VOLUME 50 NUMBER 1 JANUARY 2019 Monthly Publication of Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative DOING THE MOST GOOD On Tuesday, December 4 th , MLEC employees volunteered to ring the bell for the Salvation Army at County Market in Aitkin. Bell ringers included: Donna Collins, Tom Meyer, Erin Beck, Shelly DeFoe, Mike Chalich, Chelsey Fischer, Kelly Buttler, and Kassie Kokesh. People were very generous and kettles were filled to the top. MLEC matched up to $250 in Salvation Army donations. Thank you to all who volunteered and all who have donated! MLEC employees volunteer to ring the bell for the Salvation Army.
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VOLUME 50NUMBER 1
JANUARY 2019Monthly Publication of Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative
DOING THE MOST GOODOn Tuesday, December 4th, MLEC employees volunteered to ring the bell for the Salvation Army at County Market in Aitkin. Bell ringers included: Donna Collins, Tom Meyer, Erin Beck, Shelly DeFoe, Mike Chalich, Chelsey Fischer, Kelly Buttler, and Kassie Kokesh. People were very generous and kettles were filled to the top. MLEC matched up to $250 in Salvation Army donations. Thank you to all who volunteered and all who have donated!
MLEC employees volunteer to ring the bell for the Salvation Army.
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Questions or concerns?MLEC’s Board of Directors represent you!
Find minutes fromMLEC Board meetings at: http://www.mlecmn.netunder About Us This newsletter is the voice of your tax and interest paying RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, an organization which was formed to supply you with low-cost, dependable electricity when other sources failed to do so. Managing Editor: Kassie Kokesh, Communications Specialist
2018 TOUCHSTONE COMMUNITY AWARDAitkin County Habitat for Humanity is MLEC’s 2018 Touchstone Energy Commitment to Community Award winner. An award plaque and a $500 check was presented to the organization by Member Services and Marketing Manager Shelly DeFoe and Communications Specialist Kassie Kokesh on December 21st.Aitkin County Habitat for Humanity builds and repairs homes for low-income families in Aitkin County. The organization advocates for low-income families and helps them locate services. They also work with local youth and form
community partnerships.This is the 15th year of this award recognizing a group that shows a strong commitment to community and is helping make the area a better place to live and work. Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative is a Touchstone Energy Co-op and “Concern for Community” is one of the guiding principles. Aitkin County Habitat for Humanity will go on to contend for the statewide Touchstone Energy Community Award, which has a cash prize of $1,000.
Congratulations to Aitkin County Habitat for Humanity!
SMART THERMOSTATSA smart thermostat is a Wi-Fi enabled device that automatically adjusts heating and cooling temperature settings in your home for optimal performance. They can also control the heating remotely through your smartphone or tablet.Many smart thermostats learn your temperature preferences and establish a schedule that automatically adjusts to energy-saving temperatures when you are asleep or away. A smart thermostat allows you to track your equipment’s usage and temperature data. You will save on your heating and cooling all from the convenience of your device.Geofencing allows your smart thermostat to know when you’re on the way home and automatically adjusts your home’s temperature to your liking.Now’s a good time to take advantage of MLEC’s rebate offer and even shop at energywisemnstore.com where the rebate comes right off the cost.The temperature in your home is important and being smart about how you control your temperature settings will help you save money and stay comfortable.
Pictured L to R: Kassie Kokesh, Gary Clark, Ann Schwartz, Sharon Gislason, and Shelly DeFoe
REBATES AVAILABLE!
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HOLIDAY GIVING
TRUST BOARD AWARDS GRANTSThe Mille Lacs Community Trust Board meets quarterly to distribute funds raised through Operation Round Up. On December 18th the board awarded $32,400 in grants to local non-profit organizations including: Aitkin Co. Environmental Services, Aitkin Co. Fair Foundation, Aitkin Co. Friends of the Arts, Aitkin Youth Fastpitch, Cuyuna Range Youth Center, Garrison Lions, Kinship Partners-Crow Wing Co., Malmo Area Lions Club, Mille Lacs Academy, Mounted Eagles Inc., Onamia Area Friends of the Library, Operation Christmas Aitkin Co., Rides for Health, Salem West - Social Ministry, Scooby’s Animal Mission, True Friends.
Operation Round Up is a voluntary program at Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative where our generous members round-up their electric bill payment to the nearest dollar. All of the funds raised go into the trust fund which is donated back to the community. Board members include: Shirley Adolphson, Fred Tessmer, Loren Larson,
Pat Scollard, Diane Landstad, Linda Weimer, Jack Gilbertson, and Lowell W. Larson.
To receive a Trust application, contact Deb Chute at 218-927-8221 or 1-800-450-2191. The Trust Board meets the second Tuesday in March, June, September and December. Applications are accepted at any time. Those submitted a week before the quarterly meetings will go to the board. Anything submitted after will be seen at the next board meeting.Front Row L to R: Christine Bright, Natalie Shereck, Sarah Shereck, Stacey Carlson, Sharon Whipple, Betty Jacobs, Jennifer Johnson.Back Row L to R: Scooby Harmon, Jessica Boyd, David Downing, Tawny Druar, Lynn Fairbanks, Kim Gruhlke, Jim Bergstrom, Merrily Jones, Troy Nyberg, Kathy Hachy, Terry Neff, Mary Jackson, DeeDee Frahm, Janice Hasselius.
THANK YOU MEMBERS!
Operation Christmas and Mitten Tree donations are a great success!
Our donation bins were overflowing with new toys for Operation Christmas! An additional $830 was raised through Denim Days and member donations. Operation Christmas is a program coordinated by volunteers working with Aitkin, Hill City, McGregor, Palisade and Tamarack area businesses and service clubs to collect and distribute Christmas gifts for Aitkin County families in need of help. In December, MLEC decorated the lobby Christmas tree with hats and mittens. With the help of employees and members, we filled the tree and donated them to the First Lutheran Food Shelf.
Thank you to all who participated and donated!
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LET’S DISHSEND US YOUR RECIPES!We’ll credit your account $5.00 if it’s printed in THE OUTLET
MAIL TO: Kassie Kokesh Mille Lacs Energy, P.O. Box 230 Aitkin, MN 56431
Thank you to Terri Darsow of Champlin for sharing this month’s recipe.
SHEPHERD’S PIE
1 lb. lean ground beef6 potatoes1 cup fresh, small carrots1 small onion1 minced garlic clove1 cup frozen corn
Clean potatoes, cut into pieces, cook in water until tender. In large skillet, brown ground beef with garlic, onion, and sliced small carrots. When beef is browned, add corn and peas, cook until tender. Prepare gravy mix per instructions add to skillet with thyme. Drain and mash potatoes with butter and milk. Spread on top of beef mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Add shredded cheese and bake an additional 10 minutes. Enjoy!
1 cup frozen peas1 tsp. thyme6 Tbsp. butter1/2 cup milk1 package of beef gravy mix (prepared per instructions)1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
SCHOOL DONATIONSEach year, MLEC donates all unclaimed capital credit checks to seven schools in our service area. This year, a total of $19,045.15 was divided evenly and presented by Energy Advisors Jeff Coombs and Jeff Peysar. They are shown in the photos, along with school representatives.
MarySue Anderson and Jeff CoombsJeff Coombs and Paul GramsJeff Peysar and JJ Vold Jeff Coombs and Dean Kapsner
Onamia SchoolsPlans to use money for the 1st annual Onamia Hall of Fame ceremony.
Minisinaakwaang Leadership AcademyPlans to use money to fill their new Reading At Home (RAH) store.
McGregor SchoolsPlans to use money for PBIS, elementary academic incentives, and junior high field trips.
Isle SchoolsPlans to use money for out of district field trips and experiences.
Jeff Peysar, Tiffany Gustin, and Dennis Hasskamp
Aitkin SchoolsPlans to use money towards new technology equipment.
Noah Johnson, Jeff Peysar, and Rick St. Germaine
Nay Ah Shing SchoolPlans to use money for school dances and field trips.
Kurt Becker and Jeff Peysar
Crosby Elementary SchoolPlans to use money for additional materials and opportunities for their STEM program.
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Regular office hours are Mon-Fri 8:00 to 4:30
927-2191 or 800-450-2191 (toll free)
48 hours before you dig Dial 811 - Gopher State One Call or log on to: www.gopherstateonecall.org
Then contact a licensed electrician to locate your secondary wires.
MN Electrical InspectorsAitkin County &South East Crow Wing CountyScott Nutting 218/927-6922
District One includes members whose electric account numbers start with 60, 61, 63, 64, 67, 68, and 69. The present director is Barbara Welty of Garrison. District Two includes members whose electric account numbers start with 35, 38, 49, and 50. The present director is William (Bill) Bernard of Aitkin. You can find additional district information on the MLEC website www.mlecmn.net. If you are an MLEC member receiving electricity in one of the districts listed above and are interested in filing for a director position, call Erin Beck at 927-8245 or 800-450-2191 or, email [email protected] for director election filing forms and a complete information packet. All filings must be received at the Cooperative by February 11, 2019.
Candidate filing for MLEC director positions from Districts One and Two is now OPEN!
BOARD ELECTIONS
REVOLVING LOAN FUNDIt is no secret that exciting things are happening in the peat bogs around Aitkin County, where American Peat Technology (APT) continues to expand its capacity to meet a growing demand for its reed-sedge peat products.On December 7, 2018, officials from Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (MLEC) and APT gathered at the Aitkin production facility to celebrate another milestone in the company’s growth: equipment financing secured through the MLEC revolving loan fund.Using a $132,000 loan approved by the MLEC board of directors at its regular meeting on November 16th, APT will invest a total of $165,000 in equipment that will help the company harvest and handle reed-sedge peat, before refining the raw material into products used in agricultural and water treatment applications.“American Peat Technology enjoys a strong working relationship with Mille Lacs Energy and we appreciate the board’s approval of this loan,” stated Roger Sorben, CFO. “More than just our electric utility provider, MLEC has shown a true commitment to supporting our growth in Aitkin County in multiple ways.”The MLEC revolving loan fund originated from a grant provided through the USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program, which provides loans and grants to rural cooperatives for specific economic development purposes. As these initial loans are paid back, the revolving loan funds are intended to grow and provide financing for further qualifying economic development projects over time.“Mille Lacs Energy is proud to do its part to support the success of American Peat Technology,” said Mark Fagan, MLEC’s Interim
General Manager. “Revolving loan funds are an important tool cooperatives can use to support rural economic development and APT’s manufacturing operation fits perfectly within the program guidelines.”The MLEC revolving loan fund accepts applications on an ongoing basis, from private businesses, public entities and non-profit organizations, for projects that will significantly benefit rural areas in Aitkin, Mille Lacs and Crow Wing Counties and the surrounding region. Eligible projects must create or retain employment, or provide needed community facilities and services.For more information on how to apply for an MLEC revolving loan fund loan, please contact Tom Meyer at (218) 927-2191.
MLEC Revolving Loan Fund Supports Growth at American Peat Technology
Pictured L to R: Tom Meyer, Mark Fagan, Doug Green, Brian Zelenak, Dan Willett, Dave Schaeffer, Jerry Holm, Roger Sorben, Dave Paulson, Peggy Jones, and Rod Enberg.
Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
OUTAGE?Use SmartHub.It’s the most efficient way to report power outages. It’s quick, easy, and goes straight into MLEC’s dispatch center. No more searching for your account number and phone number to call in. Using the app, you can report an outage in a snap!
Visit www.mlecmn.net to sign up for SmartHub or download the app to your mobile device today!
WHICH INTERNET PLAN ISRIGHT FOR YOU?Are you in our XStream Fiber Internet area? Is Viasat Satellite Internet available at your home?
CONTACT US FOR MORE DETAILS! 218-429-0433 • 800-497-5310 • www.mlecmn.net
MLEC offers various Internet packages to fit the needs of our members.
Winter in Minnesota presents additional challenges to utility workers as well as additional hazards for home and business owners. Collisions between snow plows and power equipment can damage plows and vehicles, create electrical shock hazards to the snow plow operators and general public, and cause power outages. Take special care when plowing near power equipment. Be aware of electrical equipment and power lines, taking note of the locations of electrical cabinets, poles, and guy wires before the snow gets too deep.
