2024 Annual Meeting Minutes & Financial Report

Little River Electric Cooperative, Inc. held its 2024 membership meeting on September 14, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. by real-time virtual meeting streamed on its Facebook page.

Chad Stone, Interim General Manager, gave a brief introduction to the meeting. Mr. Stone then called Travis Burriss, Chairman of the Little River Board of Trustees, to speak.

Mr. Burriss called the 84th Annual Meeting of Little River to order. Bobby Hamby, Meter Technician, gave the invocation. The National Anthem was shown followed by the Pledge of Allegiance given by local students.

Mr. Burriss called for a motion to approve minutes from the 2023 Annual Meeting. There were no proposed changes, and the motion carried.

Mr. Burriss thanked the eighth Trust Board members overseeing the disbursement of “Operation Roundup.” These members are Jean Smith, Karen McMullan, Linda Kidd, Ruthie Edmunds, James Bach, Janice Hawthorne, Marissa Busbee and John Calhoun.

Mr. Burriss also thanked all members that participated in rounding up their bill to the next dollar. This money goes to help members that need help regarding emergencies. In the last year, the Cooperative had $40,000.00 contributed to these funds and was able to assist 42 members and organizations throughout the community. He further thanked those that donated money at the voting sites for the annual food drive.

Mr. Burriss recognized and thanked the Credential and Election Committee members who worked with general counsel in this year’s elections. These members are Ann Simpson, David Burdette, James Bowen, Jr., Chuck Nash and Ellen Schumpert.

Mr. Burriss thanked and recognized the Cooperative’s current Board of Trustees for their commitment and service to the Cooperative. These members are: Terry Ricketts, Vice President, District Five; Patsy Wilson, Secretary-Treasurer, District Six; Wayne Erwin, District Seven; Mike Johnson, District Three; Robert Parker, District Two; and Mike Price, District Four. Mr. Burriss honored former Board Member, Wayne Gary, who passed away in January, Mr. Gary had served since 2006. Mr. Burriss recognized Jeff Lewis, former General Manager, for his three years with the Cooperative. He then turned the meeting over to Mr. Stone.

Chad Stone, Interim General Manager, thanked the Trustees, employees and the members of the Cooperative. He spoke on statistics of the Cooperative: that we have 2200 miles of line serving almost 15,000 meters, and the Cooperative has a staff of 31 employees. He then spoke of the challenges of the Cooperative, namely the ever-changing energy landscape, transitioning to a new general manager, and the cost increase of all sustainable goods. The Cooperative has continued to operate efficiently, returning value to all members. This year, Little River will return over $300,000 in capital credits in the form of bill credits and checks to those who received electricity in 1999 and 2023. Little River’s system grew 6.4 percent during calendar year 2022, with 671 meters added to the system. This was a 14.2 percent increase over the past two years.

Mr. Stone then shared some of the accomplishments and milestones Little River achieved during the last year. He spoke on safety being our number one priority. The Cooperative tracked no lost time due to accidents. At last year’s meeting, we reported an all-time record of 1,355 days (over three and a half years). We are now, just over 1,700 days without a lost time accident. He then spoke on the right-of-way maintenance program. It is now on a five-year rotation. The Cooperative’s pole inspection is now on a nine-year cycle. We recently replaced 91 poles in the Abbeville, McCormick, Plum Branch and Savannah Lakes substation areas.

Mr. Stone concluded by stating that the Cooperative’s focus remains on innovation, sustainability and community. He further extended his gratitude to the members of the Cooperative. Mr. Stone then turned the meeting over to John Andrew Bishop, general counsel for the Cooperative.

Mr. Bishop informed the Cooperative that proper notification was submitted to all members in advance of this meeting as required by the Cooperative’s bylaws and the South Carolina Code. A notice was also posted on the website. He further informed the Cooperative that it has met its member quorum of at least 5% of all registered members voting and participating in the annual meeting. He then discussed the meeting of the Credential and Election Committee which occurred at his office on June 28th. This year, the Cooperative has two districts up for re-election. District Seven: with two candidates, Wayne Erwin, the incumbent, who has met all qualifications to run for reelection, and an additional candidate, Zaneta Miller, who has met all qualifications to run for this seat. District Two: the incumbent, Robert Parker, did not run for -re-election this year. There are two candidates for this seat: Mary Beth Parker, who has met all requirements to run, and Sandra Campbell, who has also met all requirements to run for this seat. Mr. Bishop then turned the meeting back over to Board President Travis Burriss.

There was no unfinished business or new business. Mr. Burriss, upon motion and second, adjourned the meeting.

PATSY W. WILSON
Secretary-Treasurer