MOUNTAIN PARKS ELECTRIC, INC.

Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors

Granby, Colorado

May 14, 2020

8:00 A.M.

 

Attendance

Present: Jeff Hauck, Carl Trick, Richard Zieff, Justin Fosha, and Mark Johnston in person. Mark Volt, Liz McIntyre, Kristen Taddonio, Scott Simmons, Rich Trostel, Stacie Dellamano, Rob Taylor, Jessica Rahn, Joe Palmer, Michelle Kloss and Levi Williamson via Zoom Meetings.

Call to Order

President Jeff Hauck called the meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.

Determination of Quorum

A quorum was declared.

Public Comment

General Manager Johnston asked that the public that if they would like to comment that there would be instructions on how to leave public comments on our website.

Minutes

The Board reviewed minutes from the April 9, 2020 meeting. Director Taddonio asked that it be noted that she voted no to going into executive session

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the minutes as presented with the modification above.

Attorney Summary Fees Report

The Board reviewed Attorney Williamson’s summary fees report. 

Manager’s Report

The General Manager’s Report as prepared by Mark Johnston was reviewed.  Johnston reported that Attorney Williamson and Johnston met with the County Manager and about the permitting process for Solar. MPEI will have to get authorization prior to June 10th for a special use permit to be able to go forward with the project in 2020. Mountain Parks Electric is looking at all of their options for this project.

Mountain Parks Electric is still looking at Candidates for the Safety Officer position and have re-posted this job.

Kinsa thermometers have been ordered and Mountain Parks Electric will be working with Dr. Selenke Grand Counties Medical Officer to determine who will receive the purchased thermometers to monitor symptoms of COVID-19.

Approximately $40,000 of the $100,000 donated to Mountain Family Center to help families pay their electric bills has been distributed.

Discussion/Action Item B: Education Fund Bylaw Amendment

Attorney Williamson presented Education Fund Bylaw Amendment where trust was renamed to Fund per previous discussion.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the Education Fund Bylaw Amendment

Discussion/Action Item C: Project Thor and Fiber Backbone

Manager Palmer discussed how Mountain Parks Electric Fiber Project differed from Project Thor by creating a transport mechanism for wireless service which could benefit our customers by creating an additional potential high speed internet source as well as providing a resource for Mountain Parks Electric to be able to continue business into the future.

Discussion/Action Item D: B-13 Advanced Metering

Staff recommendation is to delete this policy as it doesn’t apply to our customers any longer

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to retire this policy

Discussion/Action Item E: B-14 MPEI Work Flow Procedures and Work Orders

Staff in Engineering, Operations and Finance discussed and revised this policy. The board discussed having this as a public policy posted on our website. It was determined that this would be discussed in executive session. 

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve this policy with the amendment to say most recent instead of latest.

Discussion/Action Item A: Home Grown Talent Initiative

Ali Williams, Frank Reeves, and Darrin Peppard of the Home Grown Talent Initiative entered the Zoom Meeting at 9:00 A.M. Ali presented that the Home Grown Talent Initiative is a collaboration between East and West Grand School districts to diversify the edu-conomy by allowing for multiple pathways for students to choose by creating partnerships with local businesses to build internships and job shadowing opportunities for Grand Counties students with the possibility of expanding into Jackson County.  Williams, Reeves and Peppard expressed gratitude to Mountain Parks Electric for their continued support of this program.

Williams, Reeves and Peppard left the meeting.

Discussion/Action Item F: 202.12 Electrify Everything

Discussion to have Page two section 5 second section to change to “Up to 2%” as Mountain Parks Electric has to specify interest rates however these may be changed.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve this policy with the amendment.

Discussion/Action Item G: Electrify Everything Agreement

Taylor reported that Mountain Parks Electric would offer a rebate for heat pumps to get cost down to within the ten year time frame.  This rebate would be offered with all of our other rebates. It was discussed that Mountain Parks Electric Employees cannot give advice as to which contractors to use as Mountain Parks Electric could assume liability in that instance.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve this policy with the amendment.

The board discussed creating a rebate provided by Mountain Parks Electric for heat pumps in the amount of $150 per ton.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the rebate.

Discussion/Action Item H: Special Meeting May 5th, 2020

Mountain Parks Electric’s board of directors attended a special meeting by phone and email to discuss entering an intervention into the Tri-State docket to be able to receive all filings.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to ratify this intervention.

Discussion/Action Item I: Tri-State Representative Annual Meeting

Johnston reported that a voting representative needed to be elected for the Tri-State Annual Meeting to represent Mountain Parks Electric’s vote on issues presented at the meeting. A representative needs to be certified every year which will be voted on at the board meeting after Mountain Parks Electric’s Virtual Town Hall.  A nomination for Director Zieff was presented.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to have Director Zieff be Mountain Parks Electric's voting member at the Tri-State Annual Meeting.

Engineering Report

The Engineering Report as prepared by Simmons was reviewed.  Simmons reported that we will be providing all materials for projects going forward.  He also reported that Winter Park resort is getting an estimate on charging stations at the resort and that the Fraser Solar Farm issue has been resolved and that they are getting an internet connection set up so that the issue can be monitored better.

Operations & Safety Report

The Operations and Safety Report as prepared by Trostel was reviewed. 

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve the Safety Report as presented.

Finance Report

The Finance Report as prepared by Dellamano was reviewed.  Dellamano presented that revenue is down however April’s reports will let us know what to expect for numbers. Mountain Parks Electric currently is showing a 5% decrease in sales. Mountain Parks Electric is losing small commercial accounts. Good job to the customer service representatives as all seriously delinquent accounts all have made payment arrangements.

Information Technology Report

The Information Technology Report as prepared by Joe Palmer was reviewed. 

Human Resources and Administration Report

The Human Resources and Administration Report as prepared by Jessica Rahn was reviewed.

Member Relations and Communications Report

The Member Relations and Communications Report as prepared by Rob Taylor was reviewed.  Taylor discussed the Mountain Parks Electric’s Virtual Town hall will be all pre-recorded with the opportunity for members to ask questions through the website. Time of Use tariff section had a soft roll out on May 1st and advertising will begin through social media.

Bills for Payment

The Board reviewed the list of cash disbursements for April 2020.

Board Open Forum

McIntyre reported that Green Power continues to talk about Solar Cares and will present in July how to grow the program.

Zieff reported that Western United sent out financial reporting a record breaking month.

Carl Trick reported that Tri-State had a telephone meeting and not much occurred.

Jeff Hauck reported on his attendance at the regular meeting of the board of directors of the Colorado Rural Electric Association via short conference call.   They are working remotely, providing support as they can. Their May regional meeting scheduled in Grand Lake will be rescheduled for 2021.

Zieff reported that the Care Committee is on hold due to COVID-19.

McIntyre questioned Trick as to what other Cooperatives were considering exiting Tri-State.  Tri-State will be filing their tariff with FERC which we will be notified of.

Old Business

No Old Business

New Business

Tri-State requested that Mountain Parks Electric provide a letter of support to provide to FERC neutral position. It was agreed that Johnston would let Tri-State know that we are remaining neutral and would not be sending the letter.

Members have called regarding Capital Credits. Johnston expressed that we have sent notice that the timing of the Capital Credit payments may be dispersed in September or October as Mountain Parks Electric wants to ensure that we have capital to purchase electricity to be able to keep business going.

Executive Session

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to go into executive session for confidential discussion regarding financial projections, public policies, and other confidential matters with the following in attendance: All directors present at the meeting, Mark Johnston, Jessica Rahn, Rich Trostel, Joe Palmer, Michelle Kloss and Attorney Williamson. It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to come out of executive session.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to make Policy B-14 public to be posted on mpei.com

The Meeting adjourned at 12:41 p.m.