Little River Electric Cooperative, Inc. held its 2021 membership meeting at 12:30 p.m. on September 25, 2021, by real-time virtual meeting streamed on their website and Facebook page.
The business session was called to order by W.F. (Bill) Davis Sr., President of the board. The invocation was given by Eric Gray, Little River employee.
Anne Marie Hempy, Board Attorney, read the official notice of the day’s meeting. She noted that the notice and minutes of the 2020 minutes were published in the August and September edition of South Carolina Living. Confirmed registration had exceeded quorum, 552 with 1321 members registered.
Mr. Davis welcomed members, virtually, to the cooperative’s 81st meeting. Spoke of safety from Covid to everyday operations of the cooperative. Mentioning the staff has 631 days with no lost time accidents. Assured members the LREC is good financial standings. He thanked members for participating in Operation Round Up. In the past year, OPR has received over $40,000 and was able to assist over 40 families and 28 organizations. Also thanked members for the monetary and canned good donations during registration. Davis recognized Trust Board members and LREC Trustees.
Michael Ellis, General Manager, also thanked Trustees, Trust board members, and staff. Ellis reviewed goals he set for himself and the cooperative when he took the management position in 2017. Getting the co-op in good financial standings and continuing to purchase reliable and affordable power. Getting right of way clearing down from a nine-year to a five-year plan and up-to-date pole and substation inspections. All to help reduce the number of outages over the entire system. He stated LREC was able to pay out $300,000 capital credits this year as opposed to $200,000 in previous years.
Ellis reflected over his past 47 years with the cooperative. He talked of the many jobs he had performed during this time and thanked F.W. Brown for giving him the opportunity. At this time, he announced his retirement at the end of the year then introduced the new General Manager, Jeff Lewis.
Mr. Lewis thanked the board for the opportunity to serve the members of Little River. Lewis said he will continue to focus on the cooperative’s core values.
Mr. Davis presented Mr. Ellis with an award for his many years of service.
Prizes were drawn.
Attorney Hempy announced the results election: R.N. (Robert) Parker incumbent, unopposed District 2, Wayne Erwin incumbent, unopposed District 7, and re-elected Wayne Gary District 9.
There was no unfinished business presented and no new business. There being no further business meeting was adjourned.
