MOUNTAIN PARKS ELECTRIC, INC.
Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors
Granby Colorado
November 11th, 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, Rob Taylor, Donn Finn, Jessica Rahn, Stacie Dellamano Scott Simmons and Bryson Fredregill all via ZOOM.
Call to Order
President Jeff Hauck called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m. Happy Veterans Day to all Veterans
Determination of Quorum
A quorum was declared.
Minutes
Commented that it is Rural Energy for America not energy and lessening rather than lessoning.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve minutes from October with the above changes.
Attorney Summary Fees Report
Attorney Fredregill didn’t have anything for open session, no questions were asked by the board.
Public Comment
No public comment
Manager’s Report
- Community Solar initial draft from ISI contains all things that Mountain Parks Electric wanted including pricing and performance guarantee. Some modifications started with Co-Bank draft. Sent contract back to them and hoping to have it signed by November. Fraser is going forward with solar next to the waste water plant with using the Electrify Everything program. YMCA of the Rockies is waiting until we finalize our contract and will work with us on theirs
- Fiber. ADB is hanging aerial fiber. Most underground done in Phase I will be completed in May. There is potential for some aerial to be put underground using FEMA funds
- Connexion is meeting every few weeks, it has been asked where they are at as far as being able to provide to members. Not all agreements are signed for negotiating the use of the backbone.
- An issue was raised by a neighbor with the Winter Park land. Buyer was notified about the issue and they asked for an extension of three weeks for due diligence. We are waiting for the final report. Estimated mid-December closing date.
- FERC Settlement. Participated in settlement conference October 29th. Pre-hearing conference scheduled November 22nd to determine the schedule, rules for testimony, discovery timeline, timeline for motions. Mountain Parks has a motion to intervene, we don’t have to do anything, but can stay involved in the hearing with limited participation. Final decision should be determined May 26th by an Administrative Law Judge.
- Meeting with financial institutions to lower service fees and generate interest to offset fees. Suite program, federally insured at each institution
- Looked at two lenders to buy out of RUS. No longer a large penalty to do this.
- Pros –
- Get out of red tape required
- It takes longer to do things with RUS
- Regulations on how you spend your money
- Debt ratio determined on the full loan amount, even when mostly paid off
- Mountain Parks Electric donations
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- Mountain Family Center Thanksgiving baskets
- Snow Mountain Ranch Military Families
- Jackson County council on aging
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Safety Report
The Safety Report as prepared by Safety Coordinator Lee was reviewed. All issues reported discussed at safety meeting and used as teaching tools. Attention to detail and focusing on the small things important.
Employee did fall of the ice and had surgery, limited lost time at work due to surgery happening on day off and no days missed to injury. Ice grippers are available at doors for employees to use.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve safety report.
Discussion/Action Item A: Ratification of NRECA Benefits for Life Insurance, Business Travel Insurance and Long Term Disability for 2022
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to ratify action item A.
Discussion/Action Item B: A-5 Assets of the Cooperative
Discussed that the changes are inconsistent with the by-laws. In by-laws 75% of members have to vote. There are also specific provisions of the power supplier, may want to take out.
Tabled until December’s meeting
Discussion/Action Item C: A-6 Selection of Attorney, Duties and Compensation
No suggested changes.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to ratify action item C and make it public.
Discussion/Action Item D: Budget
Original budget presented with changes to board titles as requested. Best equipment needed to be able to keep safe and reliable service. Staff will continue to look at numerous sources as well as lease options when needed. To become employer of choice Mountain Parks needs to continue to upgrade facilities as well as look at options to better utilize space and provide a safe and comfortable work environment. Not everyone is able to work from home due to internet issues. Staff agreed to work on long term maintenance plan for 2022.
MOTION: Motion was made to approve the budget and direct management to bring a long term building maintenance plan and vehicle management plan. There was no second to this motion.
Discussed if plan didn’t happen then budget wouldn’t have been approved for 2022.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve budget as originally presented with Director Taddonio opposed.
Emergency Business
MOTION: Board directed staff to create fleet and building maintenance plan prior to next year’s budget. It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this motion with Directors Trick and Hauck opposed.
Discussion/Action Item E: Vasquez Road
Will be discussed during executive session, this was a place holder in case something came up.
Discussion/Action Item F: D-8 Director Elections
Statute changed so Mountain Parks has duty to comply with the new law. Changes presented to adhere to the new law.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve as presented.
Discussion/Action Item G: Amend MPEI Bylaw Article V Section 1 and Section 2
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve as presented.
Board discussed that they may have to tackle electronic vote flexibility. Majority of the board wanted to make sure that they weren’t rushing this process as they want to have something in place to be able to do the electronic voting before it is voted on in the bylaws. Must have 100 people present in a meeting to vote.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to make bylaw changes to comply with D-8.
Engineering Report
Section of fiber in Fraser was overhead, and it is too expensive to change out poles, so going to do underground instead. Fire services had set hard date. Retirements haven’t been processed yet. There are around 110-150 that haven’t applied. Trying to get as much underground as possible.
Operations Report
Report by Manager Finn reviewed, no questions.
IT Report
Getting order of transformers.
Ordering fobs for employees to use for two factor authentication as not all employees have work phones.
Finance Report
Looking at mileage, mechanics on board with fleet management system in NISC.
Issue with customer reported last month, don’t have a direct meter and kilowatt hours hadn’t been entered.
RUS has certain ways that we can spend our money, with restrictions.
Human Resources Report
NRECA was gone over this week, better plan for our employees. Katy Hall sent a thank you for the money sent for early childhood education.
Member Relations and Communications Report
Level 3 charger in Grand Lake is now energized. Level 2 chargers in the indoor lot have been installed and energized at Winter Park and the others are installed. Tri-State working on a pilot for heat tape load control.
Bills for Payment
No questions.
Green Power
Meeting postponed to next Monday. Had a conversation with Manager Taylor for ideas to expand the program. Two people are leaving the board Steve Myer and Barbara Amsrud.
Charitable Trust
Barb and Deb leaving the board. Would like to acknowledge their service as well as Steve and Barbara’s. Manager Dellamano and Director McIntyre will work on getting that together.
Board will have to approve any candidates for these positions.
Western United
Nothing reported
Tri-State
Running gas plants now even with high costs.
Patronage will be voted on.
Crypto currency up
Fearful of vaccine mandate from Biden, may lose staff.
CREA
December meeting.
Old Business
None reported.
New Business
None reported.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to go into executive session to discuss personnel matters, General Manager Review, Employee Housing Committee Recommendations, Service Restoration, Power Supply, Litigation and member revenue discussion.
Reported to board that Tri-State policies will be on call to order when they are received from Tri-State.
In person option in the community room in December.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to come out of executive session at 3:29 pm.
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve the filing of the legal stipulation regarding litigation as discussed in executive session
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to authorize management to provide bill credit under terms discussed in executive session
MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve General Manager compensation under terms discussed in executive session.