BLUEBONNET MEMBERS RE-ELECT FOUR INCUMBENT DIRECTORS
Four incumbent directors were re-elected during Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative’s annual meeting Tuesday, May 10, at the Sons of Hermann Hall in Giddings. Board Chairman Ben Flencher (District 5, Burleson County), Vice Chairman Kenneth Mutscher (District 7, Washington County) and Director Milton Shaw (District 1, Caldwell, Gonzales, Guadalupe and Hays counties) were unopposed in their respective races. Director Kathleen Handy (District 3, Bastrop County) easily defeated two challengers.
“It’s an honor to serve our members and a testament to our board’s performance that all four directors who were up for election this year were re-elected, three of whom were unopposed,” said Ben Flencher, Bluebonnet’s board chairman. “Congratulations to Kathleen Handy, who beat two very capable and qualified opponents for a well-deserved second term on the board.”
Bluebonnet’s board consists of 11 member-elected directors that serve staggered, three-year terms. One-third of the board is up for election each year.
Flencher also assured co-op members that despite the oil and gas industry’s slow down, there is now and will be substantial commercial and residential growth in the area during the next several years.
“We will see significant growth in our communities,” Flencher said. “We know what’s coming and are ready to accommodate the needs and challenges associated with growth. There is no better utility than Bluebonnet at working with commercial and residential developers and new members.”
About 500 Bluebonnet members and guests attended the co-op’s annual meeting, which began with live music by Bert Rivera and the Ramblers, and ended with General Manager Mark Rose awarding 26 door prizes, including a Cub Cadet riding mower.
“It’s always special to see and talk with so many of our members,” Rose said. “Turnout for this year’s annual meeting exceeded our expectations. That and the wonderful, knowledgeable questions and comments folks had while I visited with them before the meeting shows how engaged our members are in their co-op.”
During the business portion of the annual meeting, Deputy General Manager Matt Bentke showed attendees how much and where commercial and residential growth has and will occur in Bluebonnet’s service area and compared Bluebonnet’s rates to other Central Texas cooperatives. Bentke also reported the success of the Bluebonnet Community Grants program and results of the recently completed annual member survey which showed 95 percent of co-op members have a positive opinion of Bluebonnet and 94 percent rated its service excellent or good.
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives in Texas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves nearly 90,000 meters and owns and maintains 11,000 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 Central Texas counties. Bluebonnet’s service area stretches from Travis County to Washington County, and from Milam County to Gonzales County. For more information about Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, go to bluebonnet.coop and follow the co-op on Facebook and Twitter.