MINUTES OF THE JOHNSON CITY POWER BOARD January 30, 2014 PRESENT: Jenny Brock Scott Bowman B. J. King Gearld Sparks Robert Thomas Guy Wilson Kelly Wolfe Jeffrey R. Dykes, Chief Executive Officer Brian Bolling, CPA, Business Development Officer Connie Crouch, Human Resources Administrator Mark Eades, Chief Operations Officer Eric Egan, Technology Resource Officer Brian Ellis, Service Department Administrator Donnie Hall, Safety/Environmental Administrator Brent Kitzmiller, Chief Financial Officer David Spinnato, Purchasing/Physical Plant Administrator Tami H. Worsham, Customer Support Manager J. Matthew Bolton, Herndon, Coleman, Brading and McKee ABSENT: Ralph Martin Rodney Metcalf, Associate Operations Officer Angela Shrewsbury, Energy Services/Marketing Administrator Thomas C. McKee, Attorney Chairman Jenny Brock called the meeting to order, and welcomed Keith Swink, Investigator for the Power Board, who was attending today's meeting. Mr. Swink delivered a short presentation concerning his duties and responsibilities with the company, including investigations involving power theft and meter tampering, rate investigations, inquiries into unsafe or inaccessible meter bases, and follow-up property damage investigations relative to incidents or accidents where power poles are broken or other Power Board property is damaged. Allen Sheets with Nationwide was unable to be present at today's meeting and his report regarding JCPB retirement investments held by his company will be presented at the February, 2014 Board meeting. Upon motion of Mr. Wolfe, seconded by Mr. Wilson, the monthly power distributor's report submitted to the Tennessee Valley Authority for November, 2013 was approved. The motion carried unanimously. Year-to-date income was $1,473,721.59
less than last year's year-to-date figure, and year-to-date actual net income was $980,468.59 less than the budgeted figure. The general fund balance at the end of November stands at $17,049,193.55. The reserve fund balance stands at $7,672,789.21, the special reserve fund balance stands at $1,946,894.27, the 2007A bond and interest sinking fund balance stands at $1,281,247.73, the tax equivalent fund balance stands at $1,898,513.47, the underground/economic development fund balance stands at $1,273,971.21, the 2008 bond and interest sinking fund balance stands at $594,223.48, the 2007 bond debt service fund balance stands at $2,647,472.72, and the renewal and replacement fund balance stands at $5,053,686.46. The Power Board served 75,587 customers in November. Upon motion of Mr. Wolfe, seconded by Mr. Wilson, the monthly power distributor's report submitted to the Tennessee Valley Authority for December, 2013 was approved. The motion carried unanimously. Year-to-date income was $1,710,423.57 less than last year's year-to-date figure, and year-to-date actual net income was $1,498,392.13 less than the budgeted figure. The general fund balance at the end of December stands at $16,870,675.23. The reserve fund balance stands at $7,674,996.45, the special reserve fund balance stands at $1,947,454.34, the 2007A bond and interest sinking fund balance stands at $1,532,683.69, the tax equivalent fund balance stands at $2,289,793.09, the underground/economic development fund balance stands at $1,286,841.05, the 2008 bond and interest sinking fund balance stands at $758,608.30, the 2007 bond debt service fund balance stands at $2,648,234.32, and the renewal and replacement fund balance stands at $5,055,140.26. The Power Board served 76,166 customers in December. Upon motion of Mr. Wolfe, seconded by Mr. Bowman, the Board approved the following items on the Consent Agenda: (a) The minutes of the December 12, 2013 Board meeting; (b) The purchase of 1,000 Itron C1S Form 2S single-phase meters at a cost of $26,250.00; the purchase of 1,000 Tantulus TC - 1216 AMI modules for said meters at a cost of $78,000.00; the purchase of 400 Itron Form 2S single-phase meters with remote disconnect modules at a cost of $38,800.00, and the purchase of 600 Itron Form 12S single-phase meters with remote disconnect modules at a cost of $93,150.00; and (c) The low bid of Survalent Technology in the base amount of $88,000.00 for a Dual Redundant Windows Master SCADA system to better enable communication between the OMS system and the AMI system and to allow for better analysis of that information. The items in Paragraphs (b) and (c) are budgeted items. The motion carried unanimously. Scott Bowman delivered the report of the Human Resources Committee, which met just prior to today's Board meeting to consider changes to Policy HR-103: Employee Classifications to increase annual allowable hours from 1,000 to 1,500 for part-
time employees, and changes to the Employee Handbook concerning vacation leave relative to newly hired employees, wherein all full-time employees hired during the previous year will be eligible for two weeks' vacation as of January 1 of the new year. It was the Committee's recommendation to the Board to accept the changes as submitted with the addition of some language to be drafted and added to the vacation leave policy granting the CEO discretion to exercise latitude in negotiating vacation time during salary and benefit negotiations with prospective management- or officer-level hires, or in attempting to recruit specialized employment positions for the company. Upon motion of Mr. Bowman, seconded by Mr. Wolfe, the Board approved the suggested changes. The motion carried unanimously. Upon motion of Mr. Wolfe, seconded by Mr. Sparks, the Board approved the following Resolutions: (a) JOHNSON CITY POWER BOARD RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOAN WHEREAS, the Johnson City Power Board has been actively involved in economic development in order to improve the economic well-being of its customers, as well as that of the communities of Sullivan and Washington County areas as a whole; and WHEREAS, Goessling USA, Inc. has proposed constructing a 12,500-square-foot building on a 6.38-acre lot for the manufacturing of conveyor-type systems located within Sullivan County at 748 Mountain View Drive, Piney Flats, Tennessee, 37686; and WHEREAS, the total project is estimated to be $950,000.00 and Goessling USA, Inc. is in need of an additional $760,000.00 to fund the project; and WHEREAS, the USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service has available an economic development program of financial assistance to intermediaries in the form of zero-interest loans to assist in business and community development; and WHEREAS, the project is in compliance with 7 CFR 4280, subpart B, and specifically, the project is for eligible purposes and is not restricted (7 CFR 4280.27 and 7 CFR 3280.3); and resolves to carry out the proposed project with Goessling USA, Inc. according to 7 CFR 4280; and has endorsed the proposed rural economic development project as described in the application and 4280.29 Supplemental Financing Required for the Ultimate Recipient project; and agrees to the provisions of the Regulation 4280-A and the 4280-5 Loan Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Directors of the Johnson City Power Board authorizes its CEO to submit an application of $760,000.00 for a Rural Economic Development Loan; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Directors authorizes its CEO to compile, complete, and execute the information and forms necessary to support this application. Furthermore, the Board of Directors authorizes the CEO and his support staff to requisition the zero-interest loan funds. (b) JOHNSON CITY POWER BOARD RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LOAN WHEREAS, the Johnson City Power Board has been actively involved in economic development in order to improve the economic well-being of its customers, as well as that of the communities of Sullivan and Washington County areas as a whole; and WHEREAS, Diversified Power International, LLC, a manufacturer of battery chargers, voltage converters, and solar products, has proposed an addition to their existing building of 20,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 9,275 square feet of office space located within Sullivan County at 414 Century Court, Piney Flats, Tennessee, 38786. Diversified Power International, LLC will purchase additional manufacturing equipment, office equipment, electronics, and cafeteria furnishings, as well as relocation costs; and WHEREAS, the total project is estimated to be $1,800,000.00 and Diversified Power International, LLC is in need of an additional $1,440,000.00 to fund the project; and WHEREAS, the USDA Rural Business Cooperative Service has available an economic development program of financial assistance to intermediaries in the form of zero-interest loans to assist in business and community development; and WHEREAS, the project is in compliance with 7 CFR 4280, subpart B, and specifically, the project is for eligible purposes and is not restricted (7 CFR 4280.27 and 7 CFR 3280.3); and resolves to carry out the proposed project with Goessling USA, Inc. according to 7 CFR 4280; and has endorsed the proposed rural economic development project as described in the application and 4280.29 Supplemental Financing Required for the Ultimate Recipient project; and agrees to the provisions of the Regulation 4280-A and the 4280-5 Loan Agreement;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Board of Directors of the Johnson City Power Board authorizes its CEO to submit an application of $1,440,000.00 for a Rural Economic Development Loan; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Directors authorizes its CEO to compile, complete, and execute the information and forms necessary to support this application. Furthermore, the Board of Directors authorizes the CEO and his support staff to requisition the zero-interest loan funds. The motion carried unanimously by roll call vote. Mr. Wolfe and Dr. King suggested that Mr. Dykes and his staff provide the Board with a white paper concerning the possible benefits and limitations of continued long-term participation in the USDA Rural Economic Development loan program and to develop proposed basic policies and procedures relating to such issues as default by the entity in making loan payments to the Power Board for repayment to the USDA, and criteria for selection of participating entities. CEO Jeff Dykes recognized J. T. McSpadden for his work with the Marketing Department upon his leaving the Power Board to accept a position with another local company. He also commended Power Board crews who labored in sub-zero temperatures in today's early morning hours to restore power, and emphasized the importance of tree-trimming in view of the fact that, in one instance, 2,100 customers lost power due to small limbs from trees falling across power lines. Upon motion of Mr. Wolfe, seconded by Mr. Thomas, the Board voted to change the February meeting of the Board of Directors from Tuesday, February 25th, to Monday, February 24th at 4:15 PM, because of the Tennessee Municipal Electric Power Association Legislative Rally in Nashville scheduled on the 25th. Matt Bolton reported that a lawsuit had been filed naming the Power Board as a defendant regarding a broken pole incident. Tom McKee will provide a comprehensive report regarding this case at the February Board meeting. Chairman Brock announced that the Board would be meeting in a Strategic Planning Session on Tuesday, February 18th, beginning at 4:00 PM in the Auditorium of the JCPB Boones Creek Road facility. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.