Members gather for Brown County REA 86th annual meeting
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SLEEPY EYE -- Nearly 400 members and spouses, employees and guests of Brown County Rural Electrical Association (REA) gathered at the Sleepy Eye Event Center April 13 for the cooperative's 86th Annual Meeting. A total of 223 members registered at the meeting and 17 mail ballots were received.
During the business meeting, Board President Tom Hayes reviewed the proposed bylaw amendment. He highlighted wholesale power supply generation portfolio changes and how electric cooperatives are adapting for future carbon-free mandates.
CEO Mike Heidemann reviewed the 2022 audited financial report and explained funds returned to members as a reduction in Power Cost Adjustment in 2022.
Incumbent Directors Brad Sprenger, District 2 and Landon Sletta, District 3, ran unopposed and were re-elected to three-year terms. In District 8, David Wendinger was elected over challengers Scott Hulke and John Luepke. The proposed amendment to the cooperative by-laws was approved.
New Ulm Cathedral High School Junior Logan Kreilkamp, who represented Brown County REA at the 2022 Rural Electric Youth Tour, shared personal highlights from the trip to Washington, D. C. last summer. Gerald Grathwohl recapped the meetings and his experience serving as part of the Member Advisory Council.
The 2023 Operation Round Up scholarship winners were announced. High school seniors Bryanna Aschenbrenner, Laura Bertrang, Adam Johnson, Lacey Mathiowetz, Paige Rose and Kayleigh Schumann were each awarded $250.
At the organizational meeting which followed, Tom Hayes was elected President of the Board, Bill Berg chosen as Vice President, and Jim Hanson elected Secretary-Treasurer. Bill Berg will again represent Brown County REA on the Great River Energy board.