MECA-11851-September.. - Michigan Country Lines Magazine
Contents
1. But just off the coast of Lake Huron near unassuming Alpena MI is one of the most treacherous stretches of water in the Great Lakes a place called Thunder Bay If the name itself sounds ominous it s because Thunder Bay offers up unpredictable shifts in weather alarming gales fog banks and notoriously rocky shoals that play ghostly host to an area fittingly called Shipwreck Alley There lies the remains of over 200 ships only about 100 that have been physically discovered While it s difficult to imagine the friendly beaches of the Great Lakes as anything but welcoming these deep and traitorous waters were once bustling byways for both recreational and business mariners not all that ended at their intended destination It s easy to stay motivated and excited in your work when you re dealing with such a robust historical landscape said Stephanie Gandulla maritime archeologist and media coordinator for Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary There are so many stories lying just below the surface of the Great Lakes 14 SEPTEMBER 2015 SURE THUNDER BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY Twisted hull of the German freighter Nordmeer 1954_4 966 Those stories just increased substantially as the marine sanctuary has grown from 448 square miles to a remarkable 4 300 miles as of last September This means expanding both research and educational programs as well as a multi year plan to characterize2. Michigan Public Service Commission 7109 West Saginaw Highway Lansing Michigan PARTICIPATION Any interested person may attend and participate The hearing site is accessible including handicapped parking Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact the Commission s Executive Secretary at 517 284 8090 in advance to request mobility visual hearing or other assistance The Michigan Public Service Commission Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the Cooperatives August 3 2015 joint application for approval of their Energy Optimization Plans in accordance with Public Act 295 of 2008 and the November 24 2014 Commission Order in Cases Numbers U 17781 U 17783 and U 17786 for Cloverland Electric Midwest Energy and Thumb Electric respectively All documents filed in this case shall be submitted electronically through the Commission s E Dockets website at michigan gov mpscedockets Requirements and instructions for filing can be found in the User Manual on the E Dockets help page Documents may also be submitted in Word or PDF format as an attachment to an email sent to mpscedockets michigan gov If you require assistance prior to e filing contact Commission staff at 517 284 8090 or by email at mpscedockets michigan gov Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the case shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Commission by September 23 2015 Interested persons may
3. TYPE OF los MWh Your Regional EMISSION WASTE Co op Average Sulfur Dioxide 0 67 7 6 Carbon Dioxide 1 480 2 170 Oxides of Nitrogen 0 64 2 0 High level O 0 0083 Nuclear Waste Regional average information was obtained from MPSC website and is for the twelve month period ending 12 31 14 MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 6 PORTABLE GE and instructions for your generator Do NOT cut corners when it comes to safety These tips are merely supplemental and are not intended to substitute reading of the Owner s Manual Carbon Monoxide and Ventilation e Using a generator indoors CAN KILL YOU IN MINUTES Exhaust contains carbon monoxide a deadly poison gas you cannot see or smell e NEVER run a generator indoors or in partly enclosed areas such as garages e ONLY use outdoors and far from windows doors vents crawl spaces and in an area where adequate ventilation is available and will not accumulate deadly exhaust gas e Using a fan or opening doors and windows will not provide sufficient ventilation e It is recommended that you install battery operated carbon monoxide alarms detectors indoors according to manufacturer s instructions recommendations Gasoline Fueling and Burn Safety e If tank is over filled fuel can overflow onto a hot engine and cause fire or explosion e Do not overfill the fuel tank Always allow room for fuel expansion e Never add fuel while unit is running or hot Allow generator
4. ett you plan to Stay in E your home a metal roof i G AN j icheaper than asphalt ae lt Order in the month of September amp receive a from steel to Aluminum plus a as yr r r a a F i n ii p Fi SH your garage or outbuilding when added to your order TEI i oo La CE r B i an a a TF i j ron i Ba E a E ha ja ri NT HII F Bakes q i Fi j Lm J 1 D i 1 4 l T PE i CE Toughness and low maintenance requirements make metal roofing Financing Available perfect for the demanding needs of 1 844 638 2576 agricultural applications Each roof is hand crafted and 844 METAL ROOFS finished with custom made trims l and accessories available in i CHARLOTTE 1875 Lansing Road AMR s high standards of View our website to see a gallery of roofs we ve functional durability are met installed in and around Michigan or to request a quote by utilizing only the best materials and the most qualified installers who AmericanMetalRoofs com f PREV attain a minimum of 300 training hours Cloverland cloverland com Cloverland Electric Cooperative Community Presentations gt p i 4 Cloverland s Board of Directors is moving to become a member regulated co op Before the decision is made members are invited to attend any of the following presentations to hear the facts and ask questions All presentations begin at 7 p
5. every known shipwreck in the sanctuary Characterizing can mean a variety of informational components including having a site map photography data and sonar images or even knowing the name and vessel information It s no wonder our student programs appeal to our younger visitors said Gandulla You don t have to be able to scuba dive 300 feet to have an interaction with maritime history We provide and encourage hands on experiences both in and on the water The experiences are anything from a class trip to the sanctuary s impressive Visitor s Center with over 10 000 feet of exhibits participating in a program on shipwreck archeology or building underwater robotics There are also glass bottom boat tours that allow visitors to view shiowrecks without ever getting their feet wet Gandulla says it s not uncommon for students who have had a field trip in elementary or high school or invested themselves in a Shipwreck Alley class to later become a volunteer as an adult aga he bow of the schooner EB Allen 1864 1871 The Florida 1889 1897 still sits upright with its T Package freight still inside While all of this is available in our state s backyard people from around the world come to marvel at Visit D wo n Ss 25 ie If you re interested in a trip to the Visitor s Center visit thunderbay noaa gov visit Or to book a glass Beyond the rich and special maritime history of bottom boat tour g
6. extension cords with exposed wires or worn shielding e Do not operate the generator in wet conditions such as rain or snow e The generator must be properly grounded If the generator is not grounded you run the risk of electrocution Check and adhere to all applicable federal state and local regulations relating to grounding Generator Placement and Operation e Allow at least five feet of clearance on all sides of the generator when operating e Generators can be used during a wide variety of weather temperatures but should be protected from the elements when not in use to prevent shorting and rusting e Operate the generator only on level surfaces and where it will not be exposed to excessive moisture dirt dust or corrosive vapors e Inspect the generator regularly e Always disconnect the spark plug wire and place the wire where it cannot contact the spark plug to prevent accidental starting when setting up transporting adjusting or making repairs to the generator Source American Red Cross with technical advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the National Fire Protection Association publisher of the National Electric Code and the U S Consumer Product Safety Commission W Maintain Your Home s Heating System Efficiency By James Dulley ith the heating season soon upon us make sure your heating system is running at its maximum efficiency Doing a simple heating system tune up yourself i
7. like to hear your comments and are providing many ways for you to do so 1 By sending an email A special email address has been set up to receive your comments at memberreg cloverland com Our staff will receive these comments that will be forwarded to the board 2 By postal mail Send to 725 E Portage Ave Sault Ste Marie MI 49783 attn Member Regulation 3 By telephone Call 906 635 6808 to leave a message that will be shared with the board Or please feel free to call your director at the phone number listed on page 4 4 In person We have scheduled six Community Outreach events throughout our service area for late Sept and early Oct The schedule is listed on the back cover of this magazine 5 At the special open meeting on Thursday Oct 15 set for 9 a m at the Dafter Town Hall Any comments made through these opportunities will be provided for your board of directors to review before considering the proposal to become member regulated This is a positive step forward in bringing decisions to the local board table rather than a hearing room in Lansing It s part of the cooperative difference and we hope to hear from you as member owners of Cloverland Electric Cooperative m NOTICE TO MEMBERS OF CLOVERLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE The Cloverland Electric Cooperative board will take action on the proposal to become member regulated in accordance with P A 167 of 2008 at its meeting on Thursday October 15 2015
8. m Comments can be emailed to memberreg cloverland com or phoned to 906 635 6808 September 22 Raber Township Hall September 23 Sault Area H S Strahl Theatre September 24 Newberry Area H S Bystrom Auditorium October 1 Manistique Comfort Inn October 5 St Ignace Little Bear East Arena October 8 Kinross Township Hall Cloverland 800 562 4953 cloverland com
9. Cloverland Electric Cooperative September October 2015 Member Regulation Seasonal Billing International Company MELEE Changes in Manistique WATERFURNACE UNITS QUALIFY FOR A 30 FEDERAL TAX CREDIT THERE S A TREASURE IN YOUR BACKYARD You may not realize it but your home is sitting on a free and renewable supply of energy A WaterFurnace geothermal comfort system taps into the stored solar energy in your backyard to provide savings of up to 70 on heating cooling and hot water And for a limited time youv ll receive our Symphony comfort platform FREE with the purchase of select geothermal packages Contact your local WaterFurnace dealer today to learn how to tap into your buried treasure YOUR LOCAL WATERFURNACE DEALERS Bad Axe Clifford lonia Muskegon Traverse City B amp D Htg Orton Refrig amp Htg Home Experts Adams Htg amp Clg D amp W Mechanical 989 269 5280 989 761 7691 800 457 4554 231 873 2665 231 941 1215 Berrien Springs DeWitt Kalkaska Kiessel Geothermal UPPER WaterFurnace S amp J Htg amp Clg Kalkaska Plmb amp Htg Htg amp Clg PENINSULA Michiana 517 669 3705 231 258 3588 231 747 7509 269 473 5667 pieces Grandville Lapeer Portland Great Lakes Big Rapids Total Comfort Porter amp Heckman ESI Htg amp Clg Services Inc Stratz Htg amp Clg Inc Resource LLC 810 664 8576 517 647 6906 906 495 5543 E RAGRC TE SOUS U acted ack Michigan Center Sunfield Manistique ef T ge Hart L
10. Directors have the knowledge and experience to make decisions with the perspective and concern that only a local co op member can bring and no motivation to generate profits for stockholders You should not have to use attorneys with associated legal fees to get your message heard regarding rates and tariffs By being member regulated we would save close to 140 000 per year in assessments and other fees that we currently pay to the MPSC A typical rate case before the MPSC easily costs us 50 000 in legal fees It also allows us to be more flexible in establishing fair and appropriate rates quickly A request to the MPSC can take six to eight months depending on the MPSC s schedule Member regulation does not affect the basis for rate making Our rates will continue to meet the following guidelines 1 Rates and charges shall reasonably reflect the cost of providing service 2 Rates shall be uniform within the classes of service provided by the cooperative Continued on page 9 Your Co op Board In Action The board of directors met on May 21 and June 19 All directors were in attendance May e Reviewed a donation request and received comments from a member during the public comment section of the agenda e Expressed members comments concerning member regulation The co op will have member meetings to present the issue and answer questions e Reviewed the financial report and approved a motion to accept estate retir
11. LIC SERVICE COMMISSION NOTICE OF HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF CLOVERLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE MIDWEST ENERGY COOPERATIVE AND THUMB ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CASE NUMBERS U 17781 U 17783 and U 17786 Cloverland Electric Cooperative Midwest Energy Cooperative and Thumb Electric Cooperative the Cooperatives request Michigan Public Service Commission Commission approval to implement their Energy Optimization Plans in compliance with Public Act 295 of 2008 and the November 24 2014 Commission Order in Cases Numbers U 17781 U 17783 and U 17786 e The information below describes how a person may participate in this case You may call or write the Cooperatives attorney Mr Shaun M Johnson at Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 517 374 9100 for a free copy of the application Any person may review the application at Dykema s offices or at the respective offices of the Cooperatives Cloverland Electric Cooperative 2916 W M 28 P O Box 97 Dafter MI 49724 Midwest Energy Cooperative 901 E State St P O Box 127 Cassopolis MI 49031 and Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main St P O Box 157 Ubly MI 48475 0157 The first public hearing in this matter will be held DATE TIME Wednesday September 30 2015 at 9 00 a m This hearing will be a prehearing conference to set future hearing dates and decide other procedural matters BEFORE Administrative Law Judge Mark E Cummins LOCATION
12. Member Regulation Makes Sense loverland Electric is a member owned not for profit electric cooperative established in 1938 by local residents in the EUP which for the first 30 years had its rates and tariffs regulated by the board of directors That changed in the 1960s and since then we ve been regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission MPSC a governmental agency with commissioners appointed by the governor Daniel Dasho President amp Chief Executive Officer Your co op s board of directors consists of members whom you elect to set the policies that guide our operations At present decisions on rates and billing charges are not controlled by your elected board but by the MPSC in Lansing Member regulation would allow your board to set rates tariffs and billing rules for Cloverland In June your board decided to move towards becoming member regulated Cloverland would join seven of the nine Michigan electric co ops as well as a majority of the electric cooperatives across the country who are member regulated Member regulation is not total deregulation The MPSC would continue regulating business matters related to safety interconnection codes of conduct territorial issues distribution performance standards and quality of service Why does this make more sense One reason is that being member regulated allows your democratically elected board to be your direct contact for our rates and service rules
13. TER SEND ALL UAA TO CFS Association officers are Robert Schallip Cloverland Electric Cooperative chairman Mark Kappler HomeWorks Tri County Electric vice chairman and Eric Baker Wolverine Power Cooperative secretary treasurer Craig Borr is president and CEO CONTACT US Michigan Country Lines 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 517 351 6322 cdorr meca coop The appearance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised Change of Address Please notify your electric cooperative See page 4 for contact information IN THIS ON THE COVER The 4 300 square mile Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary located on Lake Huron in Alpena protects one of America s best preserved and nationally significant collections of shipwrecks Some co op editions have a different cover Photo courtesy of NOAA Thunder Bay NMS IN YOUR WORDS Our new question of the month section of Michigan Country Lines Let us know your answer and it may appear in the next month s issue or on your electric co op s social media site Please answer the question in your own words at http bit ly 1MgI7W5 Now the question What in your life are you most thankful for O SAFETY How To Use A Portable Generator Safely 7 OUR ENERGY Maintain Your Home s Heating System Efficiency James Dulley QO HOME COOKING Fresh and Flavortul Seafood Recipes You Will Love Christin McKame
14. all members of the cooperative At the meeting members of the cooperative shall have reasonable time to address the board prior to its acting upon the proposal Following member comments a roll call vote of the board of directors shall be taken For the proposal to be adopted 2 3 of the members of the board must vote in favor of becoming member regulated This proposal seeks that Cloverland Electric Cooperative become member regulated in accordance with P A 167 Notice of the October 15 board meeting shall be sent to all members as required by P A 167 by publication in Michigan Country Lines PARTICIPATION Any interested member may attend and participate The location of the board meeting site is accessible including handicapped parking Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact Cloverland Electric Cooperative at 800 562 4953 a week in advance to request mobility visual hearing or other assistance MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 9 Talented Members Share ll About Michigan Photos 1 Overlooking St Mary s River when the beach lupines were in bloom By Jill Scraver Sault Ste Marie 2 Water temp was about 47 degrees can t stop kids from enjoying 4 mile beach By Patty Ordiway Sault Ste Marie 3 Strongs MI with Mr Buck By Carrie ODell Hulbert Cloverland members whose photos we print in Country Lines will be entered in a drawing and one lucky member will win a credi
15. and engine to cool entirely before adding fuel e Never store a generator with fuel in the tank where gasoline vapors might reach an open flame spark or pilot light e Many generator parts are hot enough to burn you during operation and while the generator is cooling after turning off Avoid coming into contact with a hot generator SEPTEMBER 2015 NERATOR SAFETY TIPS Electrocution Hazard and Electrical Shock Hazards e Connecting a portable electric generator directly to your household wiring can be deadly to you and others A generator that is directly connected to your home s wiring can back feed onto the power lines connected to your home and injure neighbors or utility workers e Do not connect your generator directly to your home s wiring or into a regular household outlet e Always start or stop the generator only when no electrical loads are connected e Overloading your generator can seriously damage your valuable appliances and electronics Do not overload the generator Do not operate more appliances and equipment than the output rating of the generator Prioritize your needs A portable electric generator should be used only when necessary and only to power essential equipment e Use the proper power cords Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavy duty outdoor rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the appliance load Overloaded cords can cause fires or equipment damage Do not use
16. anks to all who send in recipes Please send in your favorite Easy Chicken recipes by Sept 10 Chili recipes by Nov 1 and Gluten Free recipes by Dec 1 Enter your recipe online at countrylines com or send to handprinted or typed on one side please Country Lines Recipes 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 Please note the co op from which you receive your electric service Contributors whose recipes we print in 2015 will be entered in a drawing and Country Lines will pay the winner s January 2016 electric bill up to 200 8 SEPTEMBER 2015 Member Regulation Makes Sense continued from page 4 3 Members will be notified before any rate or rule changes take effect 4 Members will be notified and allowed to address the board about any rate increase or rule change What is the next step Cloverland will be holding public meetings in your area to fully explain this proposal Members will be given time to express comments and ask questions Following those meetings your board of directors will meet Oct 15 to consider a proposal see notice below that would make Cloverland Electric the eighth member regulated electric cooperative effective Jan 2016 The meeting will be open to all members wishing to provide input about member regulation If the board approves member regulation by the required two thirds vote the next step would be to notify the MPSC How do provide my comments We would
17. appearance To file an appearance the individual must attend the hearing and advise the presiding administrative law judge of his or her wish to make a statement of position All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information available on the Michigan Public Service Commission s website and subject to disclosure Please do not include information you wish to remain private Requests for adjournment must be made purusant to the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure R 460 17315 and R 460 17335 Requests for further information on adjournment should be directed to 517 284 8130 A copy of the Cooperatives request may be reviewed on the Commission s website at michigan gov mpscedockets and at the office of Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan or at the respective Cooperatives offices For more information on how to participate in a case you may contact the Commission at the above address or by telephone at 517 284 8090 Jurisdiction is pursuant to 1909 PA 106 as amended MCL 460 551 et seq 1919 PA 419 as amended MCL 460 54 et seq 1939 PA 3 as amended MCL 460 1 et seq 1982 PA 304 as amended MCL 460 6 et seq 1969 PA 306 as amended MCL 24 201 et seq 2008 PA 295 MCL 460 1001 et seq and the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure as amended 1999 AC R 460 17101 et sea SEPTEMBER 2015 STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUB
18. at 517 284 8090 or by email at mpscedockets michigan gov Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the case shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Com mission by October 1 2015 Interested persons may elect to file using the traditional paper format The proof of service shall indicate service upon Cloverland s attorney Shaun M Johnson at Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 Any person wishing to appear at the hearing to make a statement of position without becoming a party to the case may participate by filing an appearance To file an appearance the individual must attend the hearing and advise the presiding administrative law judge of his or her wish to make a statement of position All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information thus available on the Michigan Public Service Commission s website and subject to disclosure Please do not include information you wish to remain private Requests for adjournment must be made pursuant to the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure R 460 17315 and R 460 17335 Requests for further information on adjournment should be directed to 517 284 8130 A copy of Cloverland s request may be reviewed on the Commission s website at michigan gov mpscedockets and at the office of Dykema Gossett PLLC or at the office of Cloverland Electric Cooperative For more information
19. ded MCL 460 54 et seq 1939 PA 3 as amended MCL 460 1 et seq 1969 PA 306 as amended MCL 24 201 et seq 1982 PA 304 as amended MCL 460 6 et seq 2008 PA 295 MCL 460 1001 et seq and the Michigan Administrative Hearing System s Administrative Hearing Rules 2015 AC R 792 10401 et sea August 13 2015 MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 18 Communicating in the Age of the Emoji By Jack O Malley N few years ago my son stood before a display of old rotary phones in an antique store puzzled by the seemingly ancient devices How did people text with those he asked chuckled before the thought occurred to me An entire generation now exists who ve never known life without mobile phones text messages Google or social media In today s world of technology a new digital language based on acronyms and emojis has emerged allowing people to communicate instantly with little more than a few letters and characters In the old days we huddled around the handset during a long distance call everyone listening and talking at the same time because the calls were too expensive for everyone to have a separate turn talking guess I m officially an old fogie LOL Mobile phones have become such an essential part of our lives we have a hard time functioning without one Like an extra appendage we rely on a cell s convenience intelligence and sheer ability to do almost anything Want to play Scrabble Download the app Want to
20. e to set future hearing dates and decide other procedural matters BEFORE Administrative Law Judge Martin D Snider LOCATION 7109 West Saginaw Highway Lansing Michigan PARTICIPATION Any interested person may attend and participate The hearing site is accessible including handicapped parking Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact the Commission s Executive Secretary at 517 284 8090 in advance to request mobility visual hearing or other assistance The Michigan Public Service Commission Commission will hold a public hearing to consider Cloverland Electric Coopera tive s Cloverland July 27 2015 application for Commission approval to reconcile its renewable energy plan REP costs for the period ended December 31 2014 Cloverland represents that its REP filings included no request for a renewable energy surcharge no surcharge was approved and none was charged to its member customers in 2014 Cloverland further represents that there are neither revenues nor expenditures to reconcile All documents filed in this case shall be submitted electronically through the Commission s E Dockets website at michigan gov mpscedockets Requirements and instructions for filing can be found in the User Manual on the E Dockets help page Documents may also be submitted in Word or PDF format as an attachment to an email sent to mpscedockets michigan gov If you require assistance prior to e filing contact Commission staff
21. elect to file using the traditional paper format The proof of service shall indicate service upon the Cooperatives attorney Shaun M Johnson at Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 Any person wishing to appear at the hearing to make a statement of position without becoming a party to the case may participate by filing an appearance To file an appearance the individual must attend the hearing and advise the presiding administrative law judge of his or her wish to make a statement of position All information submitted to the Commission in this matter becomes public information thus available on the Michigan Public Service Commission s website and subject to disclosure Please do not include information you wish to remain private Requests for adjournment must be made pursuant to the Michigan Administrative Hearing System s Administrative Hearing Rules R 792 10422 and R 792 10432 Requests for further information on adjournment should be directed to 517 284 8130 A copy of the Cooperatives request may be reviewed on the Commission s website at michigan gov mpscedockets and at the office of Dykema Gossett PLLC or at the respective Cooperatives offices For more information on how to participate in a case you may contact the Commission at the above address or by telephone at 517 284 8090 Jurisdiction is pursuant to 1909 PA 106 as amended MCL 460 551 et seq 1919 PA 419 as amen
22. ements in the amount of 1 777 68 for April e Approved event sponsorship and donation requests to the Chippewa County Stalwart Fair the Paradise Chamber of Commerce the Sault Area Sportsman Club the Tahquamenon Area School Habitat for Humanity Hiawathaland and the Curt Knierim Memorial Run e Approved the draft agenda for the annual meeting e Received updated legal report on a variety of issues June e Expressed several comments on behalf of members e Approved a resolution to prepay the Rural Utilities Service RUS loans e Approved event sponsorship and donation requests to the Schoolcraft County Chamber of Commerce the War Memorial Hospital Foundation the Mackinac Straits Health Foundation and the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians e Received a motion to begin the process of member regulation m Public Act 295 The Clean Renewable and Efficient Energy Act 2014 Annual Energy Optimization Report Cloverland Electric Cooperative Electric Association MPSC Case Number U 17364 Cloverland Electric contracted with the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association MECA to administer its Energy Optimization efforts in order to comply with PA 295 MECA filed a 4 year Energy Optimization plan with the MPSC on Aug 1 2011 as required by PA 295 This EO plan was approved by the MPSC on Nov 10 2011 and we began implementing the plan Jan 1 2012 The Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation WECC was selected to implement all Residen
23. enhance a photo Download an app Want to check Facebook Download the app Want to shop Download an app There are apps short for applications programs designed specifically for use on portable devices for everything Just ask my wife She ll tell you SMH that s shaking my head for all you rookies out there Our reliance on digital technology can only be ascertained when we forget our cell Ever reached for your phone to make a quick call or send a text SE EMBER 2015 only to realize you left your cell on the charger at home Panic ensues I ve actually broken into a sweat and driven an hour round trip just to have my phone on hand Times have sure changed since was a lad These kids might run circles around me when it comes to their smart phones but had something they didn t The most popular rotary phone ever made an original Fisher Price Chatter Telephone toy And let me tell you it was GR8 m Jack O Malley lt Where in Michigan is This Every co op member who identifies the correct location of the photo at left by Oct 10 will be entered in a drawing to win a 50 electricity credit from their electric co op We do not accept Mystery Photo guesses by phone Enter your guess at countrylines com or send by mail to Country Lines Mystery Photo 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 Include the name on your account address phone number and name of your co op a
24. he tightness of any cabinet screws you can find Having the cabinet well sealed improves efficiency by maintaining the proper air flow through the coils or over the heat exchanger surfaces With a heat pump also check the cabinet screws on the outdoor condenser unit Set up the thermostat so the furnace starts Hold a stick of lighted incense near all the joints in the ductwork both return and supply air ducts to check for air leaks If you find leaks wipe dust off the surfaces and use mastic a gooey non hardening material around the leaking joints This is a good time to change your furnace filter or clean a central air cleaner element Consider installing a more effective filter element than the low cost fiberglass ones that many systems use This may not help indoor air quality much but it can keep the air flow paths cleaner for more efficient heat transfer Check the accuracy of the wall thermostat You may actually be keeping your house warmer than you realize Tape a bulb thermometer on the wall next to your furnace Check the thermometer reading when the furnace shuts off and note the difference between it and the thermostat setting Now you will know where to set the thermostat to get the indoor temperature you desire If it is inaccurate replace it with a new electronic setback model MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 7 SEAFOOD FAVORITES Fior seood apes yowile Crab Casserole Dill Shrimp Salad pictured Virginia Rub
25. hipped and reassembled at its final destination all under Left Machinist Dave Dibbe operates a CNC machining center used to fabricate detailed parts with high precision Right ONLINE employee Rob Quick Drossart prepares to assemble a section of the machine C C Hopefully we will become a major employer not only in Manistique but throughout the Upper Peninsula the watchful trained eye of an ONLINE service technician who actually travels with the machine ONLINE Engineering is a local story to be sure but the company s growth plan includes increased opportunity and professional growth for its local employees We are currently changing gears to grow the business according to business manager Renae Kennedy Hopefully we will become a major employer not only in Manistique but throughout the Upper Peninsula and we are putting the resources in place to do just that We are looking for career oriented people who are ready to become part of a team that will take ONLINE Engineering to the next level The company is currently seeking engineers and skilled trades people Visit online engineering com to learn more about ONLINE Engineering And the Gardners The entrepreneurial couple that started it all Having sold the company in 2010 they are happily living out the quiet lakeside retirement part of their plan m A MultiDISH machine Model 963 This is the part in the process where the media is curi
26. ingh Ellsworth Mary Babcock Port Austin e b fresh frozen crab meat e 4c cooked small shells or penne pasta e 2c sour cream e 1 lb cooked fresh shrimp diced 1 c frozen peas 1 c small diced celery Ya c chopped green onions including tops Ya c minced fresh parsley 10 oz plain Greek yogurt 1 c mayonnaise Ya c fresh lemon juice 2 T snipped fresh dill e Yt salt e t white pepper e 1 T lemon juice e pinch garlic salt e 1 c cheddar cheese divided e 8 0z pkg cream cheese softened e 2 T Hellman s mayonnaise e 1 t Worcestershire sauce e 1 T milk Mix all ingredients together in a casserole dish Sprinkle half of the cheddar cheese on top Bake at 325 for 25 30 minutes In a large bowl combine pasta tuna celery onions Seafood Pasta Salad peas and parsley In a small bowl combine yogurt Betty Poradek Stephenson mayonnaise lemon juice dill salt and pepper Pour sauce over pasta toss gently Cover and e 8 oz pkg imitation crab meat cut up refrigerate at least two hours Serves 10 e 8 oz bag frozen mini shrimp thawed optional e cup chopped celery e 1 2 T chopped green onion including some tops e 1 can water chestnuts chopped e 8 oz frozen peas thawed e 1 lb bag rotini noodles cooked e dash dill weed e 1 c Miracle Whip e 8 oz sour cream Mix all pasta together and chill for several hours Keeps up to three days in fridge SUBMIT YOUR RECIPE Th
27. mproves its efficiency resulting in significant annual cost savings However don t skip your regular professional maintenance calls just because you have done your own heating system mini tune up There are many areas within a heating system that only a qualified technician can evaluate and adjust properly The first items to check are for safety With a gas or propane furnace put several drops of soapy water on any gas line fittings you find If the water bubbles at all there are leaks Leave your house immediately and call your gas company to have it repaired With a heat pump check to make sure the insulation on all of the external wiring looks correct You can inspect potential bad spots damaged or frayed areas more carefully once you turn the circuit breaker off Turn off the electric power to the heating unit at the circuit breaker panel Remove its side cover to gain access to the blower Using a vacuum cleaner brush attachment clean any dust deposits off the blower You may find bearing oil cups on the blower motor of older systems Put a drop of oil in each cup Find the fan control switch and adjust the temperature setting lower Common settings are on at 135 degrees and off at 100 degrees Try using 110 and 90 degrees This starts the blower sooner and keeps it running longer as the heat exchanger heats up and then cools down Replace the cover and make sure all the cabinet screws are tight Also check t
28. ng or drying in the dish Seasonal Accounts Billed Monthly Beginning in September 2015 seasonal accounts will receive a bill on or near the 25th of each month instead of annually With this change seasonal account members will be able to better track their energy use address any energy use situations sooner and take full advantage of SmartHub our free online account management tool available at cloverland com e Pay Your Bill from your PC Smartphone or tablet e Setup Recurring Payments e Go Paperless e Report Outages e Track Payments and Access Past Billing Statements e Access Hourly and Daily Usage e Get Text and or Email Account Notices e View Co op s Social Media Posts and News Feeds We also offer more payment options now too Enroll in Auto Pay and have your monthly payment automatically deducted from your savings or checking account or charged to your credit or debit card on the due date Sign up is easy through SmartHub You can also make a payment 24 7 using our new free automated Pay By Phone service at 1 844 843 6837 or 1 800 562 4953 Option 3 You will need your account number and payment method ready when you call If you re paying by check you will need to follow the prompts and create a PIN number first MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 13 SUN TREA By Emily Haines he eerie romance of a shipwreck is something that seems saved for epic adventure novels or blockbuster Hollywood movies
29. o to alpenashipwrecktours com this area it s also a remarkable place to vacation soroa iSO cell O98 2a62805 said Gandulla We have world class recreational opportunities available to us in Michigan and we Project Shiphunt feel very strongly about sharing them with people from around the globe m On July 13 2011 the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary NMS announced the discovery of two Great Lakes shipwrecks The discoveries were part of Project Shiphunt an exciting archaeological expedition soonsored by Sony and the Intel Corp that included five high school students from Saginaw For more on the project visit thunderbay noaa gov shiphunt htm Monohansett Site For a sneak peek at the kind of discoveries you can expect take a look at the Monohansett a ship wrecked in 1907 that lies in three sections just 18 feet below water thunderbay noaa gov shipwrecks monohansett htm Photo below With the hull broken just forward of the boiler house and the ship listing hard to port the wreck of the Norman which claimed the lives of three sailors is an intense dive experience Photos by NOAA Thunder Bay NMS MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 15 Se ar 16 STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION NOTICE OF HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF CLOVERLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE MIDWEST ENERGY COOPERATIVE AND THUMB ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CASE NUMBERS U 17838 U 17839 and U 17840 Cloverland Elect
30. on how to partici pate in a case you may contact the Commission at the above address or by telephone at 517 284 8090 Jurisdiction is pursuant to 1909 PA 106 as amended MCL 460 551 et seq 1919 PA 419 as amended MCL 460 54 et seq 1939 PA 3 as amended MCL 460 1 et seq 1982 PA 304 as amended MCL 460 6j et seq 1969 PA 306 as amended MCL 24 201 et seq 2008 PA 295 MCL 460 1001 et seq and the Commission s Rules of Practice and Procedure as amended 1999 AC R 460 17101 et seq MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 11 The Positive Impact of a Global Company on a Small Town By Yvonne Whitman ntrigued by what they saw while flying over the picturesque Lake Michigan shoreline of Manistique Jim and Marilyn Gardner of Bloomington IN couldn t resist landing their plane at nearby Schoolcraft Airport for a much closer look This decision would change not only their own lives but enhance the lives of a number of residents as well Considered by many visitors to be a peaceful place where no one rushes and no one rushes you the Gardeners were instantly drawn to the serenity of the area We were impressed with the quality of lite and natural beauty that Manistique has to offer We had always dreamed of retiring to a lakeshore town and Manistique seemed to fit the bill perfectly for us according to Marilyn In fact rather than wait for retirement the Gardeners soon decided to move both their lives and their business
31. ric Cooperative Midwest Energy Cooperative and Thumb Electric Cooperative the Cooperatives request Michigan Public Service Commission approval to reconcile their individual Energy Optimization EO plan expenditures and revenues collected for the period ended December 31 2014 e The information below describes how a person may participate in this case You may call or write the Cooperatives attorney Mr Shaun Johnson at Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 517 374 9100 for a free copy of the application Any person may review the application at Dykema s offices or at the respective offices of the Cloverland Electric 2916 W M 28 P O Box 97 Dafter MI 49724 Midwest Energy Cooperative 901 E State St RO Box 127 Cassopolis MI 49031 and Thumb Electric Cooperative 2231 Main St P O Box 157 Ubly MI 48475 0157 The first public hearing in this matter will be held DATE TIME October 6 2015 at 9 00 a m This hearing will be a prehearing conference to set future hearing dates and decide other procedural matters BEFORE Administrative Law Judge Mark D Eyster LOCATION 7109 West Saginaw Lansing Michigan PARTICIPATION Any interested person may attend and participate The hearing site is accessible including handi capped parking Persons needing any accommodation to participate should contact the Commission s Executive Sec retary at 517 284 8090 in advance to request mobili
32. t up to 200 on their December 2015 energy bill Submit photos now through Sept 21 for our Kids at Play topic Upcoming topics for 2016 include Best of Selfies due Nov 15 and Cute Pets due Dec 15 Details and instructions for photo submission including contest rules topic list publication date and submission deadlines can be found online at htto bit ly 1JX5Afh We look forward to seeing your best shot STATE OF MICHIGAN BEFORE THE MICHIGAN PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION NOTICE OF HEARING FOR THE CUSTOMERS OF CLOVERLAND ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE CASE NO U 17810 Cloverland Electric Cooperative requests Michigan Public Service Commission approval to reconcile its Renewable Energy Plan REP costs associated with the plan approved in Case No U 17308 for the period ended December 31 2014 e The information below describes how a person may participate in this case e You may contact Cloverland Electric Cooperative s attorney Mr Shaun M Johnson Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 517 374 9100 for a free copy of the application Any person may also contact Cloverland Electric Cooperative 2916 West M 28 P O Box 97 Dafter Michigan 49724 800 562 4953 or 906 635 6800 for a free copy of its application The first public hearing in this matter will be held DATE TIME October 8 2015 at 9 00 a m This hearing will be a prehearing conferenc
33. tial Commercial and Industrial Programs and the Energy Optimization website michigan energy org WECC has subcontracted with JACO Michigan Energy Options Franklin Energy Morgan Marketing Partners and Honeywell to assist with the implementation of the EO Programs MECA contracted with KEMA as the independent 3rd party evaluation contractor for the certification of kWh savings In 2014 Cloverland Electric collected 1 246 360 through the Energy Optimization Surcharge and spent 1 080 115 resulting in an over collection of 166 245 which will be applied towards the 2015 EO Program delivery For every dollar spent on energy efficiency programs customers will save 3 61 in avoided energy costs Cloverland Electric achieved 8 337 MWh of energy savings in 2014 The full report can be obtained at michigan energy org or http efile mpsc state mi us efile Fuel Mix Report The fuel mix characteristics of Cloverland Electric Cooperative as required by Public Act 141 of 2000 for the 6 month period ended 6 30 15 COMPARISON OF FUEL SOURCES USED Regional average fuel mix used Your co op s fuel mix FUEL SOURCE FE 31 0 60 4 ei 0 0 0 7 9 0 8 9 DeGe 43 0 0 5 AGEI 15 0 24 6 2 0 4 9 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 2 0 0 0 5 NOTE Biomass above excludes wood solid waste incineration includes landfill gas Your Co op s Fuel Mix Regional Average Fuel Mix v EMISSIONS AND WASTE COMPARISON
34. to be held at the Dafter Town Hall 2926 W 10 Mile Road Dafter MI 49724 The meeting will start at 9 a m Members will have an opportunity to address the board on the proposal prior to board action The following is the proposal to be considered Proposal to Become a Member Regulated Cooperative in Accordance with Public Act 167 of 2008 On June 26 2008 Public Act of 2008 P A 167 became law P A 167 states that an electric cooperative owned by the members it serves is regulated by its members acting through its democratically elected board of directors P A 167 further states that member regulation by a cooperative in the areas of rates charges accounting standards billing practices and terms and conditions of service may be more efficient and cost effective than regulation by the Michigan Public Service Commission P A 167 allows the board of directors of an electric cooperative to adopt member regulation for rates charges accounting standards billing practices and terms and conditions of service by following the process set forth in the act That process requires the following 1 A proposal by a director of the cooperative to become member regulated when such proposal is made at a properly convened board meeting Action on the proposal taken no earlier than 90 days from the date the proposal was made Action on the proposal taken at a meeting of the board for which written notice is given and the meeting is open to
35. to the sleepy lakeside community The Gardners relocated ONLINE Engineering from Bloomington to Manistique in 2004 The company manufactures production equipment for commercial producers of prepared culture media Their product line includes but is not limited to filling machines for petri dishes test tubes bottles and vials The company s global sales territory is vast reaching into 34 countries as far away as SEPTEMBER 2015 Russia South Africa India and New Zealand The company today employs 22 Manistique and surrounding area residents One of the first employees hired was Donald Harrison Schoffer Born and raised in Manistique Schoffer had moved away from the area only to return to his idyllic hometown despite a dearth of employment opportunities He was working as a sanitation worker when ONLINE Engineering came to town A machinist by trade Schoffer said had pretty much given up on ever being able to fall back into my trade and find a job locally but then this came along It s the best company I ve ever worked for The skills of a trained machinist like Schoffer are highly valued inside the 11 000 square foot building which houses engineering administration assembly and testing facilities The company s high speed machinery is capable of processing up to 12 000 petri dishes per hour And each of the filling machines manufactured in Manistique is then taken apart at the plant crated s
36. ty visual hearing or other assistance The Michigan Public Service Commission Commission will hold a public hearing to consider the Cooperatives June 29 2015 joint application for Commission approval to reconcile their individual EO plans for the period ended December 31 2014 The Cooperatives are requesting authorization to reconcile their EO plan expenditures and revenues collected for the period ended December 31 2014 All documents filed in this case shall be submitted electronically through the Commission s E Dockets website at michigan gov mpscedockets Requirements and instructions for filing can be found in the User Manual on the E Dockets help page Docu ments may also be submitted in Word or PDF format as an attachment to an email sent to mpscedockets michigan gov If you require assistance prior to e filing contact Commission staff at 517 284 8090 or by email at mpscedockets michigan gov Any person wishing to intervene and become a party to the case shall electronically file a petition to intervene with this Commission by September 29 2015 Interested persons may elect to file using the traditional paper format The proof of service shall indicate service upon attorney Shaun M Johnson at Dykema Gossett PLLC Capitol View 201 Townsend Street Suite 900 Lansing Michigan 48933 Any person wishing to appear at the hearing to make a statement of position without becoming a party to the case may participate by filing an
37. udington Comfort 1 Mark Woodman Hoholik Enterprises Alllemp Comfort Inc Adams Htg amp Clg 517 764 1500 Plmb amp Htg 906 341 5065 866 844 HEAT 4328 231 873 2665 Mt Pleasant 517 886 1138 Carsonville Indian River Walton Htg amp Clg Traverse City Certified Temperature M amp M Plmb amp Htg 989 774 1566 Geofurnace Htg amp Clg Innovations 231 238 7201 231 943 1000 810 300 7748 GET A Mater Furnace L Smarter from the Ground Up Symphony T ymp y VISIt waterfurnace com event 600 value WaterFurnace is a registered trademark of WaterFurnace International Inc 1 Get a FREE Symphony with select geothermal packages Promotion ends December 18th 2015 Michigan s Electric Cooperatives countrylines com September 2015 Vol 35 No 8 Executive Editor Casey Clark Editors Christine Dorr Gail Knudtson Publisher Michigan Electric Cooperative Association Design and Layout Ciesa Design Michigan Country Lines USPS 591 710 is pub lished monthly except August and December with periodicals postage paid at Lansing MI and additional offices It is the official publication of the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association 201 Townsend St Suite 900 Lansing MI 48933 Subscriptions are authorized for members of Alger Delta Cherryland Cloverland Great Lakes HomeWorks Tri County Midwest Energy Ontonagon Presque Isle and Thumb electric cooperatives by their boards of directors POSTMAS
38. y amp Our Readers l A FEATURE Sunken Treasure At Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Emily Haines QO READERS PAGE Communicating In The Age Of The Emoji Jack O Malley Guess Our New Mystery Photo MICHIGAN COUNTRY LINES 3 4 Cloverland ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE Member Service Centers Monday Friday 8 a m to 4 30 p m 906 635 6800 1 800 562 4953 2916 W M 28 Dafter MI 49724 836 M 134 DeTour Village MI 49725 6214 County Rd 403 Newberry MI 49868 2972 W 8th St Sault Ste Marie MI 49783 Board Of Directors Email board cloverland com Robert Schallip Chairperson District B Neebish Island 906 635 0941 Dale Carlson Vice Chairperson District A Stalwart 906 647 8246 Richard Newland Secretary Treasurer District A DeTour Village 906 297 5681 Gerald Nettleton Director District A DeTour Village 906 430 0910 Charles Litzner Director District B Sault Ste Marie 906 635 5958 John Sawruk Director District B Sault Ste Marie 906 630 1287 Ronald Provo Director District C Manistique 906 341 5300 Peter Legault Director District C Engadine 906 477 6878 Virgil Monroe Director District C Manistique 906 341 8808 President amp CEO Daniel Dasho Local Editor Todd Chapman cloverland com Cloverland Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer SEPTEMBER 2015
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