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FROM YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Board
Meeting Summary
April 27, 2004
The meeting was called to order by
President Jim Dyer. All members were present including Leadership Youth
Representative Rachel Knotts. Ennor was in contact by conference call.
Scott Muller from Kenneth Kuhns & Co. provided a
brief review of the Audit Report. He mentioned a few highlights on the assets
and investments on the Balance Sheet and noted the net margin of $1,542,000 for
2003. He said Salem Electric is a unique company in that it has very little
long-term debt.
He mentioned a potential loss of future revenue due to
the loss of a large customer load. Bonesteele said the report was very well
done and well explained. Muller said the audit report did not require any
adjustments to the records. It was a clean, unqualified opinion. Muller
recognized our staff and management and thanked them for their assistance
during the audit. A motion carried unanimously to accept the audit report as
presented.
Roger Kuhlman, Engineering & Operations Manager,
provided an update on the Wind Project, stating that Salem Electric’s contract
for Environmentally Preferred Power (EPP) expired on September 30, 2003. George
Darr was hired as a consultant to look at some options to replace the EPP.
Seven projects in Oregon and Washington were considered. After considering the
proposals, staff recommended that no action be taken, but that Salem Electric
continue to explore opportunities to participate in combined purchase projects
by aggregating with other public power entities or adding on to investor-owned
utility (IOU) purchases. A motion carried unanimously to accept staff’s
recommendation to take no action on the proposals at this time.
Ennor suggested it may be reasonable to review Salem
Electric’s decision on the EPP from Bonneville. General Manager, Bob Speckman,
said there are options to be considered. He said we need to keep in mind the
uncertain financial future of the cooperative due to a pending loss of load and
the associated revenue. Ennor suggested giving customers an option of
“check-off” to pay extra for EPP. Speckman said this could be brought back as
an agenda item at a future meeting, Ennor agreed. Berger said he would like
background information on the policy for purchasing renewable power. Staff
agreed to put together a report on the subject.
Terry Kelly, Member Services Manager, updated the
board on the scholarship program; out of the 72 applications filed, 55 met all
the criteria. The OSAC will choose the recipients of Salem Electric’s ten
$1,000 scholarships. Kelly updated the board on recent community involvement
and sponsorships. He also reported that 1,064 people received heating
assistance this past year and that all funds were expended by April 15.
Speckman reported that in 1999, Salem Electric joined
the Local Power Alliance Cooperative (LPAC) in order to explore the possible
purchase of IOU territory. Each utility member contributed $10,000. The
purchase never came together and LPAC has been inactive since 2001. Speckman
distributed a resolution for approval and signatures regarding the dissolution
and distribution of assets. A motion carried unanimously to authorize the
President to sign the resolution as presented.
A motion carried unanimously to designate Speckman as
the voting delegate for the upcoming Northwest Public Power Association annual
meeting.
Bonesteele attended the Oregon Rural Electric
Cooperative Association (ORECA) board meeting on March 18. She reported that
ORECA was considering purchasing a building for their office site. They
discussed asking each member utility to contribute $15,000 toward the purchase.
Anderson said he would be opposed to Salem Electric making such a contribution.
Bonesteele said ORECA board members were to receive additional information
about the purchase, and the reasons for it, but no information was provided at
the meeting. The next ORECA board meeting is scheduled for May 13 in Baker City
and Bonesteele is planning to attend.
The annual meeting is scheduled for May 11 and the
program will include three (3) employee presentations.
Jack Belleque, Administrative Services Manager,
reported on the staff recommendation and resolution regarding those authorized
to make investments for the co-op. He said Beach suggested the policy be
revised to state that the General Manager will always be one of the two people
authorizing investments, instead of the current policy allowing any two of the
staff persons listed. The resolution also updates the titles of the positions
for those authorized. A motion carried unanimously to approve the staff’s
recommendation and resolution as presented.
The meeting recessed at 8:20 pm and reconvened in
Executive Session.
Carl Beach
Secretary/Treasurer
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 Hello.
My name is Joe Van Meter. I recently applied for, and was appointed to, an open
position on the Salem Electric Board of Directors. I have been interested for
some time. In fact, I had discussions with former board member Dennis Koho in
the 1990’s, and more recently with current board chair Jim Dyer. I look forward
to working for the community and Salem Electric’s best interests in the coming
years.
As with past director appointments, please allow me to
introduce myself.
In 1972, I moved to Keizer, where I have had the good
fortune to raise three wonderful children; Preston, Heather and Shannon. My
wife, Karen, and I love our community and have been privileged to serve on on
the Keizer Little League Board of Directors, school committees and help plan
our class reunions and our children’s high school drug and alcohol-free
graduation parties.
I am a native Oregonian and graduated from North Salem
High School. I attended and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Monmouth at Oregon
College of Education. I continued my education and later received a Master’s
Degree in Correctional Administration.
During high school and college I worked summers and my
vacations for a Salem Electric subcontractor doing undergrounding of electric
cable. Following graduation I began work for the Marion County Juvenile
Department. After 33 years in juvenile work, in many different positions, I
have just retired. My most recent position held at Oregon Youth Authority was
as the Training Director. I have also had the opportunity to contribute on the
Keizer City Council, for four years, the City Parks Committee for 10 years, and
am currently on the Keizer Fire Board.
During the years I have been in Keizer, I think I may
have taken for granted the level of service we have all come to expect from
Salem Electric. Certainly the recent winter storms, Enron, electrical
blackouts, and the threat of deregulation have gotten our attention.
As I begin to serve as your representative, I ask you
to join me in becoming more knowledgeable by visiting Salem Electric in person
or, as an alternative, please visit the Salem Electric website. Salem Electric
has a wonderful site which may answer questions concerning the services and
resources available to us all.
Consider visiting a board meeting and/or join me in
becoming part of the “Power of Community” to keep our electric rates affordable
during these times of legislative discussion of deregulation.
Since my first introduction to Salem Electric, during
high school and college, I have been impressed with the dedication and service
of the staff. I look forward to working on the board to reach our goals of
reliable service, financial integrity, good customer relations, good employee
relations and the lowest possible rates.
I ask that you let me know how we are doing—call me at
503-390-6552.
Joe Van Meter
Director
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