“The annual meeting exemplifies cooperative principles in action,” PIE&G Board Chair John Brown said. “Cooperatives are democratic entities governed by their members, each possessing equal voting rights — one member, one vote. Cooperatives operate democratically.”

Every year, elections are conducted to fill three PIE&G Board of Directors positions. Following the tally of all votes, the successful candidates who secured election to three-year terms (2024 to 2027) are as follows: Sandra Borowicz (incumbent, Cheboygan District), Daryl Peterson (incumbent, Montmorency District), and Sally Knopf (incumbent, At Large). There was also a vacant seat in the Presque Isle District for a two-year term that was secured by Gerald Smigelski. The vote count for each candidate is as follows:

Cheboygan District (one vacancy):

¯ Sandra Borowicz: 912 votes

Courtesy Photo Attendees are seen at the 87th annual meeting of Presque Isle Electric and Gas Co-op, held Nov. 1 in Posen.

¯ Dennis Ernst: 413 votes

¯ Charles Kilanski: 164 votes

Montmorency District (one vacancy):

¯ Daryl Peterson: 903 votes

¯ Lloyd Peltier: 377 votes

¯ Wesley Repke: 166 votes

Presque Isle District (one vacancy):

¯ Gerald Smigelski: 362 votes

¯ Scott Cordes: 321 votes

¯ Dallas Hyde: 320 votes

¯ Ruthanne Largent: 270 votes

¯ Elias Taratuta: 178 votes

¯ Susan Radke: 154 votes

At Large (one vacancy):

¯ Sally Knopf: 694 votes

¯ Angela Stempky: 519 votes

¯ Mary Talaske: 359 votes

A proposed amendment to the bylaws related to the deadlines for the Nominating Committee selection, meeting date, and candidate deadline to turn in petitions was approved by a vote of 1309 yes and 112 no. Immediately following the meeting, the board of directors elected officers, yielding the following results: Chair — Sandra Borowicz; Vice Chair — Daryl Peterson; Secretary — Sally Knopf; and Treasurer — Brentt Lucas.

Adolph P. from Atlanta was awarded a $100 bill credit for casting his vote by mail. In addition, members were presented with reports from the cooperative’s Chief Financial Officer Randy Stempky, and Chief Executive Officer Allan Berg.

The meeting was recorded and will be accessible online at pieg.com and on PIE&G’s Facebook page. Casey Clark, director of communications and marketing at the Michigan Electric Cooperative Association, directed and produced the meeting recording.

About Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op

PIE&G offers electric and natural gas services to approximately 35,000 members in Northeastern Michigan. In 2021, PIE&G launched a new fiber division, PIE&G Connect, dedicated to providing high-speed internet access to members and relocated operations to its new headquarters and member service center in Onaway. The founding cooperative, which set its first electric poles in 1937, initially served about 82 members. Today, PIE&G is one of Presque Isle County’s largest employers, with over 110 permanent employees serving roughly 35,200 electric meters and 13,200 natural gas meters. Since 1998, the PIE&G Communities First Fund has contributed nearly $2 million in local grants and scholarships. For more information, visit pieg.com.