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Home My WebLink About20240664.tiffBOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PASS -AROUND REVIEW PASS -AROUND TITLE: Proxy Ballot Request 2024 — Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association. Inc. (REA) DEPARTMENT: Clerk to the Board's Office DATE: March 7, 2024 PERSON REQUESTING: Chloe A. White, Deputy Clerk to the Board Supervisor Brief description of the problem/issue: The Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, Inc. (REA), has provided a ballot for their 2024 election of directors. The Weld County Board of Commissioners has the opportunity to vote for District L, Positions L-2 and L-6, and District W. Position W-1. To assist you in your selections, there is a document with director bios attached. What options exist for the Board? Vote via the proxy ballot form provided (following pages. Consequences: N/A Impacts: N/A Costs (Current Fiscal Year I Ongoing or Subsequent Fiscal Years): None Recommendation Please indicate your choice below. If you would like to vote on the provided ballot form, please turn to the flagged page and initial your selections. Perry L. Buck, Pro -Tern Mike Freeman Scott K. James Kevin D. Ross. Chair Lori Saine Vote on Attached Ballot Form as Initialed AIe.r,c1c F Other/Commen c_CA Ppudfe Vo.Ilej REA, Socc.CKc). F=1AOC(kR)0 pw CCC HQK),CACSgtKm) 2024-0664 (36005 8 Poudre\ Valley WELD COUNTY 1150 0 STREET GREELEY CO 80631 01017438 ill'II'll'I'II'IIIlaulJIIIuI.IIiiiiiIIIIIaIIIIIIuuuIl.iliilll'Ill + PLEASE DETACH BEFORE RETURNING BALLOT + - - - - - - ■ ■ • Fill in the circle next to the candidate of your choice using a dark ink pen or No. 2 pencil. • Place your completed ballot in the white secrecy envelope (provided) and seal. • Place the white envelope (with ballot enclosed) into the white prepaid return envelope. • Sign the return envelope on the backside to validate the ballot. Your signature must correspond to the name on the back of the return envelope. Then mail the envelope. • Only one ballot is allowed per envelope. Do not put other materials in the secrecy or prepaid return envelope. Ballots in unsigned return envelopes shall not be counted. • Mail ballots must be received by Survey & Ballot Systems by 11:00 A.M. Central Time on April 5, 2024. MARKING INSTRUCTIONS • Use black or blue ink or No. 2 pencil only. • Error: erase or draw line through name. • Fill circles completely EXAMPLE O0 Cast a vote for one director in each of the director elections District L Position L-2 Larimer County Director - Four Year Term Vote for One Candidate 01017433 PIc apse. ; n; 4- A -W VO-fe. : O Steven Anderson - Incumbent District L Director - Four Year Term Q Brian Holder Position L-6 Larimer County Vote for One Candidate O Francis "Frank" Hruby O Thaine Michie - Incumbent District W Position W-1 Weld County 0 DirectVote Director - Four Year Term Vote for One Candidate O Peter Hyland - Incumbent Poudre\ \Valley WELD COUNTY 11500STREET GREELEY CO 80631 01017438 ill'II'll'l'II'IIIIiiIIIIIiIiiIIiiiiiIIIIIuIIIIIIuiuIIiuIuuIII'III • Fill in the circle next to the candidate of your choice using a dark ink pen or No. 2 pencil. • Place your completed ballot in the white secrecy envelope (provided) and seal. • Place the white envelope (with ballot enclosed) into the white prepaid return envelope. • Sign the return envelope on the backside to validate the ballot. Your signature must correspond to the name on the back of the return envelope. Then mail the envelope. • Only one ballot is allowed per envelope. Do not put other materials in the secrecy or prepaid return envelope. Ballots in unsigned return envelopes shall not be counted. • Mail ballots must be received by Survey & Ballot Systems by 11:00 A.M. Central Time on April 5, 2024. PLEASE DETACH BEFORE RETURNING BALLOT + - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - MARKING INSTRUCTIONS • Use black or blue ink or No. 2 pencil only • Fill circles completely • Error: erase or draw line through name. EXAMPLE O!O Cast a vote for one director in each of the director elections District L Director - Four Year Term • Steven Anderson - Incumbent Position L-2 Larimer County Vote for One Candidate District L Position L-6 Larimer County District W Position W-1 Weld County Director - Four Year Term Vote for One Candidate Director - Four Year Term Vote for One Candidate Maria Miller 01017438 0 DirectVote• Kevin D. Rosy, Chair - Weld Connry Board of Connissioners Signature Print Name Title 1:r MAR 1 8 2024 MEMBER MUST SIGN IN THE BOX Read this before mailing: To validate the ballot, your signature must correspond to the name as shown on the left. Your spouse cannot sign, unless they are a joint member. Joint memberships may be signed by either party. For voting members other than individuals, signatures must include a title. • DirectVotem 00 )9 - OCo(ot-1 C l ) Poudre 2024 Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association, Inc. Valley • Director Election Bios Your Touchstone Energy®Cooperative District L - Position L-2 — Larimer County Steven D. Anderson - Incumbent PVREA member since 1978-2001, 2012 -present Occupation: Retired Farmer BOARD EXPERIENCE/OTHER: Poudre Valley REA, Director, Vice Chair, Chair, 2013 - present Handy Ditch Company, Board Member, Vice President and President, 1998 - present Big Thompson Soil Conservation District, Director 1998 - 1999, President 2000-2006 Larimer County Farm Bureau, Director 1976-1985, Secretary -Treasurer 1980-1981 We are in an interesting time in the electric energy industry. "Energy transition" is a buzz phrase used to describe how we can use new technologies for our coop and still preserve the important basics at PVREA of safety, reliability, affordability, and resilience. The Board of Directors, management team and our employee team have worked hard to hold the line on our rates in a time of inflationary costs in finance and operations. We have made improvements to increase reliability across our entire system, and we are adding more renewables in a responsible way that will not compromise reliability. Communication with our members is very important. The PVREA team has expanded our outreach on social media and updated our website to be more user friendly. We are focused on planning for the future to allow for marginal rate increases as other electric utilities are seeing significant rises. I believe that PVREA is working hard to address the challenges coming our way. It has been an honor and privilege to serve on the Board of Directors. I would like to continue as a Board member, so I would appreciate your vote. Respectfully, Steven Anderson District L - Position L-6 — Larimer County Thaine Michie — Incumbent PVREA member since 1988 Occupation: Rancher, Electric Power Consulting BOARD EXPERIENCE/OTHER: Poudre Valley REA, Director, Vice Chair, Chair, 2004 - present Tri-State G&T, Board Member, 2008 - present Poudre Valley Health System, Board Member, President, 1995-2016 Fort Collins Chamber of Commerce, Board Member, 1996 - 1998 Rocky Mountain Electric League, Past President Inland Power Pool, Past President Western States Power Corporation, Board Member Colorado Retail Wheeling Commission, Past Board Member I am an electrical engineering graduate from CSU. My entire work career has been in the electric power industry. I have experience working in engineering distribution, power supply, operation and maintenance. I worked for the Bureau of Reclamation and served as a power plant manager and was Power Division Chief for the Colorado -Big Thompson Project. I was assistant area manager for the Western Area Power Administration, responsible for facilities in Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska. I was also CEO of Platte River Power Authority which serves Ft Collins, Loveland, Longmont and Estes Park. I have served on power industry international, national, state and local boards. I was president of the American Public Power Association and was a North America Electric Reliability Corporation Trustee during the time reliability standards were mandated for the US, Canada and a portion of Mexico. My passion for PVREA continues to be safety, reliability, affordability and community. Comparison rate studies show PVREA's residential rates are the lowest of all REAs in the state. The electric power industry is trending to a decarbonized future. This changing landscape will require innovative planning and partnerships. My work experience is helpful as we strive for decisions that will ensure our reliability and affordability. Brian Holder PVREA member since 2002 Occupation: Field Services Technician BOARD EXPERIENCE/OTHER: Town of Wellington, Board Member 1999-2002 River of Life Fellowship, Board Member 2002 - 2012 Northern Colorado Rod and Gun Club, President, Chief Range Safety Office 2005 - present I enjoy the benefits of living in Colorado and believe I should give back to my community. I have been a member of Poudre Valley REA and would like to learn more about the electrical grid and how PVREA and the grid serve our community. The only way to positively affect our community is to be active in it. Serving on the PVREA Board is one way to do that. I enjoy conversing with my community and look forward to serving the PVREA members. Francis "Frank" Hruby PVREA member since 2017 Occupation: Attorney, retired BOARD EXPERIENCE/OTHER: Missouri Bar 1976 Citizens' Climate Lobby, Furl Collins Chapter Climate Reality Project, NOCO Chapter A farmer's son, I earned my legal ('76) and MBA ('83) degrees at St. Louis University in Saint Louis MO. In 2016 Cindy and I built our home in the Buckhorn Valley west of Loveland. My hobbies include woodworking, hiking, skiing, brewing, and lifelong learning. I enjoyed a 30 -year legal career with Anheuser-Busch where I supported the company's engineering function, providing legal guidance for operations, construction, real estate, procurement, environmental, safety, energy and utility matters. This career experience will equip me to address PVREA Board deliberations. I learned early on that building consensus among the decision makers - consistent with the facts and the law - was the best path to effectively serve the organization. For the past 6 years I have worked with NOCO groups promoting climate action urgency and preserving a livable climate for our children's future. My climate action focus is Building Electrification and Efficiency education. PVREA offers numerous programs which support efficiency and electrification. PVREA's commitment to using and helping COOP members adopt clean energy resources like PV solar, battery and heat pump systems, motivates my board candidacy. I hope you agree our COOP must transition to clean, pollution free energy. As your representative I'll always protect the best interests of our members and that of our children: ensuring PVREA continues to keep safety first, costs low, and service reliable, all while growing clean energy implementation. I humbly ask your support to allow me help PVREA guide us into the electric energy future. Respectfully, Frank Hruby District W - Position W-1— Weld County Peter Hyland — Incumbent PVREA member since 2002 Occupation: Business Owner, Rancher, Developer BOARD EXPERIENCE/OTHER: Poudre Valley REA, Vice Chair, Director 2018 - present Western United Electric Supply, Board Member 2020 -present Windsor Chamber of Commerce, Board Member, President 2005 - 2012 Small Business Development Center - Weld County, Board Member, President 2008-2017 Windsor High School FFA Ag Advisory Board, Board Member 2012 - present Poudre Valley Bank/ 1st Bank of Greeley, Board Member, Loan Committee, 1997-2000 Town of Windsor Economic Strategic Planning Board, Board Member 2010-2016 Good Samaritan Society — Water Valley Senior Living Retirement Board, President 2008 - 2014 Bethel Lutheran Church Board, President, Director 2000-2007 Roof Top Rodeo Volunteer Committee, Member 2011 - 2012 Weld RE -4 School District Capital Improvement Bond Committee, Member 2007-2007 Windsor -Severance Fire Rescue Capital Improvement Bond Committee, Member 2009-2009 I have been on Poudre Valley REA's board since 2018 and currently serve as the Vice Chair. We continue to increase our renewable energy portfolio, focus on reliability, and keep our rates low. As we transition into a cleaner energy portfolio, it is vital that we ensure continued reliability and affordability. My fellow board members, management team and I have kept rates steady since 2018 and had two rate decreases during this time. Our rates are some of the lowest in Colorado and keeping the power on continues to be a strength. In my personal life, lama business owner, rancher, developer, father, and husband. For almost 40 years, my wife Nancy and I have been active in the greater Northern Colorado community. I own Windsor Auto Repair, raise Angus cattle, grow grass hay, and have three grown children. I have gained valuable experience working with employees, customers and managing a successful business. Providing excellent customer service is a top priority for me and I value the opinions and loyalty of my customers. I have the knowledge, experience, and desire to continue to direct Poudre Valley REA towards the future that will best serve everyone with a focus on rates, reliability, environmental stewardship, and equitable energy solutions for all members/owners. Our industry is changing, and we need to keep focusing on ways to provide our members/owners with extraordinary value. I want to continue to be your director to do just that and would greatly appreciate your support. Maria Miller PVREA member since 2010 Occupation: Director of People Operations BOARD EXPERIENCE/OTHER: Colorado Foundation for Agriculture, Board member, President, Vice President 2016-2023 Farmer Veteran Coalition, Founding Advisory Panel 2011 - 2022 National Farm to School Network, Board member, Governance committee, Executive committee 2011-2015 Miller -Warner Foundation, Inc., President and Founder 2007 - present As your representative on the Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association (PVREA) Board of Directors, my primary focus will be ensuring the stability of rates and the reliability of services. Additionally, my objective will be to strategically position PVREA to proactively address the evolving needs of residential and commercial customers in northern Colorado. As an entrepreneur with a track record of establishing and operating a family grain farm, a nonprofit and an insurance agency, I bring a wealth of experience to the table. My previous role as the executive director of a national association's foundation involved successfully developing, funding and implementing educational and leadership programs for youth, women, and beginning farmers. I have also organized national cooperative conferences for college students. My board experience spans profit and nonprofit sectors, including the Farmer Veteran Coalition, National Farm to School Network and the Colorado Foundation for Agriculture. I served as president of a Weld County farm organization and served on a high school's agricultural education advisory board. Having been previously appointed to the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Advisory Committee and the Farm Safety steering coituiiiliee, I bring valuable insights on aural communities. I'm presently working as director of people operations for a church. With my leadership and diverse management experience at the local, state, and national levels, I am confident in my ability to guide PVREA in making informed decisions that uphold affordable rates, ensure reliable service, and capitalize on growth opportunities. I would introduce a fresh perspective to the PVREA board. 0 DirectVote- Hello