Helen Findley presented a year-end report
for the Salem Electric Member Assistance Program (SEMAP). This program provides
energy assistance for low-income Salem Electric members. In response to a
question from Director Culver, Findley indicated that no member who qualified
for the income guidelines was turned down. A unique request for donation was made by
John Miller, representing the Community Coalition for Diversity. This group has
been working on the Marion Square Park project for the past three years. John
boasted of the community's success in taking the park back from the derelicts
and drug users over the past three years. They are beginning the second phase
of the project by constructing a flat, shallow skating bowl and a basketball
court. Miller thanked SE's Larry Wilson for help in designing the lighting
needs for the park. This amounts to a dozen lights which will cost
approximately $1,200 a year, including energy and maintenance. Miller requested that SE provide the energy
and maintenance at no cost for three years, after which time ownership of the
poles would be turned over to either SE or the City of Salem. General Manager
Speckman voiced a concern about the transition at the end of the donation
period. He would prefer to see the group pay a monthly bill and have SE make a
donation to cover the costs. Director Koho moved to allow staff to find a way
to provide electric power and maintenance for 12 lights at the park at no cost
to the group through the 1999 calendar year. Motion was amended to include that
the total sum will be paid by Salem Electric in two installments during the 2
year period. The motion passed unanimously. Salem Electric is a member of several
industry organizations, and the Board of Directors has representatives assigned
to them. President Dyer reviewed the current board appointments and after a
brief discussion, the appointments were agreed upon as follows: Solar Energy Association of Oregon (SEA of
O) Public Power Council (PPC) Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) Northwest Conservation Act Coalition (NCAC) American Public Power Association (APPA) Engineering & Operations Manager, Roger
Kuhlman, reviewed a recommendation to consider the purchase of BPA's Alumina
and Brush College substations. He would like to put out a Request for Proposal
to hire a consultant to help determine the costs and feasibility of the
purchases. The cost for the consultant could range from $5,000 to as much as
$15,000. Director Anderson remarked that he believed the purchase would be of
value to SE in the long run and recommended the study. Motion was made by Koho
and seconded by Anderson to approve the hiring of a consultant. Meeting adjourned at 8:41 p.m. | Board Reports |
August 1997
Minutes of the Meeting Held on:
June 24, 1997
Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative
Association (ORECA)
- Anderson and Koho
-Bonesteele
- Bonesteele and Wolf
- Dyer, Towslee and Culver
- Towslee
- Culver-- Bill
Wolf, Secretary/Treasurer
