MOUNTAIN PARKS ELECTRIC, INC.

Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors

Granby, Colorado

October 8th, 2020

8:00 A.M.

 

Attendance

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

Call to Order

President Jeff Hauck called the meeting to order at 8:01 a.m.

Determination of Quorum

A quorum was declared.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Minutes

Minutes to be edited to include amendment to C-5, add rebate amounts may change. For Green Power need to add that rebates and rebates structure and amounts were reworked and in the engineering report it was Simmons not Trostel that reported that work would start early next summer. Director Zieff also reported the Western United meeting was virtual.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the minutes as presented with the modifications above.

Special Meeting Minutes

Special meeting minutes were reviewed.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the minutes as presented.

Attorney Summary Fees Report

The Board reviewed Attorney Williamson’s summary fees report.   

Manager’s Report

The General Manager’s Report as prepared by Mark Johnston was reviewed. Johnston reported that the community solar draft least is under review. The candidate for safety officer will be in Granby and we are hopeful he will move forward with the process. RUS has approved our loan documents, and we are looking at creating a process to determine when we will draw funds. The fiber backbone looks promising for a contract with the hope that phase one will start next year. Tri-State FIRC filings. November 1st Mountain Parks Electric will start to collect Franchise fees for Fraser based on Franchise agreement signed in March. Fraser is proceeding with level 3 charger and Winter Park is installing 14 level 2 chargers. Staff is working on 2021 budget which will be presented in November with specifics discussed in executive session. General Manager Johnston tendered his resignation with his last day being May 31, 2021.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to allow Director Hauck sign with an executive recruiting team to fill this position.

Discussion/Action Item A: 990 Tax Return

Discussion ensued regarding posting tax return on website. This is available for members to look at upon request currently.  Will add this as an agenda item in upcoming meeting

Discussion/Action Item B: 2021 Budget

Manager Dellamano presented Conservative, Realistic and Growth outlooks. Dellamano was able to do a 10 year budget forecast comparing sales and cost. Manager Rahn presented employee compensation and benefits proposal. Rahn presented a 6% increase for medical benefits which was still a reduction for employees compared to NRECA medical plan. Rahn also discussed performance compensation plan. This plan is based on goals, revised goals and performance evaluation for most employees and bonuses based on 9 total goals for linemen. Discussion ensued to go forward with preliminary budget with specifics to be discussed during executive session.  

Discussion/Action Item C: Set Date for Annual Meeting

Manager Taylor presented May 8th 2020 at 9:15 a.m. 321 W Agate Avenue, Granby, CO 80446 as Annual Meeting date, time and location.

MOTION: It was properly moved and seconded, to go forward with this date.  Discussion  occurred to move the date to Saturday May 15th so a regular board meeting could occur prior to the annual meeting. Motion was amended to set meeting date to Saturday May 15th at 9:15 a.m. 321 W Agate Avenue, Granby CO 80446. It was properly moved, seconded and carried to set Annual Meeting to this date, time and location.

Discussion/Action Item D: C-7 Member Customer Service Policy

Policy C-7 presented to the board with redline changes.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this policy as presented and to make this policy public on Mountain Parks Electric’s website.

Discussion/Action Item E: C-8 Member Privacy and Confidentiality

Policy C-8 presented to the board with redline changes.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this policy as presented with the change to add the word “for” back in section 2 number 3, and to   make this policy public on Mountain Parks Electric’s website.

Discussion/Action Item F: Fiber Backhaul Bid Results

Manager Simmons presented all bids for Fiber Backhaul Project. ADB Companies was the lowest bid. Vantage point made sure that all bids were compliant. Mountain Parks Electric intends on getting all work done next year and will need to send out request for bids for Phase 2 in April or May 2021.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve to go forward with ADB Companies for Phase 1.

Discussion/Action Item G: Little Sprouts Education Fund Request

Little Sprouts Education Fund Request was presented to the board

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve this request as well as action item J. West Grand Filter Quote,  and action item K. Grand Kids Grant Request. Director Trick voted no. Items J and K will need to be ratified at the November board meeting.

Discussion/Action Item H: DOE Grant

Director Taddonio reported up to $7 million in grant money available. A two page concept piece required initially with a formal grant application requested after approval of the concept piece. Discussed that staff will look at putting together concept notes for this grant.

Discussion/ Action Item I: Basin Electric Designation of Representative

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve Manager Taylor as the MPE representative, and Director Zieff as the alternate, for the Basin Electric 2020 Annual Meeting. 

Discussion/ Action Item J: West Grand Filter Quote

This action item was address with action item G.    

Discussion/ Action Item K: Grand Kids Grant Request

This action item was address with action item G.

Engineering Report

The engineering report as prepared by Manager Scott Simmons was reviewed.  Simmons reported that Employee Gomez is deployed until after the first of the year. The engineering department is working on their conversion still as it didn’t go smoothly as there are issues with the mapping and staking software converting correctly.

Operations & Safety Report

The Operations and Safety Report as prepared by Manager Rich Trostel was reviewed.  Trostel reported on the Mullen and Cameron Peak fires which are in our service territory. Due to the fires Mountain Parks Electric’s service reliability numbers are down.  Mountain Parks Electric has put our re-closers on one shot to prevent being the cause of a fire. This has impacted the amount of outages and the amount of time it takes to restore power.

Trostel reported no lost time accidents on the safety report. Mountain Parks Electric received an award for the amount of time it has been since last lost time accident. Trostel reported a near miss due to a partial vacuum discharge.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the Safety Report as presented.

Finance Report

The Finance Report as prepared by Manager Stacie Dellamano was reviewed. Retirement checks went out for the time period 1993-1998. Members can check if they have capital credits under my account on mpei.com. Mountain Parks Electric has implemented the cycle change this week. One member has signed up for pre-paid metering.

Information Technology Report

The Information Technology Report as prepared by Manager Joe Palmer was reviewed.  

Human Resources and Administration Report

Manager Rahn reported that Mountain Parks Electric offices will not be open to the public until January 2021.

Member Relations and Communications Report

The Member Relations and Communications Report as prepared by Manager Rob Taylor was reviewed. Taylor reported that there have been 53 application for Electrify Everything. Twelve contracts have been signed.

Bills for Payment

The Board reviewed the list of cash disbursements for September 2020.

Board Open Forum

Green Power: Director McIntyre recommended including the ethics and government class for the December board meeting

Western United: Director Zieff reported meeting will be held tomorrow.

Tri-State: Director Trick reported Tri-State has approved solar generation at Craig and Escalante for community help. Trick reported that Tri-State is working on a cost reduction plan with a possibility of eliminating community solar. Tri-State is trying to reduce their debt.

Director Fosha reported member complaints regarding discrepancies in quotes. General Manager Johnston asked for Fosha to let him know names and he would look into this and that this issue could be discussed at a future board meeting.

CREA: Director Hauck reported that there will be a webinar on Wildland Fire Risk and energy summit.

Old Business

No Old Business Reported

New Business

Executive Session

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to go into executive session for confidential discussion regarding personnel matters, Legal matters and confidential member information. All directors, Manager Rahn, Manager Dellamano, Manager Simmons, General Manager Johnston and Attorney Williamson attended the executive session. 

Director Trick, Manager Dellamano, and Manager Rahn left the meeting during the executive session.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to come out of executive session.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to authorize Mark Johnston to execute the confidential exclusivity agreement on the terms discussed in executive session. Director Volt voted no. 

The meeting adjourned at 4:03 p.m.