The Intercounty Electric Cooperative Association sent out a reminder to members to vote at the annual meeting of the members Friday, June 28 at the Old City Park in Licking. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. and close at 11 a.m.
Bring the registration portion, the back cover of the Rural Missouri magazine, to pick up your registration gift and be entered into the electric credit drawings. Electric credit drawings will be held throughout the day. Members voting by mail and members registering in person will be entered in the electric credit drawings. Members do not have to be present to win.
Other activities to participate in include:
• Health Fair Texas County Memorial Hospital is providing a multi-chem profile for $30. Phelps Health-Educational Services, Tri-County Center for Independent Living, VFW Veteran’s Benefits, Texas County Health Department, Licking Residential Care Center, and other health related vendors will have booths to visit.
• Breakfast will be available for purchase, sponsored by the Raymondville Volunteer Rural Fire Department.
• A large craft and business fair will be provided for shopping.
• A coloring contest will be held for children eight and under to win a buddy bear. Kids can also get their picture taken in a lineman’s bucket.
The business meeting will begin at 9 a.m. with Invocation by Pastor Rob Lilly of First Baptist Church, Licking. Dixie Union will perform the National Anthem followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The mayor of Licking, Keith Cantrell, will welcome attendees. IECA’s board president, secretary/treasurer, and CEO will provide updates.
A brown bag lunch will be served to all members and their guests at approximately 11 a.m.
Entertainment this year will be provided by Dixie Union, who will perform for members and their guests from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Dixie Union is an award-winning blue-grass band that provides a unique blend of traditional and innovative bluegrass and gospel, with sojourns into blues, ballads, country, Irish, western, boogie, and even an occasional polka.
Members of IECA will conduct business at 9 a.m. including a roll call, reading of meeting notice, approval of previous meeting minutes, presentation of reports of officers, trustees, and committees, election of directors, unfinished business, and new business.
Meanwhile, during the meeting held Wednesday, April 10, the nominating committee of IECA met at the Cooperative’s headquarters in Licking.
The committee officially organized by electing Tom Wulff as chairperson and Carla Clayton as secretary of the committee. A consensus was reached to interview board candidates who submitted applications to the nominating committee. There were four candidates in all who submitted applications for the committee’s consideration for the three director districts having board seats up for election this year.
The committee completed interviews of all selected candidates to completion. Thereafter, the committee met in executive session to discuss the candidates, their submitted materials and respective interviews, along with information obtained from all sources.
After due consideration, the committee made the following 2024 board of director nominations, in order of preference, for cooperative member consideration, subject to each candidate’s continuing qualification to serve as board of director member based on the cooperative’s bylaws and applicable policies. One director from each district will be elected by the members of the cooperative at this year’s annual meeting: Samual S. Auxier, North District; Brian L. Tharp, North District; Michael H. Smith, Central District; and Doyle E. Bradford, South District.
Meet your board candidates
Samuel S. Auxier, north district, incumbent
Auxier has been a member of IECA for 32 years. He’s a St. James High School graduate. Out of high school, he attended Carpenter’s Apprenticeship School and began working as a Journeyman Carpenter in 1990 for several general contractors until 1992.
He worked for the family business, Auxier Drywall, as a project manager and estimator. In 2003, him and his wife began their own company, Alexander Construction, and continue to develop the growing company.
Brian L. Tharp, candidate
Tharp has been a member of IECA for over two years. He is a Washington High/Excelsior Springs School Graduate. He received his undergrad degree at Central MO State University; Master’s Degree from Washington University; and Doctoral Studies in Public Policy & Administration at Jackson State University.
His work history includes Adjunct Professor at Mississippi College and work for the State of MS Department of Health. The experience helped him achieve his dream of becoming a hospital CEO. His work also includes real estate investments, construction, and business ventures.
Michael H. Smith, incumbent
Smith has been a member of IECA for 40 years. He is a Licking High School graduate, and a University of Missouri-Rolla graduate. He has been self-employed for 35 years: farmer, mechanic, dump truck and backhoe business.
Doyle E. Bradford, incumbent
Bradford has been a member of IECA for 49 years. He is a Summersville High School Graduate. He attended trade school for a while to learn auto body work. He also has his funeral director license.
He and his wife owned and operated Bradford Funeral Home until his retirement. He is now a full time stock cattle producer on the family farm.
2024 Secretary/Treasurer’s report
Tom Fleener, secretary/treasurer, reported in his 2023 financial report that the cooperative continues to be in sound financial condition and maintains growth as in the past.
For total income/gains, there was a report of $66,795,298. For total expenses, there was a report of $60,519,954. The net amount owned by members was reported to be $92,301,238.
Within the expense allocation, cost of power was reported to be 53%; operations and maintenance as 24%; depreciation as 9%; administrative and general as 6%; member accounts and services as 4%; interest as 3%; and taxes as 1%.
In the letter from the board president, Mathew A. Duncan, he invited members to attend the IECA’s 88th annual membership meeting. The meeting serves to share the past year’s financial and business reports, as well as a chance to keep members informed of updates and developments at IECA, said Duncan.
“While prices and inflation continue to rise and an increase in our wholesale rates required an increase to our rates this year, long term planning with our generation and transmission partners continue to allow IECA to offer affordable, safe electricity while maintaining reliability,” reported Duncan in his letter. “Providing safe, reliable electricity that is affordable to each member is the core mission of IECA. Any time our rates have to be increased, it’s never an easy decision.”
Duncan encouraged all members to remember that the cooperative is theirs—and encouraged them to vote, whether at the meeting or by mail.
Meanwhile, in the letter from the CEO, Doug Lane, he also encouraged members to attend the meeting to participate in the democratic process of electing their local members to serve on the intercounty board of directors.
“This process ensures we continue the legacy that was started for us almost nine decades ago,” advocated Lane in his letter.
Lane encouraged members to send feedback to provide perspective to the cooperative on how to best serve members in the future. He also noted that the rate adjustment in April was necessary for the organization to operate in a manner best for the community.
“However, rest assured any rate adjustments will only be what is necessary for your cooperative to continue operating in a sound manner in the future,” reassured Lane.
How to vote at the 2024 annual membership meeting
To vote at the meeting:
To cast a ballot, a member must register and surrender their registration card, the back cover of the June Rural Missouri magazine. Members will be given a voting card and will use it to access the ballot to vote on director elections. The voting tent will be located near the big pavilion.
To vote by mail:
Mail-in ballots are included in the June edition of the Rural Missouri magazine, which has been sent to all members of the cooperative. Any ballot voted by mail must be timely returned by mail according to the ballot instructions provided by the cooperative. Hand-delivered ballots will not be counted even if received prior to the start of the annual meeting.
For questions concerning voting procedures, please contact the cooperative for assistance. Toll-free: 866-621-3679.
