BrightRidge

The board reviewed the annual safety report, including statistics on man-hours worked, injuries, fleet vehicle accidents, and safety training. Financial reports for the energy and broadband divisions were presented, detailing usage, revenue, income growth, and fund balances. The board approved the broadband division's purchase of fiber for the BEAD project and authorized a transfer of funds for the purchase of new AED devices. Additionally, the board approved an interdivisional loan agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority and issued a retirement resolution for a long-serving employee. Key operational updates included a report on field engineering and customer growth trends, information regarding upcoming event hosting opportunities, and notifications about the closure of significant load customers and local business expansion efforts.

The board discussed several items, including the postponement of the Annual Safety Report presentation. An update was provided on the progress of the Gray Solar Farm projects, including construction timelines and manufacturing details. Consent agenda items included the approval of equipment purchases for meters, AMI modules, and a bucket truck. The board also approved adjustments to the fiscal year capital budget to reflect project efficiencies and prioritize certain engineering initiatives. Furthermore, the board reviewed takeaways from a recent legislative session, discussed upcoming legislation concerning power utilities, and received a report on the successful deployment of crews to assist with power restoration in Nashville following winter weather events.

The meeting included a presentation on the Rotating Load Shed (RLS) Program designed to assist with potential load shed requests from the TVA, which included a demonstration of the program in test mode and the presentation of new website pages for customer information during outages. Key financial approvals were passed, including the monthly power distributor's reports for November and December 2025, which showed year-to-date income exceeding the previous year and budget, and the financial statements for the Broadband Division for the same period. A significant purchase of fiber and galvanized strand for the Broadband Division was approved. The board also received an introduction to the new Programmer Analyst position and an update on that employee's contributions, such as implementing GIT-based version control and developing automation scripts. Updates were provided regarding the CEO's follow-up actions on public comments concerning broadband investment and sitework, the status of power outages following winter weather events, and a reminder about upcoming board meetings.

The meeting commenced with the welcoming of a new board member. Several items were approved under the Consent Agenda, including the minutes from the November 25, 2025 meeting, the purchase of Callout Software for $160,235.00, and engaging Thomas Weems Architects for $136,400.00 to initiate expansion planning for the Boones Creek campus. The Board accepted the 2025 Audit presentation by BCS. The Board also accepted the 2025 Performance Evaluation and compensation package for the Chief Executive Officer. Formal retirement resolutions were unanimously approved and commended for Dallas Penley, Scotty Miller, and Lisa Adams. Operational updates included a report on the implementation of the AiDASH software for vegetation management and an update on the fiber bid status, with documents to be sent for review before the next meeting.

The meeting included a review of the monthly power distributor's report submitted to the Tennessee Valley Authority and the monthly financial statement for the Broadband Division. The board approved the purchase of bucket trucks, a Right-of-Way Clearance bid contract, and pad-mounted transformers. A retirement resolution was approved for Mark Sifford. An update was provided on the Quality Assurance and Training Programs within the Customer Service Department, including coaching systems and gamification strategies. Upcoming events were discussed, including the December Board of Director's meeting, Board training, and holiday events.