Guest Speakers
Electric Cooperative Youth Tour: Angel Mendoza Hernandez, Salem Electric’s delegate for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Youth Tour in Washington, D.C., described his trip as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Angel, who will be a senior at McNary High School, is an active student-athlete involved in Debate & Speech Club and National Honor Society, volunteers in his community, and plans to study political science before attending law school.
Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association (ORECA): Tucker Billman of ORECA updated the Board on upcoming issues for the next legislative session. ORECA represents the interests of rural electric cooperatives by opposing unnecessary regulations, working to preserve preference power for consumer-owned utilities, and protecting access to low-cost federal hydropower.
Board Information
The Board reviewed policies scheduled for annual review and approved the General Manager Compensation Policy. Chris Krieck, administrative services manager, presented CFC Form 7 and how it is used for key ratio statistics. JB Phillips, engineering & operations manager, provided updates on Salem Electric’s safety program, main office remodel, and warehouse construction at the Cherry Avenue property.
General Manager’s Report
Tony Schacher provided a Strategic Plan update and outlined staffing changes following the retirement of a long-term employee. Tony also reported on the successful launch of a new online service application tool with automatic ID verification and fraud-screening capabilities.