August.  Dinner is at the Grand Lake Lodge.  Actual meeting will be at Mountain Parks Electric in the Fleet bay the 26th and 27th of August.

Mountain Parks will hold the September 9th board meeting in Walden in conjunction with the Solar ribbon dedication for the Walden Solar Array.

Old Business

No Old Business Reported

New Business

Look at Net Metering settlement date.

Mountain Parks Electric Meeting adjourned for Mountain Parks Services Meeting.

Mountain Parks Electric Meeting called back to order at 12:15

Executive Session

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to go into executive session a to discuss new service costs, stay interview summary, community solar, Winter Park land and master service agreement

The meeting adjourned at 2:54 p.m.