VOLUME 64 | NO. 7 | JULY 2019 BAUDETTE | MINNESOTA MEMBER GET AIR-SOURCE BUTTERFINGER- APPRECIATION DAYS HEAT PUMPED CHOCOLATE DESSERT PAGE 5 PAGE 6 PAGE 7 MEMBER APPRECIATION DAYS NORTH STAR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. MISSION STATEMENT To improve the lives of our member-owners and community by responsibly providing clean, affordable, electric energy and other beneficial services while maintaining the very highest standards of performance and member satisfaction. MANAGER’S REPORT – THE WORLD IS RUN BY THOSE WHO SHOW UP One of North Star’s deadly detour when something grounded strategic goals these comes in contact with the power · There will be three names printed in this past few years is to line. We will never know if one of our issue with no intention of stopping this get more members demonstrations will save a life one day, popular monthly challenge. to “show up.” Our but it’s very rewarding when people ask Ann Ellis annual meeting is questions or comment that they learned General Manager every October, and something from it. with that goal in mind, we are pleased · One of North Star’s strategic goals these that our registered members count has Fair booths past few years is to get more members steadily increased each of the last two Member Services Manager Kevin Holen years – from 126 in 2016, to 177 in 2017 will have our air-source heat pump (ASHP) to “show up.” and to 226 last year. The annual meeting demo unit at both of the local fairs in mid- is the biggie for getting a great face-to- July. It will be operating, so you will have a chance to see it in action and visit with us about how one may be a good fit for you. · Our state representatives and senators Although we don’t sell or install ASHPs, are all great supporters of your rural we are your trusted source for answers to electric cooperative down in St. Paul. your energy-related questions. Find your name hidden in the Enlightener Did you wonder where the names of face update on the electric utility you and the three winners were last month? your neighbors own, as well as electing In the hustle and bustle of launching your representative on the board. We also the Enlightener redesign, we missed encourage members to engage with us including them! So, we did a Facebook at events like the Member Appreciation challenge and the winners Days and the county and district fairs. We were Gretchen Thompson, are strong when we work together. Also, if there are elected officials in a Alona Canfield and Russell fair booth, you couldn’t ask for a better Strand. There will be three Member Appreciation Days chance to just visit with them. Our state names printed in this You could have heard a pin drop as representatives (Dan Fabian, Rob Ecklund issue with no intention of stopping this lineman Glen Marcotte provided the and Matt Grossell) and senators (Tom popular monthly challenge to win a $20 tabletop safety demonstration, which Bakk, Paul Utke and Mark Johnson) are bill credit. Happy searching for your started off for the kids but attracted the all great supporters of your rural electric name (or a friend’s), and if you haven’t adults as well. Linemen Jesse Huot and cooperative down in St. Paul (Alisa “liked” us on Facebook, you may want Cody Stuhaug provided a life-size version, Jacobsen, 252-01-003-06). Not only do to! including baby-waking electrical arcs, as they have an open door for us when we At your service we remain, they demonstrated what happens when visit them at the Capitol, they also come the path of electricity takes a potentially here, hoping to hear what is on your mind. Ann 2 NORTH STAR ENLIGHTENER | JULY 2019 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BOARDROOM See you at the These are the highlights from the May 3, August 2018 storm damage restoration 2019, board meeting. All board members in Koochiching County, the preparation Fair! were in attendance. In addition to routine for a new loan application for our 2019- action, the board voted to approve 2022 Construction Work Plan, winter Northern District, Littlefork the inventory adjustment as a result load control, ripple receiver testing, of the annual reconciling of inventory, new off-peak installations and repairs, July 11-14! to accept the 2018 IRS Form 990 for rebates, scholarships, upcoming safety filing, to approve the submission of a demonstrations at local elementary Lake of the Woods, Baudette matching grant application to CoBank’s schools, line inspection, line department Sharing Success program, to approve training, new AMI (Advanced Metering July 17-20! the material proposal for a fire alarm Infrastructure) installations, pole system, to approve a board self- changeouts, CFC’s Integrity Fund and assessment form to be used at Strategic North Star’s participation at the Early Planning, to approve CliftonLarsonAllen’s Childhood Family Education (ECFE) proposal for a three-year agreement for carnival. financial statement audit and tax return Board reports included information preparation and to approve out-of-state from the Roseau Electric Cooperative travel for three employees for training annual meeting, as well as from the purposes. NRECA legislative conference held in Staff reports included the safety report, Washington, D.C. the financial report, the annual inventory Detailed minutes are available at the DIRECTOR reconciliation, review of the IRS Form cooperative for member review. Regular 990, DBS capital credits, the proposals board meetings are generally held the NOMINATION PROCESS submitted for financial statement audit first Wednesday of every month. If you Interested in being a board member? and tax return preparation services, wish to speak with the board or have an The seat up for election this fall is CoBank’s Sharing Success matching grant item that you would like to have placed District 7, which includes the areas near Ray and Kabetogama. The deadline for program, reimbursement from the state on the agenda, please contact Manager a nomination petition is Aug. 2. Call us of Minnesota’s Homeland Security and Ann Ellis at least two weeks in advance for details. Emergency Management (HSEM) for the to be included on the agenda. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Directors Secretary- Shelley Spears President Vice President General Manager Editor Treasurer Randy Bergan Steve Arnesen Michael Hanson Ann Ellis Kevin Holen Lorraine Nygaard Tom Smith Bruce Sampson DIGGING SOON? LOOKING FOR One free, easy call gets your utility lines marked SOMETHING? and helps protect you from injury and expense. Past issues of the Enlightener are Safe digging is no accident. on our website at ALWAYS CALL BEFORE YOU DIG. www.northstarelectric.coop VISIT WWW.CALL811.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION. NORTH STAR ENLIGHTENER | JULY 2019 3 STAFF REPORT – SO MUCH FOR SPRING, SUMMER So much for spring – and maybe even new AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) deployment. At summer! the time of this article, we are around 30% completed. All in favor of some warmer weather The biggest obstacle we are finding is the ability to access say “Aye!” Old Man Winter obviously the off-peak meters. So, if you are in the Warroad to Williams has not wanted to loosen his grip and areas or an area around the city of Littlefork, call and allow spring, and it’s about time he schedule a time that we may does. I, for one, am tired of still hearing come and change out your my furnace turn on in mid-June. off-peak meter. This allows us to begin retiring the old AMI The delayed lifting of road restrictions equipment. Marty Mollberg slowed some farmers’ planting, and it Manager of Operations also created a slow start for crews with If you have plans for a new new service and service upgrades. service, need to upgrade your But with a break here and there, crews have built several new existing service or have plans services with more in the works. to install any new buildings on your property, be sure to give West-end crews have been working in the Wheeler’s Point area us a call ahead of time to ensure you are not building on top (Gerald Gubbels, 252-13-037-01). They are converting some of our underground cable or creating a code violation that overhead line to underground to accommodate the widening of could result in additional costs to correct. Bur Oak Road (between Sportsman’s Lodge and Border Bait) for the Wheeler’s Point Sewer Project. Until next time, stay safe! As mentioned in a previous article, we don’t plan to do any “The biggest obstacle we are finding is work plan projects this year, allowing us to focus on the the ability to access the off-peak meters.” ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIP OF THE MONTH Routinely replace or clean your ENERGY SAVING COMPARISON air conditioner’s filter. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter can reduce INCANDESCENT | 100 watt LED | 15 watt your air conditioner’s energy 31 days/month 31 days/month consumption by 5% to 15%. Equals 24,800 watts [24.8 kWh] Equals 3,720 watts [3.7 kWh] Source: energy.gov At 12.2 cents/kWh + 6.875% sales tax At 12.2 cents/kWh + 6.875% sales tax Equals $3.23/month Equals $0.48/month Savings per bulb per month with LED = $2.75 | Cost of LED bulb after rebate = $4 4 NORTH STAR ENLIGHTENER | JULY 2019 NORTH STAR ELECTRIC MEMBER APPRECIATION DAYS We were pleased with the turnout at our 17th annual Member Appreciation Days. In Littlefork we had 107 members register and 22 kids, and in Baudette we had 158 members register and 18 kids.