The meeting was opened by Chairman Steve AmRhein and Brian Scheidler kept the minutes of the meeting.

All board members were present. Also present: CEO Brett Abplanalp and employees Matt Raver, Jennie Meyer and Rachel Sullivan.

Upon motion made by Dale Wernke, seconded by Jeff Lawrence, and carried, the agenda was approved. 

Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes

Jason Barnhorst made the motion to approve the minutes form the Oct. 28, 2021, board meeting. Jeff Lawrence seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Annual Meeting Recommendations 

Rachel Sullivan gave a presentation on recommendations for the 2022 annual meeting.

Utilize Survey and Ballots Systems for election services including online, SmartHub, mail in and onsite voting with SBS representative onsite to tabulate votes consistent with SBS process the day prior to drive through event

Drive through event at Greensburg Elementary School

$10 bill credit for attending drive through event

Chick-fil-A bag meals

Onsite meeting (GES parking lot) and livestream options the day of drive through

There was discussion if Survey and Ballots System could have the onsite voting at the site of the drive through on the date of the drive through event. Staff will investigate the logistics and determine feasibility.    

Jason Barnhorst made the motion to pass the resolution of having the annual meeting on June 17, 2022. Dale Wernke seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

CEO Update

Brett Abplanalp reviewed the CEO report as posted on CTO.

Priority has been drafting a 2022 budget for board approval. Strategic planning is scheduled with management and board on Dec 15-16.

ROW and CWP projects have been a challenge over the past couple of months. ROW contractors have experienced turnover with unemployment being low and the CWP contractors have run into lead time issues with materials.

October median temperature was 8.2% over our five-year average with cooling degree days 47% over and heating degree days 38% below our five-year averages.

Our Hoosier Energy purchased energy was 5% under our five-year average with demand 4.5% lower than our five-year average. Year-to-date energy sales went from 1.52% under budget to 1.75% under.

There were no major storms for the month of October. Lost consumer hours were 58% below our five-year average. The number of outages was 46 compared to our five-year average of 37. Outage causes for the          month were “vehicles or machinery,” then “trees not in ROW.”

Our 30-, 60- and 90-day past due AR continue to be well under our five-year averages.

We have generated 13 near misses or safety suggestions and implemented 10 corrective actions year to date.

Financial Update

Matt Raver reviewed the financials as presented on CTO.

Revenues are under YTD budget by -5.6% but power costs are also under by -7.9%, resulting in a gross margin above budget of 0.9% YTD. Our kWh sales are 1.75% behind budget. Controllable expenses are under budget -12.9%. Our operating margins are $715,562 ahead of budget.

Hoosier Energy Capital Credits Resolution 

Jason Barnhorst gave the Hoosier Energy report. DCREMC will receive capital credits from Hoosier Energy in the amount of $668,472.

Jeff Lawrence made the motion to return the credits to the members for the years of 2019 ($321,959) and the remainder of 1993 ($346,512). Jason Barnhorst seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Policy Review

Policy 1-1: Policy Manual

Suzanne Parmer made the motion to approve the redlines as presented with the addition of changing the requirement to distribute hard copies of the policies to having them accessible to the board of directors. Clay Nuhring seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Policy 1-4: Operational Policy

Suzanne Parmer made the motion to approve the redlines as presented. Jeff Lawrence seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Policy 2-8: Members Access to Corporate Records

The change was to include having the request form part of the policy.

Jason Barnhorst made the motion to approve the redlines as presented. Clay Nuhring seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

Upon motion made by Jason Barnhorst, seconded by Suzanne Parmer, and carried, the meeting was adjourned to executive session at 8:27 p.m.