January 2016 into 4 pages.indd - Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative

the
Outlet
Monthly Publication of Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative (USPS 711-080)
Happy New Year!
Volume 47, Number 1 - January 2016
This is your
MLEC Operation Round Up
new and improved
The Mille Lacs Community Trust Board met in December and awarded $14,000 in grants to
the following area projects:
monthly news
New Look - All Color
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Aitkin County CARE, Inc. - $2,000 for respite care services Aitkiin County TRIAD - $500 towards expenses for education & communications mtgs Aitkin High School Grad Blast 2016 - $500 for chemical free lock-in event for graduating Aitkin seniors Confidence Learning Center - $1,000 to help offset camper fees Crosby-Ironton 2016 Grad Blast - $500 for chemical free lock-in event for graduating CI seniors
Jessie Hallett Memorial Library - $500 to help cover expenses for the Story Time 2016 program
Just Because Quilting, A Chapter of Quilts for Kids, Inc. - $200 to purchase materials and supplies, provide quilts to children Kinship Partners, Crow Wing County - $1,000 to recruit, screen, train, match and provide ongoing support for mentors
KIP (Kids in Park) - $2,000 to improve and make park safer Mille Lacs Academy - $1,500 for special holiday gifts for five group homes and holiday meal Mounted Eagles - $2,000 for scholarships to participants who need help funding their lesson fee
Onamia Area Friends of the Library - $500 to expand their DVD library to include DVD’s for adults and children
Rippleside Elementary School, Farm2School Program - $1,800 to purchase farm fresh local food for the Farm2School lunch program This quarter $14,000 of donated funds were distributed. Since the program began, a total
of $916,800 has been put back into the community. This is all thanks to MLEC members that
choose to round up their electric bill to the nearest dollar. Operation Round Up dollars go into
the Mille Lacs Community Trust where a board (separate from the MLEC board) manages the
funds. Members of the volunteer board are: Pat Scollard, President, McGregor; Fred Tessmer,
Vice-President, Deerwood; Muriel Kingsley, Secretary, Palisade; Ed Anderson, Treasurer, Aitkin;
Shirley Adolphson, Garrison; Loren Larson, Garrison; Allen E. Pearson and Diane Landstad,
Aitkin.
The Trust Board meets
quarterly to review grant
requests. Next quarterly
application due date is
March 1, 2016.
If your organization would
like to be considered,
please contact Deb
Chute at 927-8221 or
800-450-2191 for an
application, or they can
be found on our website,
www.mlecmn.net.
Photo: Sitting on floor L-R: Peggi Beseres – Hallett Library and Muriel Kingsley -MLEC Trust Board. Sitting in chairs L-R : Aggie Stroot
– Mounted Eagles, Leona Mostowski - Confidence Learning Center, Tammy Larson – CI Grad Blast, Callie Taylor – Aitkin County Care,
Jesse Peterson, and Wanda Blakesley – Rippleside. Standing L-R : Bill Stroot - Mounted Eagles, Shirley Scollard - MLEC Trust Board,
Ginny & Myron Ekstrand -Aitkin County Triad, Jason Donahue – Mille Lacs Academy, John Cyrus – Kids in the Park, Amy Wyant
-Farm2School, and David Downing – Kinship Partners.
Enjoy!
Candidate filing for MLEC director positions
from Districts 1 & 2 is now
1
District
electric account numbers start with
60,61,63,64,67,68 or 69.
The present director is Barbara Welty of Garrison
2
District
electric account numbers start with
35, 38, 49 or 50.
The present director is
William (Bill) Bernard of Aitkin
Both directors are filing for re-election.
If you are an MLEC member receiving electricity
in any of the districts listed and are interested
in filing for a director position,
call Chris Perrine, Member Service Manager
at 927-8242 or 888-724-9640
or email chrisp@mlecmn.com for director election
filing forms and complete information packet.
All filings must be received at the Cooperative by
February 18, 2016.
Thanks to the employees who represented MLEC to staff a
full day of bell ringers for the Salvation Army at Paulbeck’s
County Market.
Donna Monse
Erin Beck
Shelly Defoe
Bill Fillion
Mike Chalich
Tim Shereck
Chris Perrine
And thanks to all of you for your generosity!
ALWAYS
CALL
BEFORE YOU
Be careful out there!
We all caught a break with the mild weather until mid-December. Now, it appears winter is here to stay. In addition to the basic safe
driving habits we practice all year long - buckling up, driving alert
and sober, and driving at a safe and legal speed - The Minnesota
Department of Safety reminds us to be aware of the extra steps you
can take during the winter months.
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Questions or concerns?
MLEC’s Board of Directors
represent you!
Barbara Welty - District 1
320/692-4800
bwelty@mlecmn.com
Secretary/Treasurer
Bill Bernard - District 2
218/678-3911
Make sure your car is ready for the season and that the brakes,
battery, exhaust and cooling systems, headlights, fluids, windshield
wipers and washers are all in proper working order. Throughout the
winter, keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze.
Jay Porter
General Manager
bbernard@mlecmn.com
Harold Harms - District 3
320/684-9955
hharms@ mlecmn.com
President
Aileen DeMenge - District 4
218/768-4900
Keep a close eye on the weather. Avoid traveling, especially alone, if
severe weather is forecasted. Before taking a trip, inform someone at
your destination of your route and expected arrival time.
ademenge@mlecmn.com
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Keep an emergency survival kit in the car:
- a working flashlight and road flares
-an ice scraper, snow brush and shovel
- jumper cables, tow chain and a toolkit
- a blanket, warm clothes, boots, hat and gloves
- a metal bucket/coffee can, small candle and matches/lighter
- a brightly colored square of cloth such as a bandanna
- a basic first aid kit
- a large plastic garbage bag (to insulate feet, legs and torso)
- a bag of sand, salt or cat litter to use for traction under tires
- high energy, non-perishable foods (granola bars, unsalted nuts, dried fruits)
Don Appel - District 5
218/927-4134
dappel@mlecmn.com
Vice President
Bruce Robinson - District 6
218/845-2736
brobinson@mlecmn.com
Michael Reem - District 7
218/678-2961
mreem@mlecmn.com
Jay Porter
218/927-8224
Check that your cell phone is fully charged for use
during emergencies. Driving requires your full
attention, be sure to find a safe place to pull over
when you need to make a call.
If your car has been outside during a snowfall,
brush all the snow off before setting out. Pay
particular attention to cleaning off headlights and
taillights so that other motorists can see you.
Adjust your speed to the conditions and increase
following distances. If you begin to skid, remain
calm, ease your foot off the gas and gently turn
the wheel in the direction you want the car to go.
If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS) apply
a steady firm pressure to the brake pedal. Never
pump ABS brakes.
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jporter@mlecmn.com
General Manager
Find Board Meeting minutes
at: http://www.mlecmn.net/
content/mlec-board-directors
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
If your vehicle hits a power pole or brings down
a power line, stay in your vehicle and wait for
help. Call 911 for help or honk your horn to alert
bystanders. Warn them to keep away from the
vehicle. If you must get out of the car because of
fire or other danger, tuck your arms and jump clear
of the vehicle so no part of your body touches the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Then
hop or shuffle away, keeping feet together and in contact with the ground. Electricity spreads
through the ground in ripples, like a stone dropped in water. The voltage is highest closest to the
vehicle and decreases with distance.
Then contact a licensed electrician
to locate your secondary wires.
The same rules apply to situations involving farm and construction equipment. If it comes in
contact with overhead power lines, stay in the cab and warn others to stay away until the power
line is de-energized. We care about you and your safety.
Off-peak and dual fuel system
consumers should call their
electrician for service or repairs. Find
load control times at www.mlecmn.net,
choose Energy and then Load Control.
MN Electrical Inspectors
Aitkin County &
South East Crow Wing County
Scott Nutting 218/927-6922
Northern Crow Wing County
Brian Knox 218/543-5282
Mille Lacs County
Tim Emery 320-692-4104
Visit our website www.mlecmn.net
E-mail us mlec@mlecmn.net
Let’s Dish
Send us your recipes!
We’ll credit your account
$5.00 if it’s printed in THE
OUTLET,
Mail to:
Deb Chute Mille Lacs Energy, P.O. Box 230,
Aitkin MN 56431
or e-mail to: dchute@mlecmn.com
Thank you to Karen Stoltz of
Garrison for sending us this
month’s recipe.
Taco Tartlets
Shell
1 lb. ground beef (85-90% lean)
2 Tbsps. taco seasoning
2 Tbsps. ice water
Mix hamburger, taco seasoning and water with hands. Using a mini muffin pan, press in bottom and up the sides. Filling
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbsps. Taco sauce
2 oz. black olives, chopped
¾ cup coarsely crushed tortilla chips
Topping
1 cup shredded cheese
Preheat oven to 425°. Mix filling ingredients in medium bowl. Spoon into each hamburger shell making a slight mound, cover
with cheese and bake 7 to 8 minutes. Serve immediately, or freeze.
Makes 30-36.
Knowing your Dual Fuel & Freedom Heating Controls
A Dual Fuel system is used in a home that has electricity as their main heating source with a fuel oil, propane, or natural gas back up. The
electric heating is controlled during “high demand” periods when the call for heating is at its highest and the cost of power is at its highest. These are usually the coldest days of the winter. During times of high consumption and higher electric prices, Great River Energy will
interrupt the home’s electric heat and switch the home over to the non-electric heat source.
The most that can be controlled is 400 hours during one heating season, which runs from September to May. Typical control times are much
lower than the 400 hours maximum. The control hours would usually occur between 4-10pm and last approximately 4 hours or longer. The
benefit to this program is that in exchange for allowing us to control your electric heat you will have a kilowatthour rate at 5.9¢, much lower
than the main meter rate of 11.16¢ per kilowatthour.
Another option for heating is Freedom Heat and it is comparable to Dual Fuel but is controlled for a shorter time period as no back up is
required. The kilowatthour rate for Freedom Heat (7.4¢ per kilowatt) is slightly higher than Dual Fuel.
Both are cost saving alternatives that help decrease your monthly electric bill. You can check when we will be controlling at our website:
www.mlecmn.net Once there, choose the Energy tab and select the Load Control Schedule - you’ll see what is going to be controlled that day. Contact your Energy Services Team at 218-429-0432 or 888-433-4279 for more details.
Prize Winning Float
MLEC participated in the World Famous Fishhouse parade in
downtown Aitkin held on the Friday after Thanksgiving.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all the MLEC employees who
contributed. Pictured Left to right – front: Bill Bernard, Lori Packer,
Warren Burman, Erin Fitzsimmons, Alana & Derek Bendson, Quintin
Christy, Paige & Maddi Packer. Back: Darshan Christy, Sebastion
Packer and Aidan Bendson.
Construction crew: Derek Bendson, Elmo Swedberg, Matt Finlayson
and Darshan Christy. Props: Mike Chalich, Jay Eide, Ann Espeseth
and Jan Moriarty. Snowmobiles: Tony Klee. Our entry was awarded
a “trophy”.
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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.
Chris Perrine - Editor
Jan Moriarty - Assistant Editor
Operation Christmas
NOTICE TO POSTMASTER
Address All subscription
correspondence and form 3579 to:
THE MILLE LACS ENERGY OUTLET
(USPS 711-080) P.O. Box 230
Aitkin, Minnesota 56431
Published monthly by
Mille Lacs Energy
Cooperative P.O. Box 230
Aitkin, Minnesota 56431
Office of Publication
Aitkin, Minnesota 56431
Periodicals Postage Paid at Aitkin, Minnesota 56431
Additional Entry at
Isle, Minnesota 56342
Subscription Rates
Members-50 cents per year
Thanks for all that donated toys and/or cash to
Operation Christmas! Employee contributions from
Denim Days came to $300, along with a matching
donation from MLEC, for a total of $600. We are grateful to Ann Espeseth for her hard work and
commitment to this cause. A special thanks to the
“Knit-Witters” group that has donated handmade hats
and mittens for many years. Operation Christmas is a
county wide program that serves around 250 families
and approximately 530 local children. Total donations
of funds this year to the program was around $18,000. Pictured left to right are Tom Bruss
from Operation Christmas picking
up the toys and a check from Chris
Perinne of MLEC. Next year, MLEC
will be a public drop-off point.
Access your MLEC
account to:
•Pay Your Bill
•Find Detailed Account Info
•Check Your Usage
•Report An Outage
Plowing near power equipment can create electric shock hazards
and a cause power outage. Before the snow gets too deep, note
the locations of any electrical cabinets, poles, and guy wires where
you plow.
It’s cold outside - Spend your Christmas gift
money on yourself - Get high speed Internet
Christmas Tree Recycling
Until January 15, 2016
FREE INSTALLATION
$50 GIFT CARD
Data Packages up to 150 GB
Up to 12 MB Download Speed
Standard installation before January 31, 2016
Call today! 429-0433 or 800-497-5310
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Drop off for chipping at one of these sites:
AITKIN - MLEC Headquarters west of the yellow metal building
GARRISON - Behind the Fire Hall
McGREGOR - Second Avenue east & south of the bus garage
PALISADE - Fire hall parking lot
ONAMIA - NE Corner of the skate park on Main St. in Onamia
Go to My Account at
www.mlecmn.net.
To get the Smart
Hub Mobile App
on your phone or
tablet, search the
Apple® Store or the
Android® Market for
SmartHub
(All one word.)
If duplicates appear,
the correct App
is provided by
National Information Solutions
Cooperative. You
must have the app
to pay your bill
through your cell
phone or other
mobile device.