MOUNTAIN PARKS ELECTRIC, INC.

Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors

Granby, Colorado

November 12th, 2020

8:00 A.M.

 

Attendance

Present: Scott Simmons, Jeff Hauck, Carl Trick, Richard Zieff Mark Volt, Liz McIntyre, Kristen Taddonio, Justin Fosha, Mark Johnston, Stacie Dellamano, Rob Taylor, Jessica Rahn, Michelle Kloss and Bryson Fedregill via Zoom Meetings.

Call to Order

President Jeff Hauck called the meeting to order at 8:02 a.m.

Determination of Quorum

A quorum was declared.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Minutes

Minutes were reviewed by the board

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

Attorney Summary Fees Report

The Board reviewed Attorney Williamson’s summary fees report.   There were no questions.

Manager’s Report

General Manager Johnston reported that there was a positive COVID-19 case that closed the office for two days, with no additional positive tests.  East Troublesome fire affected over 3500 accounts for Mountain Parks Electric with over 200 still off, most of which were destroyed or damaged to where we can’t restore power at this time.

Community Solar contract on hold due to a revised lease that needs to be looked at by the attorneys.

Mountain Parks Electric is still interviewing for the Safety Coordinator position and hopes to have someone hired in the next several weeks.

Mountain Parks Electric has set up an employee assistance program with the Mountain Family Center to help employees that have had damage to, or have lost their home due to the fire. The Mountain Parks Board of Directors decided to donate their per diem to this program. Johnston reported Tri-State and Citywide Banks have also donated to this fund.

Johnston reported issues within warehouse inventory control and is getting a plan into place to get this resolved. Board discussed potential of setting up a phone call with the auditors to discuss this.

CREA is setting up a fund to help cooperatives that have been impacted by the fire that we can request funds from.

Fiber backbone contract has been executed. Phase II should be faster and cheaper.  Hoping to move forward with this contract as well to prevent de-mobilization.

GM Johnston and Attorney Williams going over Tri-State FERC filings. There are concerns about saddling remaining members with debt burden if the contract termination payments are not applied to the debt.

Discussion/Action Item H: Tri-State Representative for Special Membership Meeting December

Board nominated Director Zieff as Tri-State Representative for Special Meeting

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to approve Director Zieff as representative.         

Executive Session

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded, and carried to go into executive session for confidential discussion regarding personnel matters, Legal matters, power supply and vegetation management. All directors, Manager Rahn, General Manager Johnston and Attorney Fedregill attended the executive session.  It was properly moved, seconded and carried to come out of executive session.

Director Taddonio left the meeting.

Regular Meeting Called back to Order 1:40 P.M.

MOTION: It was properly moved seconded and carried to give Director Hauck ability to speak with General Manager Johnston about continuing his employment with Mountain Parks Electric within the scope of at will and other terms discussed during executive session.

Discussion/Action Item B: 2021 Budget

Dellamano recommended no rate changes or adjustments to rates for 2021.

There are financial implications with the East Troublesome Fire. There will be no revenue from approximately 300-400 meters due to the fire. There were some billing issues for some meters due to equipment damage. Mountain Parks Electric is projecting approximately $6 million in rebuild costs due to materials and payroll. Mountain Parks is working with CREA and the state to receive some FEMA funds, however there is a log of 1-2 years for these funds.

Mountain Park’s attorney fee went up 60% due to items being worked on currently and in the future.

Dellamano discussed the possibility of doing a mid-year review of the budget.

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve the 2021 budget as written.

Discussion/Action Item C: Ratify West Grand Filter Quote

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this grant request as discussed at October’s meeting.

Discussion/Action Item D: Ratify Grand Kids Grant Request

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this grant request as discussed at October’s meeting

Discussion/Action Item E: D-1 Directors Duties and Standards of Conduct

Tabled until December’s board meeting.

Discussion/Action Item F: D-2 Functions and Duties of the Board of Directors

Tabled until December’s board meeting.

Discussion/Action Item G: D-4 Directors Attendance at Meetings

Tabled until December’s board meeting.

Discussion/ Action Item J: DOE Grant

Tabled until December’s board meeting.

Engineering Report

The engineering report as prepared by Manager Scott Simmons was reviewed.  Simmons reported that map wise is getting updated fixing issues because training can be done.

Operations & Safety Report

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

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

Discussion ensued regarding poles affected by the East Troublesome fire and the need for a new wildfire mitigation plan.

Finance Report

Manager Dellamano reported Fraser Franchise fee is being added December 1, 2020. Retirement checks are now able to be scanned by bar code to be recorded as returned. Members affected by East Troublesome Fire are not charged a service availability charge and can be idle up to a year.

Information Technology Report

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

Human Resources and Administration Report

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

Member Relations and Communications Report

The Member Relations and Communications Report as prepared by Manager Taylor was reviewed. Taylor reported that the west grand electric bus graphics were approved and the charger will be installed in the next two weeks.

Manager Taylor attended the Basin Annual Meeting and reported that Basin is planning an early retirement for coal.  They are trying to keep rates low.

Taylor reported a contingency plan for Mountain Parks Electric Annual meeting with a local radio station being able to do a RF modulator to be able to do a drive in meeting.

Bills for Payment

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

Board Open Forum

Tri-State: Director Trick reported Tri-State that the GMC merge to Tri-State was to clean up some issues. Reported that any questions Mountain Parks has Duane Highly can answer and a call can be set up to get answers.

Green Power: Director McIntyre reported that the next meeting will be held in December.

Western United: Director Zieff reported that there is nothing new with Western. Expansion is still happening. Reported that they may reduce costs, which the budget and finance committee will dictate.

Discussion/ Action Item I: Granby Play Days Donation Request

MOTION: It was properly moved, seconded and carried to approve this grant request.

Old Business

No Old Business Reported

New Business

Director Zieff requested details for the December 8th Tri-State Special membership meeting. Johnston reported that he will send these to both Zieff and Fedregill.

Discussion/Action Item A: Tariff Section 204.11

Tabled until December’s Board Meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 3:39 p.m.