CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Steve AmRhein called the regular meeting of the Decatur County REMC Board of Directors to order at 5:30 p.m. Steve Nobbe recorded the minutes. All board members were present except Brian Scheidler, who attended virtually. Also present were CEO Brett Abplanalp and employee Matt Raver.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Suzanne Parmer moved to approve the agenda as presented. Dale Wernke seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.
2024 FINANCIAL AUDIT
Earl Ridlen of London Witte Group (LWG) presented the results of the 2024 audit, which received a clean opinion with no required journal entries. Following discussion in executive session, Carl Riedeman moved to accept the 2024 financial audit results. Parmer seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
SAFETY MOMENT AND COOL MOMENT
CEO Brett Abplanalp kicked off the meeting with a safety moment, highlighting National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 21-25). For the cool moment, he shared a comment from Mary Bennett, who expressed how much she enjoyed the Stones Restaurant feature in last months magazine.
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
Wernke moved to approve the minutes of the Feb. 26, 2025, regular board meeting. Parmer seconded the motion, which was approved unanimously.
CEO UPDATE
Abplanalp provided updates to several of the 2025 strategic projects and also presented company metrics, which included the following:
The median temperature for February was 4% cooler than the five-year average
Wholesale purchased energy was down 0.7%, and demand rose by 0.5% compared to the five- year average
Year-to-date energy sales were 6% above budget
No major storms occurred in February.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Raver presented the financial update for February, noting the following:
The net utility plant increased by $196,036 compared to the previous month
Year-to-date revenues were $354,167 above budget
Power costs are over by $343,195, resulting in a gross margin over budget of $10,972 YTD.
Controllable expenses were under budget by $77,870
The ending cash balance for the month was $1,198,687.
BUDGET APPROVAL
Abplanalp presented a request from the Annual Meeting Committee to provide three $1,000 scholarships for seniors during the Annual Meeting. We would utilize the funds to decrease the uncollected capital credits, thereby reducing the donated capital line on our balance sheet. The board discussed, but requested the criteria prior to approval.
UPDATES TO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS
Abplanalp presented proposed revisions to the Rules and Regulations to clarify two specific areas. The first change adjusts the member credit for aged facilities from using the average cost of like- for-like facilities to 25% of the total project cost. The second change provides a credit for members requesting a service upgrade, aligning with IURC guidelines of 2.5 times the annual revenue credit.
Wernke moved to approve the redlined changes to the Rules and Regulations. Riedeman seconded the motion, and it was approved unanimously.
MEMBER COMPLAINT
A second member complaint was received regarding the same issue the New Point Substation. After a discussion, the board determined that this matter falls under Operations and requested Abplanalp to respond on their behalf.
Nobbe made the motion, which was seconded by Jason Barnhorst, and was approved unanimously.
ADJOURNMENT
Parmer moved to adjourn the meeting into an executive session. Riedeman seconded the motion. The motion was approved unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m., and the board proceeded into executive session.
