In light of recent vacancies on the Big Country Electric Cooperative Board of Directors, the board has decided to reconfigure the co-op’s district map in such a way that members’ needs can best be met now and into the future.
In March 2019, Big Country EC was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of longtime board member Dickie Sloan. Instead of attempting to fill the vacancy right away, the remaining directors considered how best to fulfill the cooperative’s future needs.
During this period of consideration, board President Roger Blackwelder announced that he would not seek reelection to the board when his term expires in April of this year. In light of his decision, the board of directors resolved in September 2019 to reduce the number of director districts from nine to seven, which will become effective upon Blackwelder’s departure in April.
The paramount concern of the board is ensuring that members are appropriately represented and the cooperative’s best interests are upheld. Reducing the board from nine members to seven will not compromise either of those objectives but will help to achieve them efficiently and more economically. You will see the changes indicated in the director district maps above. While the geographic sizes of the reconfigured districts vary, meters are distributed evenly among the districts.
This year, directors for districts 3 and 4 will be nominated and elected at the annual member meeting. They will serve three-year terms. Next year, directors for districts 5, 6 and 7 will be nominated and elected, and the following year, directors for districts 1 and 2 will be elected—and so forth.