Due to ongoing pandemic conditions, Minnesota Valley Electric Cooperative once again held its Annual Meeting via WebEx. The 84th Annual Meeting was hosted by Board President Brent Lawrence last night, Tuesday, April 6, and featured cooperative updates from CEO Ryan Hentges and Gerry Mareck, vice president of finance.
All three incumbents were returned to the Board of Directors for three-year terms, and a variety of bylaw changes were adopted. A total of 3,923 votes (all by mail) were cast. This is 10% of 39,586 eligible MVEC voters. Results were certified by independent election vendor Survey & Ballots Systems of Eden Prairie.
Incumbent Tom Wolf of Credit River Township was re-elected with 738 votes. Challenger Kirt Briggs of Prior Lake received 508 votes. Wolf received 59% of the 1,251 votes cast in District I, which covers portions of Prior Lake, Savage, Burnsville, Credit River and Elko-New Market.
Incumbent Bill Heinlein of Chanhassen was re-elected with 892 votes. Challenger Mary Leizinger of Victoria received 470 votes. Heinlein received 65% of the 1,366 votes cast in District II, which covers portions of Carver, Hennepin, Sibley and Scott counties.
Incumbent Kevin Gibbs ran unopposed in District III, which covers portions of Scott, LeSueur, Rice, Blue Earth and Waseca counties. Under MVEC bylaws, an online poll was conducted during the meeting to return him to his seat by acclamation.
The restated bylaws passed by 77% — 2,915 yes votes and 864 no votes.
Lawrence gave a special tribute to Vice President of Finance Mareck, whose financial presentation at the Annual Meeting was his final duty at MVEC upon starting retirement after nearly 22 years at the cooperative.
