Jodene Decker

The January Board Meeting agenda covered several key areas. Old Business included a Member Issue discussion. New Business items featured consideration of donations to several local organizations (On-Hand Development Corporation, Hitchcock-Tulare Post Prom, Huron Post Prom, and Huron Public Library Summer Reading Program), review of several policies (032 regarding Retirement of Capital Credits, 057 concerning Member Owned Small Renewable Energy Rate and Interconnection Requirements, and 301 regarding Method of Handling Personnel Problems), and approval of Revenue Deferral Resolutions (26-01 and 26-02). The agenda also included Strategic Planning and a Wiring Department Presentation. Reports included updates from the Board on East River and SDREA meetings, legislative matters (House Bills 1005 and 5001, Senate Bills 36 and 75), and internal reports from the CEO/General Manager, Manager of Finance and Administration, Manager of Operations, Manager of Member Services, and Manager of Human Resources & Communications. Informational items included updates on the Mid-West Electric Annual Meeting and MTI Industry of the Year Award.

The Board of Directors convened to discuss various operational and financial matters. Key topics included a review of the year-to-date financial report, monthly energy sales and revenue, and updates from Basin Electric, East River, and SDREA. Reports were presented on office services, including financial reports and insurance renewals; operations, covering construction, maintenance, and outage activities; member services, focusing on wiring department workload and load control savings; human resources and communications, highlighting scholarships and upcoming events; and information technology, addressing computer and SCADA pilot programs. The board approved the purchase of a truck, donations to the SD State Fair and local fire department, the 2024 audit report, the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, and several policies.

The Board of Directors convened to discuss several key areas, including a review of the year-to-date financial report, which covered total revenue, cost of power, operating expenses, and total margins. The Manager's Report addressed monthly energy sales and revenue, updates from Basin Electric, dispatch services, and involvement with the Greater Huron Development Corporation and the South Dakota Rural Electric Association State Fair Booth. The Office Services Report included financial reports, Form 990, East River sales forecast meeting, CoBank line of credit renewal, an AT&T meeting, progress on the 2026 Capital and construction budget, and a key ratio trend analysis. The Operations Report focused on construction, maintenance, and retirement activities, pole changes, pole testers, SCADA installations, and service rebuilds. The Member Services Report covered the wiring department workload, potential hazards, load control savings, and National Night Out. The Human Resources/Communications Report discussed a membership survey, job postings, first responders training, and community events. The Information Technology Report included security news and updates on Verizon Grid-wide becoming CriscoNet (USA), as well as website/cybersecurity measures. Board action included electing new officers, appointing standing board committees, approving the move of the September board meeting, accepting reports, approving 2025 Annual Meeting minutes and survey, and appointing delegates for Cooperative Financial Corporation and Federation Region 6 meetings. Additionally, a revision to Policy No 21 regarding attendance of directors at meetings was approved.

The Board of Directors convened to discuss several key areas including a review of the year-to-date financial report, monthly energy sales, Basin Electric updates, CRC Dispatch, SDREA State Fair Day, Greater Huron Development Corporation, Medicine Creek substation, Basin Electric rate increase talking points, the annual meeting, and a strategic plan update. The Office Services report covered financial reports, budget billing true-up, a Sunshine Bible Academy project update, key ratio trend analysis, and capital credit retirement options. The Operations report included construction work plans, maintenance activities, cable installations, pole changes, service rebuilds, substation reactors, reclosure power boards and an outage report. Member Services discussed wiring department workload, potential hazards, load control savings and youth presentations. The Human Resources/Communications report highlighted Farmer's Union Day camp and job descriptions. The Information Technology report covered security news and website/cybersecurity.

The meeting agenda included old business regarding the 2026 General Budget, and new business covering donations to organizations such as Huron Middle School Tiger Talk and the HRMC Foundation. Discussions also involved the SDREA Annual Meeting 2026, including agenda items, delegate selection, director nomination, committee articles, resolutions, and the 2025 minutes. The board addressed 2026 meeting dates, the cost of a rate study presentation, and the restatement of executive compensation. Several policy statements were reviewed, covering controlled central air conditioning, electric rules and regulations, rented security lights, line and service extensions, conditions of electric service, relocation of facilities, and right-of-way acquisition. Reports were presented from various board members and managers, covering financials, connects and disconnects, capital credit requests, outage reports, load management programs, and human resources. An executive session was held, followed by informational items including NRECA Board updates and thank you notes. The meeting concluded with a list of upcoming meetings.