OK bylaws
5,115 members cast ballots
Co-op members re-elected three trustees and overwhelmingly approved five minor bylaw changes in mail-in balloting conducted following the annual meeting.
Trustees Chris H. Byrd in District 1 and Bruce Measure in District 7 were unopposed. In the only contested seat, incumbent Doug Grob defeated challenger Francis Rosse in District 4. All three were elected to three-year terms.
The bylaw amendments clarified procedures for electing Board officers.
An independent accounting firm received and counted the ballots, which were mailed out to all members. A total of 5,115 members, more than 10 percent of the total, returned ballots by the deadline. Gift certificates were awarded to five voting members through a random drawing.
The Board of Trustees held a reorganizational meeting immediately after
the election results were announced to elect new officers. Bruce Measure
was elected President; Chris Byrd as Vice-President and Alan Ruby
(District 5) as Secretary/
Treasurer.
Summer projects build reliability
Cable replacements, power line rebuilds are planned this year
Flathead Electric crews are gearing up for another busy summer construction season, with projects planned throughout the Co-op’s service area, according to Engineering Manager John Eisinger.Replacement of underground cable, rebuilding two major transmission lines and completion of the Bigfork system rebuild are just a few of the projects planned for this year.
Projects to rebuild major transmission lines are scheduled on West Reserve from Highway 93 and Stillwater Road and on Helena Flats near its intersection with Highway 35.
An increased emphasis is being placed on improving reliability of electrical service to Co-op members. The amount of tree trimming will be increased to keep rights-of-way clear and remove brush and trees that interfere with electrical lines. Two additional contract crews have been added to work on problem areas.
About 8,000 power poles, approximately 10 percent of the poles in the Co-op system, are scheduled to be tested during 2004, another project designed to increase reliability.
Installation of new services is continuing rapidly as the Flathead Valley continues to grow. The number of work orders released by the Engineering Department is running ahead of last year’s record pace. Among the projects through April include 43 subdivisions and a number of major commercial projects.
Underground cable replacement projects are also scheduled throughout the system. Specific areas identified for cable replacement this year include Rabe Road, Desert Mountain Road, Kokanee Bend Subdivision, KM Ranch Road, the Dirt and Eid Road area, Liahona Lane in the Lake Blaine area and at Lost Prairie.
Among other projects scheduled for 2004:
• Design work on two new substations for Lakeside and North Kalispell, with completion planned for the fall of 2005.
• Installation of 5,000 additional automated meters to replace meters that currently are read by members.
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