Intercounty Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting – which features a health screening, an election of board members, registration prizes and a free lunch – was held Friday at the Licking City Park.
The 72nd annual meeting of the Licking-based cooperative began at 10 a.m.
Three directors will be elected to serve three-year terms. Recommended by a nominating committee are incumbents Dennis S. Baird, Salem, Northern District; Tom Fleener, secondary/treasurer, Salem, Central District; and Ted Sheppard, Cabool, South District.
This year’s entertainment was Ernie Crouch and Revival.
Intercounty and Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston sponsored free blood pressure, bone density and fat analysis. Breakfast was provided by the Green Forest 4-H Club to accommodate those fasting.
A craft show and business vendor displays, as well as a “Kids Tent” with a coloring contest and registration for a bicycle, were available as well.
Reports: Board President Hal Dandridge said 2007 brought success for the cooperative. Capital credits totaling $1.7 million were returned to members. A hot August and cold January allowed the cooperative to give a credit of about $40 on December bills.
That should about offset a power increase for nine months of this year, said Dandridge, who is stepping down from the presidency this year. Wholesaler Associated Electric is projecting a modest increase in 2009.
Dwayne Cartwright, general manager, highlighted several improvements studied for members: A prepay program for customers, a new 800 number to report outages and the possibility of receiving text messages on outages. A drive-up window and office expansion are planned at Licking.
He said a telephone notification system has been approved that can be used during outages or provide notices of payments not received before disconnection.