Website at www.clearwater-polk.com

CURRENTA C T I V I T I E S

Phone 218-694-6241 or toll free (888) 694-3833

–– OFFICE HOURS: 7:00 AM-4:30 PM, MONDAY-FRIDAY ––

NOVEMBER –2017–

––– CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 –––

Thank you to everyone who stopped in the office to help us celebrate Co-op Month on

Thursday and Friday, October 19th & 20th.

We served homemade pie and donuts to over 100 people. We also gave away six $25 energy certificates. The lucky winners are Lavone Rossell of Gonvick, Ashly Brenton of Gonvick, Anthony Colgrove of Bagley, Dennis Engebretson of Leonard, Julie Miller of Bagley and Herman Anderson of Bagley. Congratulations to all the winners and thanks again to everyone who stopped in.

Celebrating Co-op Month

Things we see every day can almost fade from view. But failure to notice high volt-

age power lines can be a deadly oversight. Safe Electricity wants to raise awareness about the dangers of overhead power lines and the precautions to take around them.

Often when we undertake outdoor activi-ties, we don’t even think about power lines. Taking a few moments to become aware of your surroundings is a critical step to keeping yourself and your loved ones safe.

Safe Electricity encourages everyone to fol-low these guidelines as they prepare to work outdoors this year:• Look up and around you. Always be aware

of the location of power lines, particularly when using long metal tools like ladders,

pool skimmers and pruning poles. Lower your long equipment when you are mov-ing it. Carry ladders and other long items horizontally whenever possible.

• Be careful when working on or around your roof, installing rooftop antennas and satellite dishes, doing roof repair work or cleaning gutters. Never go up on the roof in bad weather.

• Be especially careful when working near power lines attached to your house.

• Never trim trees near power lines – leave that to the professionals. Never use water

or blower exten-sions to clean gu t t e r s nea r electr ic l ines.

Contact a profes-s ional mainte-nance contractor.

• Never climb trees near power lines. Even if the pow-er l ines aren’ t t o u c h i n g t h e tree, they could touch when more weight is added

LOOK UP FOR POWER LINES AND STAY SAFE

SAFE ELECTRICITY URGES CAUTION AND AWARENESS

2017 ~ Clearwater-Polk Electric Newsletter PAGE 2

to the branch.• If your projects include digging, like build-

ing a deck or planting a tree, call your lo-cal underground utility locator before you begin. Never assume the location or depth of underground utility lines. This service is free, prevents the inconvenience of having utilities interrupted, and can help you avoid serious injury.Another instance where people often come

in contact with power lines is through vehicle crashes. In accidents that bring down power lines, our instincts tell us to flee danger. How-ever, it’s almost always best to stay in your vehicle and wait for help.

If you must get out because of fire or an-other danger, jump clear of the vehicle without touching it and the ground at the same time. Then hop with feet together — don’t run or stride. (Jason Edevold) Electricity spreads out through the ground in ripples, like a stone dropped in water. The voltage is highest in the ring closest to the vehicle and decreases with distance. Hop with feet together so that one foot won’t be in a higher voltage zone than another, which could make you a conductor for electricity.

If you come upon, or witness an accident involving toppled power poles and lines, don’t leave your vehicle to approach the accident scene. Often our inclination is to step in and help those in danger and offer assistance to the injured. However, in accidents involving power poles, the best thing you can do is call for help. Wait for trained assistance to arrive, or you could become an additional victim in need of rescue.

LOOK UP...continued from front page

SIGN UP FOR AUTO-PAY AND YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO

WIN

$25.00EACH MONTH WE DRAW FOR TWO

NEW OR EXISTING MEMBER’S NAMES FOR A $25.00 CREDIT TOWARDS

YOUR ELECTRIC BILL.

NOVEMBER WINNERS: Gary Klisch

Donna Solberg

Visit call811.com for more information.

One free, easy call gets your utility lines marked AND helps protect you from

injury and expense.

Safe digging is no accident:

Always call 811 before you dig.

2017 ~ Clearwater-Polk Electric Newsletter PAGE 3

FOR SALE: 12 Panel Gates (6-10 footers, 6-12 footers, 2 - head gates). One new Ironton motor 420 cc. Call 218-686-4037.

--------------------FOR SALE: Sleeper sofa in good condi-tion, $75.00, 1 set of wooden bunk beds, $45.00/OBO. Call 218-266-3373 or 952-303-1126.

--------------------FOR SALE: Hand-crafted log cabin with loft, sleeps 8, $4500.00 OBO. Call 218-766-8176.

--------------------WANTED: Canoe, wood cook stove. Call 218-766-8176.

--------------------FOR SALE: Oak cabinet/drawer, 1 - door. 2 - pull-out shelves, 48-door handles & back plates, and an oak counter cabi-net/roll down door. Call 218-266-3333.

--------------------FOR SALE: New 1000 square foot, hand- crafted log home shell - $19,500.00. Call 218-766-8176.

--------------------FOR SALE: Kimball Aquarius organ. Call 218-785-2268.

FOR SALE: (I WILL TAKE CONTRACT FOR DEED UP TO 10 YEARS!!!) 81 acres (51 tillable & 30 woods, grassland), 6½ miles south of Solway or 8 miles south of Shevlin. Great hunting & farming land!! Asking $97,000.00 or reasonable offer If inter-ested call 218-766-3635.

--------------------FOR SALE: Wood & metal futon (85”) with mattress - $50.00. Two twin with matching wicker headboards $50.00 each or $90.00 for both. Black & brass fireplace screen with glass door & metal mesh (38 ½” x 31 ½” x 1 ½”- $50.00. All items are OBO. Call 218-266-3373 or 952-303-1126.

--------------------FOR SALE: Pair of Firestone Firehawk tires 235/50R18, less than 10,000 miles on the tires, $175.00 for the pair. Call 218-694-2591.

--------------------FOR SALE: Remington 30.6 semi-auto Woodmaster 742, Bushnell scope, 2 clips $475.00. Remington Wingmaster 870 $1299.00, pump action shotgun $375.00. Call 320-232-5769.

SWAP SHOP

RULES: Ads for Clearwater-Polk Electric members only. Ads received after the 15th of each month will be held over for the following month. Ads may be run consecutively for two months. Limit your ads to two items. No commercial ads, please.

The Clearwater-Polk Trust Fund com-mittee will soon be holding a grant-funding meeting. Request for funds will be accepted until Friday, No-vember 17, 2017. Application blanks can be picked up at our office, on our website clearwater-polk.com or from one of the committee mem-bers, Glenn Rettmann, Larry Blasing or Mary Tronerud.

Donations from the Trust will generally be made to organizations which benefit the service area community of Clearwa-ter-Polk Electric Cooperative. Non-profit Organizations which have been granted IRS Code 501© (3) status and serve a large number of people will be given priority.

Donations from the Trust will generally

not be made for:

A. Lobbying, political, and religious orga-nizations;

B. Veteran, fraternal, and labor organiza-tions;

C. Fund-raising dinners, raffles and other events;

D. Individuals;E. National fund drives;F. Advertising; andG. Economic development projects.

The following factors will be con-sidered in the evaluation of all funding requests.

A. Potential benefit to area residents and the entire community;

B. Level of community support for the program or project or organization requesting the funds;

C. Fiscal and administrative capability

“Your small changecan make a BIG difference.”

APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR OPERATION ROUND UP FUNDS

WANTED TO BUY: Old tractor tires - 2 rear tires 11/12 x 38 & 2 front 515 tires. Call 218-760-1567.

--------------------FOR SALE: 42” snowblower for Cub Cadet. model # 190-032-101, weights, chains & manual included. Good condition – used 1 yr. Call 218-694-4075.

--------------------FOR SALE: 1996 Ski-Doo Touring Sled, 4013 miles, electric start, excellent condition. Call 218-785-2518.

--------------------FOR SALE: Hand-crafted log bed and bunk bed. Call 218-766-8176.

--------------------FOR SALE: Foos-ball table, glass doored corner cupboard. Call 218-694-6172.

--------------------FOR SALE: Gas range & refrigerator. Call 218-694-6172.

--------------------FOR SALE: 121 snowmobile track $200.00. Call 320-293-5435.

--------------------FOR SALE: Stove wood you split-you haul $50.00 a pickup load. Call 218-694-2432.

--------------------FOR SALE: 6’ hyd. angle snowblower, JD Q.T. mount; Loftness 8’ 3 pt. snowblower; 13 ton 3 pt. Powerhouse wood splitter, uses tractor hyd. Call 218-255-7029

Officers &Directors

SCHEDULED BOARD MEETING Held at the Clearwater-Polk Electric board room at 8:00 a.m. on the last

Wednesday of each month.

Leroy Riewer, President ....................BagleyVernon Hamnes, Vice President ....GonvickRobert Johnson, Secretary ...............BagleyHarlan Highberg, Treasurer ..............BagleyGary Mathis .....................................GonvickGreg Spaulding ..................................BagleyKeith DeMaris ..................................... ShevlinBruce Bjerke..................General Manager

of the organization to deliver a quality service or program; and

D. Results that are predictable can be evaluated.All donations to organizations will be

published in area newspapers and the Current Activities Newsletter.

All applications will be kept on hand for one year.

2017 ~ Clearwater-Polk Electric Newsletter PAGE 4

216B.097 COLD WEATHER RULE; COOPERATIVE OR MUNICIPAL UTILITY.

Subdivision 1. Application; notice to residential cus-tomer. (a) A municipal utility or a cooperative elec-

tric association must not disconnect and must recon-nect the utility service of a residential customer during the period between October 15 and April 15 if the dis-connection affects the primary heat source for the resi-dential unit and all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The household income of the customer is at or below 50 percent of the household income. A mu-nicipal utility or cooperative electric association utility may (i) verify income on forms it provides or (ii) obtain verification of income from the local energy assistance provider. A customer is deemed to meet the income requirements of this clause if the customer receives any form of public assistance, including energy assistance, that uses an income eligibility threshold set at or below 50 percent of the state median household income.

(2) A customer enters into and makes reasonably timely payments under a payment agreement that con-siders the financial resources of the household.

(3) A customer receives referrals to energy assis-tance, weatherization, conservation, or other programs likely to reduce the customer’s energy bills.

(b) A municipal utility or a cooperative electric as-sociation must, between August 15 and October 15 each year, notify all residential customers of the provi-sions of this section.

Subd. 2. Notice to residential customer facing dis-connection. Before disconnecting service to a resi-

dential customer during the period between October 15 and April 15, a municipal utility or cooperative electric association must provide the following information to a customer:

(1) a notice of proposed disconnection;(2) a statement explaining the customer’s rights

and responsibilities;(3) a list of local energy assistance providers;(4) forms on which to declare inability to pay; and(5) a statement explaining available time payment

plans and other opportunities to secure continued util-ity service.

Subd. 3. Restrictions if disconnection necessary. (a) If a residential customer must be involuntarily dis-

connected between October 15 and April 15 for failure to comply with subdivision 1, the disconnection must not occur:

(1) on a Friday, unless the customer declines to enter into a payment agreement offered that day in per-son or via personal contact by telephone by a municipal utility or cooperative electric association;

(2) on a weekend, holiday, or the day before a holiday;

(3) when utility offices are closed; or(4) after the close of business on a day when dis-

connection is permitted, unless a field representative of a municipal utility or cooperative electric association who is authorized to enter into a payment agreement, accept payment, and continue service, offers a pay-ment agreement to the customer.

Further, the disconnection must not occur until at least 20 days after the notice required in subdivision 2 has been mailed to the customer or 15 days after the notice has been personally delivered to the customer.

(b) If a customer does not respond to a discon-nection notice, the customer must not be disconnected until the utility investigates whether the residential unit is actually occupied. If the unit is found to be occu-pied, the utility must immediately inform the occupant of the provisions of this section. If the unit is unoccupied, the utility must give seven days’ written notice of the proposed disconnection to the local energy assistance provider before making a disconnection.

(c) If, prior to disconnection, a customer appeals a notice of involuntary disconnection, as provided by the utility’s established appeal procedure, the utility must not disconnect until the appeal is resolved.

Subd. 4. Application to service limiters. For the pur-poses of this section, “disconnection” includes a

service or load limiter or any device that limits or inter-rupts electric service in any way.

The Military Service Personnel, section 325.027 of the Public Utilities Act, provides:

Section 1. [325E.028] UTILITY PAYMENT AR-RANGEMENTS FOR MILITARY SERVICE PER-

SONNEL.

Subdivision 1. Restriction on disconnection; payment schedules. (a) A municipal utility, cooperative elec-

tric association, or public utility must not disconnect the utility service of a residential customer if a member of the household has been issued orders into active duty, for deployment, or for a permanent change in duty sta-tion during the period of active duty, deployment, or change in duty station if such a residential customer:

(1) has a household income below the state medi-an household income or is receiving energy assistance and enters into an agreement with the municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility under which the residential customer pays ten percent of the customer’s gross monthly income toward the custom-er’s bill and the residential customer remains reason-ably current with those payments; or

(2) has a household income above the state me-dian household income and enters into an agreement with the municipal utility, cooperative electric associa-tion, or public utility establishing a reasonable pay-ment schedule that considers the financial resources of the household and the residential customer remains reasonably current with payments under the payment schedule.

(b) For purposes of this subdivision, “household income” means household income measured after the date of the orders specified in paragraph (a).

Subd. 2. Annual notice to all customers; inability to pay forms. (a) A municipal utility, cooperative elec-

tric association, or public utility must notify all residential customers annually of the provisions of this section.

(b) A municipal utility, cooperative electric associa-tion, or public utility must provide a form to a residential customer to request the protections of this section upon the residential customer’s request.

Subd. 3. Application to service limiters. For the pur-pose of this section, “disconnection” includes a ser-

vice or load limiter or any device that limits or interrupts electric service in any way.

Subd. 4. Income verification. Verification of income may be conducted by the local energy assistance

provider or the municipal utility, cooperative electric as-sociation, or public utility unless the customer is au-tomatically eligible for protection against disconnection as a recipient of any form of public assistance, includ-ing energy assistance that uses income eligibility in an amount at or below the income eligibility in subdivision 1, clause (1).

Subd. 5. Appeal process. (a) The municipal utility, cooperative electric association, or public utility

shall provide the residential customer with a commis-sion-approved written notice of the right to appeal to the commission or other appropriate governing body when the utility and residential customer are unable to agree on the establishment, reasonableness, or modification of a payment schedule, or on the reasonable timeliness of the payments under a payment schedule, provided for by this section. Any appeal must be made within seven working days after the residential customer’s re-ceipt of personally served notice, or within ten working days after the utility has deposited first class mail notice in the United States mail.

(b) The utility shall not disconnect service while a payment schedule is pending appeal, or until any ap-peal involving payment schedules has been determined by the commission.

Subd. 6. Enforcement. This section may be enforced pusuant to chapter 216B.The purpose of this notice is to inform you of your

rights and responsibilities under section 325E.027, Utility Payment Arrangement for Military Service Per-sonnel. These rights and responsibilities are designed to help you meet payment of your utility bills. You must act PROMPTLY, if you choose not to assert your rights or choose not to enter into a mutually acceptable pay-ment schedule, your service may be disconnected.

Your responsibility is to declare inability to pay by completing our inability to pay form and to return to Clearwater-Polk, within ten days.

Your responsibility to provide documentation to Clearwater-Polk that your household income is less than 50% of the state median level.

You have the right to a mutually acceptable pay-ment schedule with Clearwater-Polk. This payment schedule will cover your existing overdue bill plus your estimated use during the payment schedule period. If you are able to pay but still wish to enter into a pay-ment schedule, contact Clearwater-Polk to make such payment arrangements.

You have the right not to be involuntarily discon-nected on a Friday or the day before a holiday.

Your responsibility, if you choose to appeal, is to mail or hand deliver the letter of appeal stating your situation and issues in dispute. Your letter of appeal must be in our hands before the day of disconnection. The Clearwater-Polk Electric Board of Directors will re-view your appeal after it is received. If you want to be present at the appeal, you must call the cooperative for the date and time of the appeal review.

If you need help paying your electric bill, you may qualify for state or federal fuel assistance. For complete qualifications, applications and information, contact your local county social services or community/citizens action council listed below. These organizations may also provide budget counseling.

Clearwater Social Services ........... 694-6164Polk County Social Services ......... 435-1585White Earth RBC ............................ 473-2711

COLD WEATHER RULE NOTIFICATION

Bi County Cap ....................... (800) 332-7161Red Lake Cap ................................679-1880Inter-County ....................................796-5144

2017 ~ Clearwater-Polk Electric Newsletter PAGE 5

Manager’s Message

Bruce Bjerke

GIVING THANKSEvery November we give thanks for

the many blessing in our lives. My list includes good health, wonderful family and friends, our community and a job serving the members of Clearwater-Polk Electric Cooperative.

I’m thankful to be a part of this cooperative with a great group of em-ployees whose mission is to provide af-fordable, reliable, safe electric power. We also aim to improve the quality of life in the community we serve. It’s a mission we all take seriously.

The beauty of a cooperative is that it’s locally owned and operated; there are no distant shareholders pulling the strings behind the scenes. We live alongside those we serve. Our members have elected an excellent board of directors that represent you and govern your cooperative. We are your neigh-bors, your friends, and your family. I am thankful for you, our members.

I’m also thankful for our Veterans; those who have served in Armed Forces. We take for granted the freedom and opportunities we have in this country because of the sacrifices extraordinary men and women have made, doing things most people don’t want to do, going places we would never want to visit and living at length in uncom-fortable surroundings we can’t even imagine.

We are so fortunate to have been born in this country, which gives us opportunities and freedoms that many people in other countries aren’t able to enjoy. Freedom is a precious gift that must be defended or it will be taken from us.

We need to continue to remember

our troops who are serving today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them and their families. The holiday season can be a difficult time. To all our Vet-erans and those currently serving in the Armed Forces, thank you for your ser-vice and the sacrifices you have made.

Thank you to our members who stopped by our office on October 19th and 20th in celebration of Coop Month. They were treated to pie, donuts, cof-fee and juice. A big thanks to Deanna who baked all the delicious pies and to Angie for helping Deanna serve the goodies to our members.

YOU GET THE CREDITElectric cooperatives aren’t like

other utilities—you own a portion of the business. And one benefit of that mem-bership involves the allocation of excess revenue, called margins, in the form of capital credits.

Electric co-ops operate at cost— collecting enough revenue to run and expand the business but with no need to raise rates to generate profits for distant shareholders. When Clearwater-Polk has money left over, it’s allocated

back to you and other members as capital credits. Members are annually allocated capital credits based on the amount of electricity they consumed during a year.

It’s time for you to get the credit —capital credits, that is― for help-ing build, sustain, and grow your local electric cooperative. During our September board meeting, your board of directors approved the retirement of nearly $200,000 to our members. Current members who were receiving electric service in 1984 and/or 2010 will see their share of the capital credit retirement in the form of a credit on your electric bill. Former members will receive their capital credits by check through the mail. This credit reflects your contribution of capital to, and ownership of the cooperative during those years.

On behalf of your board of directors and the employees at Clearwater-Polk, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your support and look forward to continuing serving you.

Happy Thanksgiving! –Bruce

Attention Members: Clearwater-Polk Electric’s rebate program is changing

Clearwater-Polk Electric’s current Power Savers rebate program is being discontinued. Any member that is planning to submit a request for a rebate under this program must have all installations and forms submitted to our office no later than December 18th.

There are no changes to the Minnkota Heat and Water Heater rebate programs at this time. They will continue into 2018.

Clearwater-Polk will be initiating a new rebate program that will begin January 1, 2018. Details of the new rebate program will be published in a future issue of the Current Activities newsletter.

2017 ~ Clearwater-Polk Electric Newsletter PAGE 6

DURING OFFICE HOURS 7:00 am-4:30 pm, Mon.-Fri.

CALL 694-6241 or 1-888-694-3833

** AFTER HOURS CALL

Cell # 1-877-881-7673** For after hour outages,

please contact the above cell #.

TR CO AU LB LL SE

To reward our faithful readers, one member’s name will be drawn at random each month

and placed somewhere in the newsletter. If you should find your name, let us know before

the 15th and win $25 off your next bill.

YOU COULD WIN$25

3 eggs 1 tsp. baking soda1¼ c. vegetable oil 1 tsp. ground cinnamon1 tsp. vanilla extract 4 medium tart apples, peeled2½ c. all-purpose flour and chopped2 c. sugar 1 c. chopped pecans2 tsp. baking powder 1 (11 oz.) pkg. butterscotch1 tsp. salt chips

In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs, oil and vanilla.Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon; add to egg

mixture and mix well.Stir in apples and pecans. Pour into an ungreased 13” X 9”

baking dish. Sprinkle with butterscotch chips. Bake at 325° for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.

NRECA’s Straight Talk Energy Efficiency

Tip of the Monthfor November 2017

Spending more time in the kitchen during the holiday season? Here’s one way to be more energy efficient: Unplug small kitchen appliances, like toaster ovens and microwaves, when not in use. You could save $10 to $20 per year.

Source: U.S Department of Energy

If you have a favorite recipe you wouldlike to share with Clearwater-Polk Electric members, please send to:CLEARWATER-POLK ELECTRIC COOP.

P.O. BOX 0BAGLEY, MN 56621

BUTTERSCOTCH APPLE CAKE

Clearwater-Polk will be

CLOSED Friday, November 10to observe VETERAN’S DAY

~ and ~

Thursday and Friday, November 23rd & 24th

for the THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY.

Give your loved ones and yourself the gift of safety. If you plan to add to or

replace some of your holiday decorations this season, follow this tip sheet to be sure you purchase safe electrical products.

PURCHASING TIPS• Always buy electrical equipment that

displays a label indicating it has under-gone independent testing by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Intertek (ETL), or Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

• Only make purchases from trusted retailers to avoid the risk of purchasing counterfeit products.

• Be sure to buy decorations according to

Buyer ’s Guide: Purchasing Tip Sheet for Holiday Decoratingyour intended use outdoors or indoors.

• Send warranty and product registration forms to manufacturers in order to be no-tified promptly in the event of a product recall.

ARTIFICIAL VS. NATURAL TREES• When buying a natural tree look for a

well-hydrated one with vibrant green needles that are hard to pluck and don’t break easily from its branches.

• Look for a trunk sticky with sap when purchasing a natural tree.

• For natural trees, be sure your tree stand holds plenty of water so you can keep it hydrated.

• According to the American Christmas Tree Association, artificial trees cost 70% less

over 10 years.• If you use an artificial tree, choose one

that is tested and labeled as fire resis-tant.

LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE (LED) VS. INCANDESCENT HOLIDAY LIGHTS• LED lights last up to 20 times longer than

traditional incandescent lights.• LEDs generate less heat—which translates

into greater energy-efficiency.• LEDs are made with epoxy lenses, not

glass and are much more durable.• LEDs are initially more expensive, but

will recover some of the cost through energy savings.

• Incandescent holiday lights burn more brightly than LEDs.