MCREA Holds Annual Meeting

Submitted by Jamie Plakorus

MCREA held our annual meeting on Tuesday, March 23 at 6:00 pm via Telephone Town Hall again this year due to restrictions on in-person events in effect during the planning process in December, 2020. Once members had registered online, they were called just before 6:00 p.m. the evening of the meeting to listen to board and management staff reports, vote on business matters, and hear updates on happenings at Morgan County REA over the past year.

President Cary Wickstrom reported that the Board of Directors’ approved budget for 2021 had no rate increase, making this the fifth year straight with no increase. The board also approved a patronage capital retirement of $4 million for 2020. This retirement was $1.25 million more than 2019 and $1.5 million more than the 2018 patronage capital retirement. This retirement was returned to members of the Association during years listed on our website in the form of capital credit checks mailed in December. Three director candidates petitioned for available board seats; Cary Wickstrom, Terry Tormohlen, and Brian Pabst. Each ran unopposed and all three candidates were unanimously elected to three-year terms.

David Frick, General Manager, spoke of his pride in Morgan County REA employees and the adjustments they have made over the past year because of mandates enacted during this challenging time. Frick welcomed 5 new employees to the cooperative and also thanked 3 retirees for their years of service. There were a few employee role changes last year as well. Rob Baranowski moved into the position of Manager of Member Services, leaving his role as GIS specialist. Jamie Plakorus became the Communications Specialist, moving from the role as Member Services Specialist.

Frick discussed Morgan County REA’s continued focus and hard work on safety. He went on to say that the internal Joint Health and Safety Committee worked this past year to strengthen communication and became better at discussing safety proactively.

Frick spoke about making the electric distribution system more resilient through MCREA’s Four Year Construction Work Plan. The plan’s main focus is strengthening infrastructure for load growth and improved reliability. This past year, 224 new services were installed and 30 were retired. Additionally, 62 miles of new powerlines were built and 34 miles retired.

Frick also provided an update on MCREA’s net metering program, which now has 28 member-installed, small-scale, renewable energy systems in our service territory. There are 26 solar and 2 wind installations, bringing the total to a 251.5 kW offset.

Frick’s final comments addressed MCREA’s new grassroots program. As legislators and commissions often make decisions that affect the cost of electricity without knowing all of the effects on their constituents, our Association continually monitors things that could impact rates or reliability. MCREA will be seeking your help, as our best effort to combat these initiatives will be to call upon you as member-owners of the Association from time to time. Similar grassroots efforts have often produced good outcomes, and MCREA’s grassroots effort goal is to help keep the Association flourishing as it has for 84 years.

The financial report delivered by Robb Shaver, Manager of Office Services, indicated that Morgan County REA continued to be in sound financial condition in 2020, with operating revenues of just over $46 million and total cost of electric service at $39.7 million. Shaver also noted that MCREA had an operating margin - or total revenues minus total expenditures – of $3.9 million for 2020.

David Frick took time to answer questions directed to the Association during attendee egistration at the end of the meeting.

MCREA would like to extend a big thanks to our sponsors for their generous donations. Annual Meeting sponsors included: The Mav Kitchen and Tap House, United Tree Service, Hill Petroleum, and Bell Lumber & Pole.

All of the meeting materials can be viewed on our website at www.mcrea.org.

Saturday, May 8 * 9 am - 2 pm

Monday, 12 April 2021 I Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

JAMES “JIM” HAROLD RIES

As a young kid who had just joined the Cub Scouts, I was given a Bobcat badge. It was a shiny new pin and I was pretty proud of it. With one exception. It had to be worn upside down until you did something kind for someone else. Then, and only then, could you turn it right side up. Boy, I looked like crazy for something to do to get that badge turned upright, and to do it in a way that it would be witnessed! One day, after school, a couple of us friends were down on the corner Main and Dayton streets, which was the corner of the school grounds. Across the street was the grocery store. Now Main Street, at times, could be very busy, and on this particular day, it was. Suddenly, the opportunity to turn my Bobcat badge around presented itself. The was a teacher, who had a bunch of books in her arms, and she was trying to get across the street. So, I asked her if she needed help. She said sure, so she handed me some books and out I went into the street. I stopped in the middle and put my hands up in the air like a traffic cop and stopped the traffic so the teacher, and I could get across the street. And when we did, she said some words that I will never forget.

“Well, thank you for helping me. And now, my little man, you can turn your Bobcat badge around.” I have to tell you, I felt like I was on top of the world! I had been kind to someone! And it felt pretty good to help someone out! I could turn my badge around! Since that time, I have reached out to thousands in my life. 99% of the time, it not only was the good and right and best thing to do, it still, to this day, feels good to help someone out. It can be in a big way or a small way, but it still is the best thing to do. If you ever have that opportunity to reach out your hand to help someone, I highly urge you to do so. No matter how big or small your kindness may be, I can almost guarantee you that it will be the best thing you have ever done, and it may even feel good!

So, here’s your Bobcat badge, and it is upside down! What are you going to do?

Be Well, Do Good Work, and…

Be Blessed Like Crazy!

Pastor Perry

Destination Ministries

Jim was born in Dayton, Ohio to James and Etta (Brown) Ries on February 26, 1946. He married the love of his life, Helen J. Harvey on April 12, 1963. They celebrated true love for 58 years.

Jim spent the majority of his youth in Commerce City, Colorado where Jim and Helen started their family. They moved to Keenesburg, Colorado in 1971 where Jim began his journey as a longtime business owner. He founded the family electrical company, Ries Electric in 1991. Jim was a dedicated community member, who enjoyed donating and helping to all that he could. He was a loving family man who enjoyed supporting and following his sons, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren throughout all of their activities and endeavors. Jim loved to travel with his family and his beloved wife, Helen throughout the country and especially to Mexico. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons, antique and hot-rod cars, and all types of animals and science. Jim loved visiting the zoos, the Wild Animal Sanctuary, the Denver Museum and his Colorado Rockies.

Jim went to be with his Heavenly Father on April 12, 2021 and is preceded in death by his father and mother, James and Etta Ries; uncle and aunt, Cliff and Lydia; and nephews, Donny and Danny.

Jim was blessed with surviving family members to include his wife, Helen; two sons, James H. Ries, Jr. (Ingrid) and Michael L. Ries (Laura); along with six grandchildren: Haylee Mortensen (Kale), Montana Ries, Talara Ries, Sierra Corral (Christopher), Maesyn Ries and Alexander Ries; five great-grandchildren: Paige Mortensen, Emey Mortensen, Camden Ries, Kolyns Mortensen and expected Arlo James; as well as, sister, Linda Ward.

Graveside services were on Sunday, April 18, 2021, at 1:30 p.m., at Heart of the Plains Cemetery, Roggen, Colorado.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Jim’s name to any of his favorite organizations: the Weld Central High School Athletic Department, Wild Animal Sanctuary, or the Southeast Weld County Fair & Rodeo.

Tabor Funeral Home, Brighton, Colorado handled arrangements. Visit www.TaborFuneralHome.com to share memories and condolences.

Robert Sakata Appointed to Colorado Water Conservation Board,Steps Down as CFVGA President

Robert Sakata, Sakata Farms, Brighton, has been appointed to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) and was officially sworn in March 10. The Board is comprised of 15 members. There are ten voting members appointed by the governor to serve a three-year term. The Colorado Water Conservation Board’s mission is: To Conserve, Develop, Protect and Manage Colorado’s Water for Present and Future Generations. He is one of the first-full-time farmers appointed to CWCB and believes the position will allow him to represent Colorado agriculture in an important way. “It is so important that agriculture is part of the conversation,” said Sakata. “Colorado’s growing population coupled with drought severely strain water for agriculture.” In a message to the Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Board of Directors (CFVGA), Sakata said it was an honor yet a surprise to be tapped for the position. He also revealed that it soon became apparent that he could not effectively serve on the CWCB and the CFVGA Board while farming full time. Sakata is a founding member of CFVGA and served as its president since 2015, the year members first met to elect a board of directors. “It is with great heaviness that I resign from the CFVGA Board,” said Sakata. “At the same time, I am confident in the abilities and commitment of the remaining board members. They will carry on CFVGA work in an effective and efficient manner.” In recognition for his tireless work to found and grow CFVGA, Sakata was the organization’s first Member of the Year awardee for 2017, and the award was named after him going forward. “Throughout his tenure, Robert has traveled the state and nationally to establish a presence for CFVGA and to encourage growers and allied industries to join CFVGA, said CFVGA Executive Director Marilyn Bay Drake. “We have a very able board, but Robert will be severely missed.” The CFVGA is comprised of more than 250 members, including growers of all sizes and types of production throughout the state, as well as representatives of allied industries. The Colorado fruit and vegetable growing sector contributes nearly $485 million to Colorado at the farm gate and is multiplied as it goes through the distribution chain. Over 90,000 Colorado acres are in fruit and vegetable production.