To the Editor:

Vote Brian Baum, Brian Bonebright, and Doug Schaefers on Tuesday, August 29, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., to represent the member-owners on the Dakota Energy Board.

Thank you, Tom Baruth, Nick Nemec, and Darrell Rashke, for stepping up to begin the process of returning Dakota Energy Cooperative to its roots.

May I suggest reconfiguring the website with a members’ only portal, which can provide the following information:
a) Include current official meeting minutes where the member-owners can see and read about motions made by whom, proposals made by whom, votes cast by whom, and future projects.
b) Bios of your board clear and present.

c) Return your annual meetings to a time and place where working members can attend and board members can answer questions.
d) Answer letters and member questions openly in a transparent Q&A section.
e) Implement a teller committee so ballots can be sent to the billing address of the entire membership and a ballot can be returned to the teller committee; have observers present for counts and collection from a central PO Box.
f) Include current statement of financial condition and income.
g) Provide space on the website for Dakota Energy’s Representative on East River board to educate and explain current business.

Keep the cooperative together with clean green 17% allocation of Missouri River hydropower to REA’s. Keep the cooperative workforce together. Third parties and contract work during times of crisis will come at a premium. And always remember – transmission costs must be included in rates – you have to get the power to the member-owner to provide needed electricity.

Vote Brian Baum, Brian Bonebright, and Doug Schaefers on Tuesday, August 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.,  to represent the member-owners on the Dakota Energy Board. 

Together we can return to cooperative values!

Ruth Anne Hanson
Huron