Morgan County REA

The order of business for the meeting included the call to order, signing the record of attendance, review of canceled memberships, member input, and staff reports from Human Resources, Engineering, Operations, Member Services, and Office Services. Financial discussions involved the Financial Report and Treasurer's Report, followed by a break. Further reports included the Manager's Report and the President's Report. Updates were scheduled from the Tri-State G&T Board, Western United Board, and CREA Board. The agenda concluded with a Calendar of Events review, discussion of emergency business, old business, new business, and adjournment.

The 88th Annual Meeting included recognition of scholarship recipients and Youth Camp/Tour delegates. Key business items covered the certification of meeting notice and quorum verification, which confirmed 159 registered members were present. The minutes of the 2024 Annual Meeting were waived and approved. Candidates for Director positions in Districts 1, 2, and 3 were nominated, and a unanimous ballot was cast for the election of Jim Bostron, Kyle Eiring, and Larry Hoozee, respectively. The Financial Report detailed the year-end position for 2024, noting the association was in sound financial condition. The President's Report highlighted the largest patronage capital retirement in the Association's history, involving $4.75 million for members from 2004, 2018, and 2019. The Manager's Report noted new employee welcomes and affirmed the commitment to community support through scholarships and safety demonstrations. Prize drawings were conducted, and the meeting concluded after adjourning.

The Board meeting addressed several items, including the approval of applications for membership numbered 28027 through 28046, and a review of members who had withdrawn from the cooperative. Key operational reports included updates on safety and health, personnel matters, and scheduling adjustments for the 2026 regular meetings. The Engineering report noted the upcoming implementation of a new SCADA system in 2026 and updates on member battery usage incentives. Operations reported on recent work and successful certification through the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program. Communications noted that nominating petitions for the 2025 Director elections would soon be available. Financial reports were reviewed and ordered filed. A key decision was the adoption of the proposed transmission rate after confirmation that no comments were received following publication. The Board also decided against having new Director photographs taken, and appointed Mr. Linker as the delegate and Mr. Tormohlen as the alternate delegate for the CREA annual meeting.

The board reviewed and acted upon several key operational and financial matters, including the approval of membership applications and the acceptance of a cost-of-service study. Discussions covered member input on demand charges and service restoration, as well as updates on safety, health, and personnel matters. Staff reports detailed engineering projects, system improvements, operations risk mitigation, and member services activities, including scholarship updates and annual report preparations. Additionally, the board approved work management services, held an executive session for confidential matters, and received reports from affiliate organizations, including Tri-State Generation and Transmission and the Colorado Rural Electric Association.

Key discussions during the meeting included the review and approval of membership applications (numbers 28047 through 28075) and a review of cancelled memberships. The Board addressed member input concerning security deposits for new accounts. Staff reports covered safety and health updates (noting no injuries), personnel matters, engineering updates including large loads in development and the Tri-State Battery Energy Storage System program, and operations reports detailing construction, service retirements, and system impact from high winds. The Communications report focused on the 2026 Annual Meeting, director elections, and the establishment of a per diem for the Credential and Election Committee. The Board approved a $2,000 stage sponsorship for the 2026 BobStock Music Festival. Office Services provided an update on the cost of service study, and financial reports were reviewed and ordered filed. The General Manager presented proposed revisions to multiple policies, which the Board subsequently adopted, including policies related to director elections, whistleblower protection, equal employment opportunity, and various employee benefit/conduct policies. Policy 6-5 and Policy 9-18 were reaffirmed without revision. Discussions also took place regarding the NRECA Annual Meeting, Western United financials, Tri-State G&T happenings, and the process for reissuing capital credit retirement checks.