87th Annual Meeting Set for May 15, 2025

SEMO Electric’s 2025 Annual Meeting will be held as a drive-thru event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday, May 15 at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo Grounds.

Members will be asked to approve minutes from the 2024 annual meeting, approve 2024 financial statements, vote on a Bylaw amendment, and elect four members – one each from four districts (Bollinger/Stoddard Counties, Mississippi County, New Madrid County, and Scott County) – to SEMO Electric’s Board of Directors. All electric members (one per household) who participate will receive a $15 bill credit and a participation gift.

Director candidates may be nominated by the Nominating Committee. SEMO Electric’s 2025 Nominating Committee will meet at 10 a.m., Friday, April 11 at SEMO Electric in Sikeston.

Also, director candidates may file by petition by 5 p.m., Wednesday, April 16. Forms and guidelines are available at SEMO Electric’s offices in Bloomfield and Sikeston. Fifty member signatures, one per household, are required. Petitions must be delivered in person at SEMO Electric’s offices in Bloomfield or Sikeston. For qualifications, visit gosemo.com/bylaws.

A regular meeting of the Board of Directors of SEMO Electric Cooperative, Inc. was held on Monday, February 17, 2025, at the Cooperative’s offices in Sikeston, Missouri. Secretary/Treasurer Tim Coppage called the meeting to order at 1:20 p.m., followed by an invocation. Directors present included James Deneke, Carl Eftink, Myron Hawes, Coppage, Carla Moore, Dicky Hanor, Keith Haynes, Dennis Fowler, Field LaPlant, and Von Priggel. Directors absent were John Bledsoe and Richard Faulkner. Also present were CEO/General Manager Sean Vanslyke and Cooperative Attorney Megan McCord.

The Board approved the meeting agenda and consent agenda, which included the minutes from the January 20, 2025, meeting, new membership applications and cancellations, and initial reviews of Policy 202 (Non-Union Salary Policy) and Policy 203 (Sexual Harassment).

Vanslyke presented the monthly safety report, focusing on ladder safety and reviewing lost time and injury statistics for the previous month. The Board accepted the report.

Under old business, the Board reviewed its meeting schedule and confirmed attendance for upcoming events. After discussion, Policy 104 (Board Qualifications and Conduct) and Policy 201 (Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace) were reaffirmed. Vanslyke presented a potential bylaw amendment regarding director qualifications. After discussion, the Board voted to recommend the amendment for member consideration at the 2025 annual meeting. Plans for the annual meeting were discussed, including the nominating committee meeting set for April 11 and the annual meeting scheduled for May 15.

In new business, the Board reviewed and discussed district updates. The need to appoint a Parliamentarian for the 2025 annual meeting was addressed, and the Board appointed Cooperative counsel McCord to the role, granting her final authority on procedural and substantive matters. Eftink was appointed as the M&A Electric Power (Transmission) Cooperative Board representative.

Vanslyke presented the financial summary for January 2025, reporting that electric revenue was down 1.44% compared to budget, operating expenses were down 2.37%, and power costs increased by 5.88%. The Board accepted the financial report.

Eftink reported that no M&A meeting had been held since the last Board meeting. Haynes provided an update from the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives’ board meeting.

Following a review of written staff reports, the Board entered Executive Session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Before adjourning, the Board approved director per diem and expense reports for the prior month. With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:45 p.m.