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News & Views
from Your Elected
Representatives
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Board Meeting
June 25, 2002
The
meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by President
Bonesteele, with all members present. There were no interested
members in attendance.
The meeting agenda and consent calendar were approved, with
the exception of items 4.D, 4.E, and 4.F.
General Manager Bob Speckman said
there would be a walkthrough of the Financial Reports,
Operations Report, and Member Services Report for the benefit
of the new directors.
Helen Findley provided a brief
background of the heating assistance program. Salem Electric
served 1,000 households at a total cost of $180,033. She noted
the assistance program reached its one million dollar mark
since inception. The board commended Findley on the fine job
she does administering the heating assistance program, as well
as for her work in the senior community.
Engineering and Operations Manager Roger Kuhlman reported that
Salem Electric received the OSHA Safety and Health Achievement
Recognition Program (SHARP) award for the third consecutive
year. He stated that only 74 employers in the state were
recognized this year.
Information Items:
Administrative Services Manager Jack Belleque reported on the
Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (ORECA)
accounting and finance meeting held at Salem Electric.
Kuhlman provided an update on the
Last Mile Electric Cooperative (LMEC) meeting, which he and
Director Jim Dyer attended. The LMEC is trying to get some
proposals on wind power projects which collectively will
generate about 50 megawatts.
Member Services Manager Terry Kelly,
following up on a prior board request, updated the board on
the possibility of creating Salem Electric scholarships for
students in the service territory. Board input was taken as to
the design of the program. Staff will investigate alternatives
and bring this back to the board for consideration at a future
meeting.
Speckman called attention to the
community service award Salem Electric received from the Salem
Economic Development Corporation. He also mentioned that Administrative Assistant Cindy Lenker
was installed as the West Salem Rotary Club President this
past week.
Dyer reported on his trip to
Washington D.C. to attend the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Legislative Conference. He said Anderson and
Bonesteele made the trip too and felt it was an invaluable
experience.
Ennor reported on his attendance at
the annual meeting of the Northwest Public Power Association.
He commented that he learned more about the industry in two
days there than he had over the past several months on the
board.
Horn reported her activities on the
ORECA Ways and Means Committee. She told the board that the
statewide association would be voting on the establishment of
a 16-member board at the mid-year meeting.
Action Items:
The board approved a motion to join Northwest Power Works, a
coalition of regional public power utilities and others that
opposes the formation of a Regional Transmission Organization
(RTO) which is being pushed by the Federal Energy Regulation
Commission.
The Board approved a resolution
restating Salem Electric’s 401(k) plan, bringing it into
compliance with recent federal tax laws.
President Bonesteele appointed board members to represent
Salem Electric in several trade and industry related
associations.
New Business:
The board discussed attendance at trade association seminars
and, after much discussion, it was agreed that members report
back to the board on their attendance.
The meeting adjourned at 9:33 pm.
Jeff Anderson
Secretary/Treasurer
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What is For the
Sake of the Salmon? I asked that very question when Salem
Electric was first approached by Bill Bradbury, the Executive
Director of For the Sake of the Salmon in 1999. He suggested
Salem Electric be the first utility in Oregon to participate
in this multi-state adventure.
The idea was to ask Salem Electric
members to consider a voluntary contribution of five dollars a
month to be collected by the utility and used for local
watershed enhancements. After much discussion, the board
approved the program. Members could sign on, and the monies
collected would go through For the Sake of the Salmon for
grants to local watershed councils and projects that assist
local efforts.
Why is it important for us to
participate in such a program? First let’s start with the
macro picture. While nearly 100% of the power that Salem
Electric purchases from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)
is renewable, over 80% of that power comes from the regional
hydro system. This system, while providing affordable energy,
has caused some fish survival rates to decline over
time. Through For the Sake of the Salmon we have an
opportunity to rebuild and enhance local salmon habitat.
One recent project at Baskett Slough
Creek added and restored 60 acres to wetlands. The creek is a
tributary of the Rickreall Creek that flows into the
Willamette River near the Eola Inn on Hwy 22.
Future Watershed Council projects
under consideration include Glenn and Gibson Creek Watershed
Councils in West Salem.
Salem Electric currently leads the
region in the highest percentage of members participating in
the program, with over $11,000 received to date. I have been
told that a larger utility that shares our service territory
boundary is close to taking this honor away.
What can we do? Sign up for the For
the Sake of the Salmon program, make a monthly contribution,
and join a local watershed council in your area.
We are up to the challenge!
Jeff Anderson
Secretary/Treasurer
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