February 2016 Vol
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FEBRUARY 2016 VOL. 56 NO. 1 Heating It Up A Look at Hot Mineral Baths P8-9 Board Accountability 2016 Budget Approved FEM Electric’s board of directors held its regular monthly meeting on Dec. 15, 2015, in Ipswich. Frank Heinz, Jr., Gary Bachman, Larry Bowar, Tom Thorpe, Gerald Haupt, General Manager/CEO Scott Moore; Rhonda Tuscherer Director of Finance and Benefits; Stephanie Horst, Director of Communi- cations and Marketing; Jim Resmen, Engineer /GIS Coordina- tor; and Rob Vetch, Line Superintendent were present when the meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. President Frank Heinz welcomed guest employee Josh Wei- On Dec. 10, 200 people including FEM Electric members, past employees and gel. community members came to celebrate FEM’s 70th birthday. Catching up and The board then took care of administrative business, ap- reminiscing old times over cake and coffee rumbled through the building. Tours of proving the minutes from the Nov. 2015 board meeting with the new FEM office and shop areas were also given. revised agendas handed out. The board set Tues., Jan. 19, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. as the date for the January regular board meeting. November 2015 was reviewed. It contained information on Manager’s Report –Manager Scott Moore reported on checks #25973 through #26060, and all automatic withdraw- legislation supper that was cancelled Dec.1 due to weather and als for November 2015 totaling $370,483.04 also discussed changing the format for meeting with the local 2015 Write-offs – Motion made and carried to approve two legislators. Moore reported that he attended the East River write offs totalling $2258.19. MAC meeting in Madison, SD Dec. 2. North Star Energy has Expenses – Director expense reports and attorney fees were hired Garret Stafford of Ipswich to help with service work and approved as submitted. propane deliveries. They also hired Gary Goeller of Huron as East River Refund – Board resolution regarding the a sales representative. Gary will be working to increase pro- $117,728.71 credit on FEM’s East River power bill was to pane gallon sales along with promoting AutoGas (propane return the funds as a credit to FEM’s active consumers on their fueled vehicles). Moore informed the board that NRECA our Dec. 30, 2015 statement for $55.00 per active main meter. national organization will start the process for a new CEO and Membership – The board approved the following changes: that NRECA continues to lobby aggressively in Washington, Connects – James Harris, Eureka, Active Farm; B&D DC. A list of ACRE memberships was distributed along with Aman, Brookings, Active Farm; Paul Larson, Mina, Grain Bin, kilowatt hour report, letter sent to all area cities, and a letter Active Farm and Pasture Pump; Ron Kadlec, Ipswich, Active sent to all employees by FEM Electric President Frank Heinz Farm. thanking them for supporting ACRE and all their work in Disconnects – RE Luce, Brandon, Active Farm; Herbert 2015. Aman, Hosmer, Active Farm; Dale Brooks, Aberdeen, Grain Staff Reports – Staff reports were given. Bin, Active Farm and Pasture Pump; and WL Lauritzen, Faulk- Executive Session – Executive session was entered at 9:40 ton, Active Farm. a.m. and exited at 9:50 a.m. Contracts – Korey Maurer, Ipswich, Shop. Resolutions, Nominations and Policies – Motion made Retirements – Bob Wagner, Ipswich, Vacant Farm; Spring and carried to nominate Gary Bachman as NRECA voting Creek Colony, Forbes, ND, Vacant Farm; and Marvin Beidler, delegate and Gerald Haupt as alternate voting delegate. Mo- Miranda, Active Farm. tion made and carried to nominate Gerald Haupt as NRTC Capital Credits 73 & Older – Two 73 & Older for De- voting delegate and Gary Bachman as the alternate voting cember 2015 totalling $3,498.80 were approved to be paid. delegate. Motion made and carried to approve Eide Bailly Au- Estates – One estate for $651.93 was approved to be paid. dit Agreement for 2015 year end. Motion made and carried to Legal update – None sign leases between North Star Energy and FEM Electric and Meeting Reports – The East River board update was given engineering service contract with Dalager Engineering. by Gary Bachman; the Mid-West annual meeting report was 2016 Budget – The 2016 budget was approved as pre- given by Gary Bachman; The NRECA Board Leadership sented. Course class was reported on by Frank Heinz, Larry Bowar, Financial Business – The Nov. 2014 financials were and Tom Thorpe; and the SD Wind Energy board meeting reviewed and discussed. Aid to construction collected in 2015 report was given by Frank Heinz, $94,447. The board approved of the following financial busi- Safety Minutes - The Board acknowledged receipt of Safety ness: Meeting and Employee Meeting minutes from Nov. 6 and FEM Building Project – The Board approved the non-bid Safety Committee Meeting minutes from Nov. 6. expenses totalling $22,353.82. Adjourn – There being no further business to come before Check Register – The check register for the month of the board, motion carried to adjourn the meeting. 2 February 2016 • COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS Member Appreciation Electric Pancake (USPS 189-720) Breakfast Board of Directors Frank Heinz Jr., President Friday, January 29, 2016 On Dec. 10, 200 people including FEM Electric members, past employees and Gary Bachman, Vice President community members came to celebrate FEM’s 70th birthday. Catching up and Larry Bowar, Secretary 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. reminiscing old times over cake and coffee rumbled through the building. Tours of Gerald Haupt, Treasurer the new FEM office and shop areas were also given. Tom Thorpe, Asst. Sec./Treasurer at FEM Electric Vaughn Beck, Attorney November 2015 was reviewed. It contained information on checks #25973 through #26060, and all automatic withdraw- CEO/General Manager als for November 2015 totaling $370,483.04 Scott Moore Come tour the FEM Electric 2015 Write-offs – Motion made and carried to approve two [email protected] office and shop building! write offs totalling $2258.19. Expenses – Director expense reports and attorney fees were Management Staff approved as submitted. Rob Vetch, Line Superintendent East River Refund – Board resolution regarding the 2015 Rhonda Tuscherer, Director of Finance and Bring a nonperishable food item! railroad settlement of $117,728.71 credit on FEM’s East River Benefits Jim Resmen, Engineer power bill was to return the funds as a credit to FEM’s active Stephanie Horst, Director of Communications consumers on their Dec. 30, 2015 statement for $55.00 per and Marketing active main meter. Editor’s e-mail: [email protected] Membership – The board approved the following changes: Connects – James Harris, Eureka, Active Farm; B&D FEM Electric Cooperative Connections is the monthly publication for Aman, Brookings, Active Farm; Paul Larson, Mina, Grain Bin, the members of FEM Electric Association, Inc., 800 5th Ave., Ipswich, SD 57451. FEM Electric Cooperative Connections’ purpose is to Active Farm and Pasture Pump; Ron Kadlec, Ipswich, Active provide reliable, helpful information to members on electric cooperative Farm. matters and better living. Disconnects – RE Luce, Brandon, Active Farm; Herbert Subscription information: As part of their membership, FEM members devote $1.00 from their monthly electric payments for a subscription. Aman, Hosmer, Active Farm; Dale Brooks, Aberdeen, Grain Nonmember subscriptions are available for $15 annually. (USPS 189-720) Bin, Active Farm and Pasture Pump; and WL Lauritzen, Faulk- Periodical Postage Paid at Ipswich, SD 57451 and at additional offices. ton, Active Farm. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to FEM Electric Cooperative Contracts – Korey Maurer, Ipswich, Shop. Connections, Box 468, Ipswich, SD 57451-0468. Retirements – Bob Wagner, Ipswich, Vacant Farm; Spring Creek Colony, Forbes, ND, Vacant Farm; and Marvin Beidler, How to contact us: Everyone is welcome to FEM Electric headquarters in FEM Electric Miranda, Active Farm. PO Box 468 Ipswich, SD 57451 Ipswich to enjoy a fresh cooked pancake and sausage break- Capital Credits 73 & Older – Two 73 & Older for De- Phone: 1-800-587-5880 fast. cember 2015 totalling $3,498.80 were approved to be paid. e-mail: [email protected] Estates – Website: www.femelectric.coop Thisfree member appreciation meal is cooked and served by One estate for $651.93 was approved to be paid. Design assistance by SDREA & TG Communications. Legal update – None your FEM Electric board of directors and employees. Meeting Reports – The East River board update was given FEM Electric is an equal FEM employees will also be available to answer any of your by Gary Bachman; the Mid-West annual meeting report was opportunity provider and billing or electrical questions and give tours of the new build- given by Gary Bachman; The NRECA Board Leadership employer. Course class was reported on by Frank Heinz, Larry Bowar, ing. This year we will be collecting nonperishable foods for our and Tom Thorpe; and the SD Wind Energy board meeting report was given by Frank Heinz, local food pantries in McPherson, Edmunds and Faulk coun- Safety Minutes - The Board acknowledged receipt of Safety ties. Please help us give back to our communities and bring Meeting and Employee Meeting minutes from Nov. 6 and Safety Committee Meeting minutes from Nov. 6. what ever you can contribute but keep in mind we are unable Adjourn – There being no further business to come before to donate expired items. the board, motion carried to adjourn the meeting. COOPERATIVE CONNECTIONS • February 2016 3 Safety Tips Current Issues Congress Votes Protect Your Older Home Against EPA from Electrical Hazards Clean Power Plan According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), half of all homes in the United States were built before the advent of automatic coffeemakers or Congress registered its disapproval of garage door openers, and one-third were built before hair dryers or electric can open- how the Obama Administration wants to pro- ers.