More than 1,000 members and guests attended the 82nd Annual Meeting of Meeker Cooperative Light & Power Association Monday, April 3, at their headquarters building in Litchfield. The theme was ?ÄúKeeping it Local,?Äù and members were encouraged to communicate with Governor Mark Dayton in an effort to keep co-op governance local via a member-elected board of directors, and not to invite duplicative oversight from the state?Äôs Public Utilities Commission.
CEO/General Manager Tim Mergen discussed the results of a 2016 Member Satisfaction Survey, which showed that members continue to be satisfied, supportive of, and engaged with the Co-op.
Incumbents Karen Becker, District 2, and Mark Larson, District 6 were reelected to their seats on the Board of Directors. Incumbent and Board Vice President Juanita Olson, District 1,
was unseated by challenger Paul Bugbee, Paynesville. Following the Annual Meeting, the Board met to reorganize. The 2017 officers are: K. Bruce Krueger, District 7, President; Karen Becker, Vice President; Kevin Issendorf, District 4, Secretary; and Brad Donnay, District 3, Treasurer.
More than $17,000 was distributed to qualifying nonprofit organizations through the Operation Round Up program during the Annual Meeting. Operation Round Up provides the opportunity for members to donate the change that results from ?Äúrounding up?Äù their electric bill. To date, the Operation Round Up Electric Trust Board has distributed more than $652,000 to organizations in Meeker Co-op?Äôs service territory since its inception in 1999.