2017 June GCEC Florida Currents

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative

J U N E 2017

Annual Meeting 2017 Youngsters from the audience helped draw prize tickets at the 69th Annual Members’ Meeting. Read more about the meeting on pages 26 and 32, and see a pictorial review on page 28.

Employee News PAGE 4 Generator Know-How PAGE 6 n

Gulf Coast

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Inside

June 2017 Vol. 6, No. 8

Surviving Natural Disasters 12

From hurricanes and floods to wildfires and tornadoes, learn how to protect yourself and your family.

Also In This Issue Side Roads 10 In the Kitchen 16 Great Picture Hunt 18

Travel Journal 20 Festival Roundup 22 Parting Shot 30

Your utility pages: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32

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Gulf Coast

Bartley Named CEO/GM John Bartley is Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s new CEO/general manager.

John was hired in 2014 as manager of accounting and finance. He was promoted to chief financial officer in 2015.

He has an extensive background in accounting, business analysis, finance, human resources and planning.

John has undergraduJohn Bartley ate and graduate degrees in business administration and accounting, and is a certified public accountant and a certified fraud examiner. He has also completed the Rural Utilities Service

borrower accounting course.

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is part of the Touchstone Energy national alliance of local, consumerowned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service to members.

Approximately 75 employees serve more than 20,000 meters and 2,600 miles of line in Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Jackson, Walton and Washington counties and in the municipalities of Wewahitchka, Ebro, Lynn Haven, White City, Fountain and Southport. n

GCEC Manager of Operations Andy Dick addresses employees during an appreciation luncheon.

Cooperative Celebrates Lineman Appreciation Day Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative celebrated Lineman Appreciation Day on April 18, providing lunch for all employees.

“We appreciate the role each employee of GCEC plays in delivering reliable service to our members,” said CEO/General Manager John Bartley. “Lineman Appreciation Day is a day to recognize brave men and women who protect public safety.

“Lineworkers are often the first responders after catastrophic events. They work away from their families 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to keep the power flowing to our members. We have all become so accustomed to having electricity available to us that we sometimes forget how dangerous this job can be. Today is a day to say thank you.” n 4

JUNE 2017

Your Cooperative Staff Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is pleased to announce the move of Jay Shiver and Steven Ward to the position Jay Shiver of apprentice linemen.

Both Jay and Steven have worked at the cooperative since 2015, previously in the right-ofway department as utility Steven Ward technicians.

Congratulations, Jay and Steven!

The co-op also has added two employees.

Cole Harper and Jeff Carter join GCEC as utility Cole Harper technicians in the right-of-way department.

Cole is a graduate of Wewahitchka High School. Jeff is a graduate of Holmes County High School and received welder training through Jeff Carter Jensen USA. Welcome, Cole and Jeff! n

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative CEO/General Manager John Bartley, standing at left, addresses employees and trustees during a luncheon celebrating 282,240 hours worked without a lost-time accident.

Employees Celebrate Safety Achievement

Jeremy Miles, left, and Gary Whitfield prepare a low country boil for GCEC employees and trustees, who enjoyed a luncheon celebrating 441 days of no losttime accidents.

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative employees and trustees recently celebrated an important safety milestone: 441 days of no lost-time accidents.

A lost-time accident is a work-related injury that hinders an employee from being able to carry out his or her regular job duties. This achievement represents 282,240 hours worked by more than 70 cooperative employees during this period.

“For many years, the culture of our industry revolved around getting the job done as quickly as possible,” said GCEC Chief Operating Officer Francis Hinson. “We have worked diligently to change our employee mindset to a culture of ‘safety first.’ There is nothing more important than each and every one of our employees going home safely to their families at the end of each workday.”

In celebration of this accomplishment, GCEC employees were rewarded with a luncheon and a kitchen knife set engraved with the cooperative’s logo.

“I want to commend our employees on this safety achievement,” said GCEC CEO/ General Manager John Bartley. “While we work to provide a safe environment for our employees, it takes a buy-in on the part of the employees—individually and as a team—to follow safety processes each day.” n JUNE 2017

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Gulf Coast

Bruce Skehan recently had a Generac wholehome generation system installed at his Northern California home. Permanent systems can support electrical loads up to 22 kilowatts.

Generator Know-How

Understand how to safely operate a backup generator before using

By Anthony Larson

If you plan to use a generator for your home or business, there are a few things your power company would like you to know.

Despite your utility’s best efforts, occasional interruptions in the supply of electricity are inevitable. In the past, the remedy for these inconvenient outages would have been to light a candle or find a flashlight and patiently wait it out.

Today, homeowners can install a backup power generator.

Most generators convert energy from gasoline, diesel, propane or natural gas. Generators range in capacity from powering a few lights or a single appliance—usually a refrigerator, freezer or well pump—to providing the power needs for an entire home. They fall into two categories: portable, for limited power; or permanent, usually for whole-home applications.

While a generator makes it more comfortable to endure a power outage, improper use can be deadly. That is why your power provider wants you to know about the proper installation and use of a backup generating system. For your safety and that 6

JUNE 2017

of utility employees, there are precautions you need to take.

If you plan to use an outside, portable unit for limited power generation, plugging in a single appliance or two rather than the house circuit breaker box, a do-it-yourself approach may be appropriate.

On the other hand, if you plan to install a whole-home power generation system, hire a licensed electrician to hardwire an automatic transfer switch adjacent to your circuit breaker box. Using an automatic transfer switch eliminates the risk of electrical “backfeed” into power lines, which can injure or kill utility workers repairing downed lines, and damage any home equipment.

Before starting a portable generator, list both the starting and running wattage requirements of everything you want to operate. Your generator must be rated to handle the total wattage of lights and appliances you plan to connect to it. Since requirements vary with different brands, check the nameplate on the appliance.

“Running too many things at once can overload your

Safely Operate Your Backup Generator

Because internal combustion engines create carbon monoxide, be sure to run generators in well-ventilated spaces.

generator, damaging the appliances,” says Thomas Elzinga, energy services manager for Consumers Power Inc., in Philomath, Oregon. “You’ve got to be careful when you plug the appliance into the generator. Make sure that your generator is properly sized for the appliances you intend to plug into them.”

With a whole-home generator, there is only a momentary blink. A generator then kicks in and the power comes back on.

You do not need to do anything special. The automatic system switches over all on its own.

“When the power goes out, the switch automatically senses the loss, and disconnects from the grid,” says Thomas, noting it is a smooth operation. “That eliminates the possibility that you or a power company employee can be harmed by the output of your generator. And when the power comes back on, the automatic transfer switch reconnects your house to the grid.”

Thomas emphasizes the prudence of getting outside help when making power generation equipment decisions.

“Consult with your power company’s representative to help determine your generator requirements,” he says. “Consult a licensed electrician for local codes and installation requirements. If any customers or members do have questions or concerns, they can call their utility company for help. Your utility might be able to direct you to qualified electricians and contractors who can then make recommendations and install your system.”

In some cases, your utility may offer financing to help with initial installation and startup costs. Most power companies are happy to provide information with any generator project, making it easier for you.

Homesite power generation is becoming more prevalent as systems become more efficient. Now that you know how to do so properly, go ahead and power up. n

Portable Generator Setup XX Place the generator on a level surface. If the generator is not level, fuel may leak from the fuel cap.

XX Use an appropriately sized extension cord—usually 10, 12 or 14 gauge. The lower the number, the thicker the cord and the more electricity it can carry. Do not run it under a rug. Heat can build up and spark a fire.

XX Do not run a generator indoors or in an enclosed space.

Internal combustion engines produce deadly carbon monoxide gas.

XX Fill your generator with clean, fresh fuel in a wellventilated area while it is turned off. Keep the fuel level two inches below the top of the fuel tank to allow expansion in hot weather and prevent overflow.

XX Check fuel levels periodically to be sure you have adequate fuel for emergencies.

XX Use the correct amount and type of oil. Refer to the engine manual included with your generator. Always check the oil level prior to starting.

XX Allow the generator to run approximately two minutes before plugging in extension cords, appliances or equipment. Do not start a generator with items already plugged in.

XX Start items from the largest power user to the smallest.

Keep in mind many items—especially those with electric motors, such as well pumps, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and plug-in space heaters—require a surge of power to get them started.

XX To avoid the possibility of a voltage surge, unplug all cords in the reverse order in which they were plugged in, then wait about two minutes before shutting down the generator.

XX Diligently perform manufacturer’s suggested maintenance or checkups on the system. If necessary, hire a professional.

Whole-Home Generator Setup XX Ensure your whole-home generator is installed by a manufacturer-certified contractor.

XX Ensure the automatic transfer switch is installed by a licensed electrician.

XX Check fuel levels periodically to ensure you have adequate fuel for emergencies.

XX Diligently perform manufacturer’s suggested maintenance or checkups on the system. If necessary, hire a professional. n

JUNE 2017

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Gulf Coast

Right-of-Way Maintenance Ensures Safety, Reliability Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative will clear rights-of-way in Crystal Lake and Fountain during June.

GCEC has about 2,600 miles of distribution line. If vegetation comes into contact with power lines, it can interfere with your electric service and cause a dangerous situation.

Vegetation must be cleared from power lines to provide reliable electric service and prevent a hazardous condition.

When a person signs up to be a member of the cooperative, there is an agreement between the member and GCEC to allow right-of-way maintenance. The agreement gives GCEC the legal right to remove from the right-of-way anything that could interfere with the cooperative’s ability to ensure safe, reliable electric service for all members.

If the cooperative’s right-of-way clearance was not maintained, tree limbs and other growth coming into contact with power lines would greatly increase the number of power outages experienced by members.

The cooperative tries to work with each landowner to preserve landscaping when maintaining rights-of-way. While most property owners regard trees as an asset, federal law requires GCEC to eliminate hazardous conditions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to bring you quality, reliable service. n

Trimming or removing trees near power lines helps the cooperative deliver safe, reliable electric service to members.

Help Reduce Demand for Electricity

Office numbers: Southport................(850) 265-3631

(800) 568-3667 Wewahitchka...........(850) 639-2216

(800) 333-9392 Panama City.............(850) 481-1188

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JUNE 2017

H2O Plus, a program available to you from Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, has the potential to dramatically reduce the demand for electricity. We just need your participation.

Using energy wisely has never been easier. A device is installed on your electric water heater that allows our power supplier to cycle your unit for short periods. By managing energy use when demand is high—when you and your neighbors are using the most electricity—our supplier can reduce demand when electricity is most expensive, delaying the need to build facilities to generate more power, alleviating or pushing those costs out to the future. An added benefit is reducing the amount of greenhouse gases, thereby helping the environment. You still will have enough hot water for showers and household chores. In fact, you shouldn’t even notice a difference in the amount of hot water available.

For more information, please call GCEC Energy Services Representative Manuela Heyn. She will take down your information and, after ensuring the program is a good fit for your household, schedule an installer to visit your home and install the device at no cost to you. In fact, for your participation, we will make a one-time credit of $25 to your electric bill. We look forward to hearing from you soon. n

Gulf Coast

Trading Post For Rent 3 (+/-) waterfront acres on Dead Lakes, seven miles north of Wewahitchka. Zoned commercial/ residential. 250’ to 300’ of waterfront, boat ramp, no flooding, Old Magnolia lodge, two county road entrances, gated, five 50-amp full hook-up RV sites, cottage, duplex, barn, small home, riverfront cook house, historic motel (needs repairs), paved driveway. Tranquil and beautiful property with potential for campground, bed/ breakfast, restaurant, etc. $375,000. Must schedule appointment to see, (850) 899-1757.

Horse barn with five stalls, paddock and about 4 acres of pasture in Wewahitchka, one block from the old courthouse. Lease by the stall, with discount for multiple horses. (740) 334-0341.

Three-bedroom, two-bath home in Lynn Haven.

Garage, ceiling fans and inside laundry room.

On a cul-de-sac with wooded area behind the backyard. $1,065 a month. Lease or purchase possible. (850) 271-0289.

For Sale Six-piece kitchen canister set with matching salt and pepper shakers. White with cream-colored magnolia blooms, green leaves. Cost $89; sell for $30. Excellent mom-gift. (850) 773-1970.

Heavy-duty utility trailer. 18.5’ x 8’ bed, 12,000-lb. load capacity, twin Dexter axles, 9,000-lb. winch with 80’ cable and remote control, electric tongue jack, 12-volt battery, new wiring and lighting, built-in stabilizing jacks, lockable storage, easy steps, aluminum ramps, spare tire, new bed, clear title. Must sell. Located in Youngstown. $2,500 OBO. John, (850) 387-5536.

Husky Diamond cargo trailer. 4’ x 6’, 5,000-lb. gross weight, 700-lb. tongue weight. Storage racks, tie downs and carpet. 2” towing ball and spare tire (new). $1,200, firm. Photos available.

(305) 393-5304.

Set of four sharp 12” chipper blades for Woodchuck or Asplundh drum chipper, $50 per set. Floor plate with bolts for Woodchuck chipper, $100. (850) 722-6004 or (850) 960-4233.

Skippers Mate 17’ sailboat; O Day Widgeon 12’ sailboat; various sails, masts and anchors. (850) 784-4854.

Three-bedroom, one-bath 888-sq.-ft. home on two lots at 1234 7th St., Southport. $54,000.

(317) 254-1984.

L2900 Kubota with trailer, disc, bush hog mower, 899 hours. Four-row cultivator with four Sheffield sweeps. (850) 674-8101 or (850) 447-2046.

½-acre corner lot. (850) 639-2220.

14’ Carolina Skiff with trailer and 15 hp motor, $3,500. 16’ Carolina Skiff with trailer and 25 hp motor, $4,500. (850) 630-2600. Leave message.

Quarter horses. Ride well on trails, gentle, good for lessons. (850) 773-1957.

Miscellaneous Home service installations: child protection devices, pet doors, shelving/organizers, TV mounts and surround sound, surveillance equipment, digital thermostats, whole-house water filters, washer/dryer hook-ups, showerheads, weather-stripping, curtain rods and blinds. Home maintenance: replace filters, clean A/C coils, flush water heater, clean dryer vent and drains. Lubricate hinges, locks and doors. Inspect fireplace, fire extinguisher, garage door opener/motor, well pump and sprinkler system. Free estimates. (850) 722-4619 or (850) 596-2788 or proactivems@outlook.com.

Real Estate Three-bedroom, two-bath at 297 Raven Lane (Wetappo Creek). Large, enclosed RV shed. $185,000. (850) 381-0788.

Four Chipola River front lots for sale. High and dry. $90,000. (850) 933-6150.

FSBO. Two adjacent lots, about 2.5 acres on paved road, 10 miles north of Wewahitchka, 45 minutes from beaches. Borders the Chipola River and Cypress Creek. Cleared and ready to build.

Quiet and peaceful; no neighbors. Deeded restrictions. Underground utilities, deep well and many fruit trees. $69,900. (850) 648-4214.

Two- or three-bedroom cabin. About 1,200 sq. ft. with large screened porch. 150’ on West Arm Creek in Meeks subdivision. (850) 271-9040.

Chipola River front in Scotts Ferry. 2,700-sq.-ft. (heated and cooled) brick home on 200’ x 170’ lot. One bedroom, one bathroom, kitchen and living room downstairs; two bedrooms, one bath, kitchen and living room upstairs. 20’ x 24’ garage, 8’ x 36’ glass-covered sunporch, fireplace. $143,000. (850) 933-6150. ½ acre at 251 Hummingbird on Lake Charles.

36’ motorhome on concrete pad under metal roof; well house with freezer, washer, dryer and shower; fishing dock. Attached room on motorhome. (913) 795-4576.

Wanted Authentic Murano clown of any age or size, undamaged, preferably with label. To fulfill a lifelong wish for my mom’s 80th birthday. (850) 773-1970.

Yard help. George or Bobbie, (850) 871-6022.

Trading Post is a FREE service to members of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative.

GCEC reserves the right to edit or reject ads. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY OR TYPE. Please circle the category that applies: For Rent For Sale Real Estate

Free

Miscellaneous

Trade

Wanted

Items:

2015 H-D Freewheeler. Accessories include windshield, bumper guard, luggage rack and passenger back rest. Less than 10,000 miles.

(850) 624-4447.

1978 Ford Fairmont. 20,000 original miles., 302 with three-speed automatic. Nice car. Lots of new parts that went with time setting. Call for pictures and price, (813) 783-4120.

Name: Address:

Scandy White boat. 14’ stick steer with 25 hp short shaft Mercury and AMW galvanized trailer.

Runs well. Needs carpet and seats. $3,500 OBO. (850) 258-8021.

City:

Miniature donkeys. Jacks and Jennys, black, brown, gray and paints. All ages. $300 and up.

Make great pets. Also standard donkeys. Betty, (850) 899-7424.

** Due to press deadlines, please expect up to 60 days from submission for your advertisement to appear.

Phone:

Mail your ad to: The Trading Post; Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative; P.O. Box 8370; Southport, FL 32409; return with your electric payment; or email ad information to tradingpost@gcec.com.

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Gulf Coast

Annual Meeting Message From the CEO Presented at the 69th Annual Members’ Meeting on May 6, 2017, at the headquarters office in Wewahitchka

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative CEO/General Manager John Bartley addresses the crowd at the 69th Annual Members’ Meeting on May 6.

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Good morning. Welcome to your cooperative, Gulf Coast Electric. Thank you for coming to our 69th Annual Members’ Meeting. Since 1941, we have focused on serving and supporting our local community and members.

We hold this meeting each year to celebrate and thank you, our members. We have entertainment, food, drinks and prizes for you to enjoy. Please enjoy yourselves and let us know if we can do anything to help you. Cooperative employees are wearing blue shirts this year.

Our employees are your neighbors. You see them at the grocery store, the baseball field and around town.

Being a lineworker is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, and employee safety is our top priority. We want every employee to get to work and back home to their families safely every day. I want to commend our employees for 441 days without a lost-time accident. That is almost 300,000 total hours worked without an accident.

Participation in your cooperative is your right. We appreciate your involvement, and I want to thank you for helping us service your needs. Thanks to mail-in balloting, we had more member involvement in our annual meeting voting this year than ever before. In 2015, we had almost 500 members vote. In 2016, we had 3,900. This year, we had almost 4,300 registered members cast votes. Thank you for participating in your cooperative.

To reduce outages, our right-of-way crews have been working tirelessly to reclaim rights-of-way around our system.

These efforts are continually reducing outages on our system.

The right-of-way crews are currently working in Fountain and Crystal Lake.

In spite of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative having zero dollars in excess revenue, our board has graciously approved another increase in capital credit distributions to you, our members. This is the sixth consecutive year of increased capital credits. A total of $500,000 has been returned to our members this year. These capital credits are paid by check or as a credit on your power bill, depending on the amount.

Thank you again for attending your annual meeting. n

Gulf Coast

Annual Meeting in Review The 69th Annual Members’ Meeting of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative was May 6. Here is a look at a few of the people who attended this year’s event.

Judge Ann Maria Garcia of the 14th Circuit with Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative President Waylon Graham.

Awards for oldest and youngest annual meeting attendees went to 93-year-old Vera Rozier, left, and 6-month-old Dalton Forehand, right, both from Wewahitchka.

Awards for shortest and longest time married went to Richard and Katherine Toney of Callaway Heights left, married nine months, and Mr. and Mrs. Ken Carroll of Deerpoint Lake, right, married 67 years.

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James Golden of Chipley contributed to the Project Helping Hand program and won an electric grill.

The Drummond Family entertains the Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative Annual Members’ Meeting crowd, as a host of items await lucky prize winners.

GCEC’s trustees, from left, Kinneth Daniels, Robert Byrd, Betty Moore, Eddie Jones, Rupert Brown, Jimmy Black, Doug Birmingham, Waylon Graham and Gary Cox. Anna Stephens of PowerSouth, right, demonstrates the hairraising ability of the Van de Graaff electrostatic generator.

Representatives of the Mossy Pond Volunteer Fire Department grill hamburgers and hot dogs.

Houston Whitfield of the Wewahitchka Ambulance Service, right, checks the blood pressure of Mindy Ammons of Altha.

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FL-154

Offices 722 West Highway 22 P. O. Box 220 Wewahitchka, FL 32465 (850) 639-2216 or (800) 333-9392

9434 Highway 77 P. O. Box 8370 Southport, FL 32409 (850) 265-3631 or (800) 568-3667 6243 East Highway 98 Panama City, FL 32404 Phone: (850) 481-1188 www.gcec.com

CEO/General Manager John Bartley

Trustees President Waylon Graham Vice President Jimmy Black Secretary Eddie Jones Treasurer Rupert Brown Doug Birmingham Robert Byrd Gary Cox Kinneth Daniels Betty Moore Trustees normally meet the third Tuesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. CST. The board meets at the Wewahitchka office in even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October and December) and the Southport office in odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September and November).

The mission of GCEC: Fulfilling the changing needs of our membership and communities by providing cost effective, reliable and safe utility services through a dedicated and responsive workforce.

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GCEC President’s Message

Annual Meeting Recap Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative hosted its 69th Annual Members’ Meeting May 6 at its headquarters in Wewahitchka.

Mail-in balloting was used again for this year’s meeting. In the past, when members voted at the meeting, member turnout was between 3 and 4 percent. This year, with the mail-in ballot process, voter turnout was 26 percent. This helps puts the power of the cooperative into the hands of all members.

For entertainment, GCEC provided a bounce house for the children. Music was provided by The Drummond Family. Booths were open for the duration of the meeting, offering information about the programs GCEC offers. The cooperative provided a lunch of hamburgers, hot dogs, potato chips and Pepsi products, served by the Mossy Pond Volunteer Fire Department.

Each member who returned a mail-in ballot received a $5 electric bill credit. Registered members were entered in a drawing to win one of 10 $100 electric bill credits. We also selected 40 members to win $25 gift cards. Members who attended the meeting and brought the yellow prize ticket enclosed in their registration packet were entered to win an array of other prizes. Members who contribute to our Project Helping Hand program were registered to win an electric grill.

If you have not attended our annual meeting, I encourage you to do so in the future. Each member has a voice in the operation of GCEC, and those voices need to be heard.

For those who attended, I thank you for your participation and hope to see you again next year.

Waylon Graham