BLUEBONNET ELECTRIC HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING WITHOUT PUBLIC ATTENDANCE

  

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative conducted its Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 12, without public attendance in adherence to coronavirus-related guidelines from federal and state public health officials.

“Our Annual Meeting is our most important event each year,” said Ben Flencher, Bluebonnet’s Board chairman. “It certainly was a different experience this year. We missed visiting with members, seeing old friends and making new ones.”

During the Annual Meeting four incumbent directors who were unopposed in their respective races were re-elected by general consent in accordance with Bluebonnet’s bylaws. The four directors were Roderick Emanuel, District 3, Bastrop County; Russell Jurk, District 4, Lee, Milam and Williamson counties; Byron Balke, District 6, Austin, Colorado and Fayette counties; and Robert Mikeska, District 7, Washington County.

“There are wonderful challenges facing Bluebonnet, particularly the extraordinary growth that is occurring in our service territory,” said Mikeska. “I look forward to working with everyone at Bluebonnet to meet these challenges and provide outstanding service to our members and communities.”

“It’s a pleasure to represent Bluebonnet’s members and the communities we serve,” said Balke. “I look forward to continue working with my fellow directors and our members to make Bluebonnet the best cooperative in the country.”

Though the public was unable to attend this year’s Annual Meeting due to the coronavirus crisis, 6,487 Bluebonnet members were represented and established a quorum for the meeting by submitting their proxy forms.

“It was important to hold our Annual Meeting in accordance with our bylaws and to re-elect the four incumbent directors so the Board could continue representing our members during this challenging period,” said Matt Bentke, Bluebonnet’s general manger. “The prohibition against large meetings for public health reasons demonstrated the importance of our members’ ability to participate by proxy.”

There was no new business on the meeting’s agenda, but had there been, those items would have been voted on by members being present with their proxy.

In other business during the Annual Meeting, Mikeska, the board's Secretary-Treasurer, certified the Annual Meeting’s legal notice and that a quorum was represented, and the cooperative’s Board of Directors approved the minutes from last year’s meeting. Ben Flencher provided the chairman’s report and Matt Bentke provided his general manager’s report, both of which included financial and operational highlights.

“Bluebonnet’s directors and employees are proud to be able to support our communities and help our members through this difficult time,” Bentke said. “That includes returning $4.2 million in capital credits beginning this month, providing financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that help Bluebonnet’s members pay their electric bills, and donating much-needed money to area food banks that provide meals to families across the cooperative’s service area.”

Bluebonnet will continue to track the bill-pay assistance provided by the nonprofit organizations, and work with food banks to provide additional support. Bluebonnet is also helping families and businesses by temporarily suspending disconnections for nonpayment; and waiving late fees, deferring payment due dates and making payment arrangements for members in need.

Bluebonnet members who submitted proxy forms were entered into drawings for prizes, including a 2011 Ford F-150 being retired from the cooperative’s fleet, two Cub Cadet riding mowers and a Yeti cooler. Prizes will be drawn on Wednesday, May 13. Winners will be contacted by Bluebonnet to arrange for their prize to be picked up or delivered. Prizes were paid for through donations from Bluebonnet vendors.

(Story courtesy Will Holford, Bluebonnet Public Affairs Manager)