By: Submitted Article
news@wbcowqel.com
The 78th annual meeting of North Central Electric Cooperative will have a new look and feel when members convene Tuesday, June 10 at the Seneca County Fairgrounds.
In an attempt to attract its younger members, the cooperative is introducing a Family Fun Day to its annual meeting format. Children rides, bounce houses, interactive kiosks from COSI (Center of Science and Industry), and a magic show will be featured from 1 to 5 p.m. There will also be wellness displays and member businesses displays. A dinner will be served from 4 to 6 p.m. and a business meeting will be held in the Merchants Building at 6 p.m.
The event is open to cooperative members and their families. Registration will open at 1 p.m. All children will be issued a wrist band upon registration in order to participate in youth activities.
Members will officially elect three members to serve three-year terms on the cooperative’s Board of Trustees. Two incumbents and one newcomer filed nominating petitions and are running unopposed for three district seats. Since the three district elections are uncontested, the cooperative does not have to go to the expense of conducting a formal election and mail ballots to all its members. Instead, the three candidates will be deemed officially elected at the annual meeting in accordance with the cooperative’s code of regulations.
Kevin Bishop, 47, of Chatfield Township has been on the board six years, representing District 1, which includes the cooperative’s service area in Crawford and Richland counties.
Dennis Schindler, 68, of Crane Township has been on the cooperative board 30 years, serving Wyandot County or District 2. He is currently serving as the board’s vice-president and represents North Central on the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives Board of Trustees, where he is vice-chairman.
Nick Wagner, 48, of Venice Township will be elected to his first three-year term on board, representing District 3. He will replace former cooperative board president Richard Reichert of Venice Township. Reichert is retiring at the end of the annual meeting after serving 24 years. This district includes Lyme, New Haven, Norwich, Richmond and Sherman townships in Huron County, York Township is Sandusky County and Reed, Thompson and Venice townships in Seneca County
The business meeting starts at 6 p.m. and will feature reports from North Central General Manager Markus Bryant and Board President Duane Frankart. They will be discussing the recently announced EPA regulations greenhouse gas emissions from coal plants and how it will impact electric rates.
North Central serves over 9,600 members Seneca, Crawford, Wyandot, Richland, Huron, Sandusky, Hancock, and Wood counties.