The Marietta Daily Journal – Cobb EMC members vote in record numbers to pass bill of rights

MARIETTA — After 75 years of annual meetings, the Cobb Electric Membership Corp. had a record turnout of about 600 people at Saturday’s event at Jim R. Miller Park during the North Georgia State Fair.

For the first time, Cobb EMC allowed for advanced voting online and by mail on bylaw amendments that govern the Marietta-based cooperative.

With more than 12,000 votes returned before the event, combined with the 600 people filling out ballots in person Saturday morning, it was the most votes cast on bylaw changes in Cobb EMC’s history.

Mark Hackett, president of Cobb EMC Forum that was established in August 2012 when Take Back Cobb EMC and the Cobb EMC Customers’ Alliance joined forces, said the response by members was five times the amount from previous years, which he credited to the support of the new board of directors that took over less than a year ago.

“Our new board has righted the ship,” said Hackett, who added that the board members have made cuts to staff and expenses in order to reduce service rates twice in the last year.

Still, Hackett did warn the crowd of fellow members that Cobb EMC does not have competition in its service area and vigilant members must regulate their own cooperative.

Hackett said as customers of Cobb EMC, they are also the owners of the nonprofit that formed in 1938 and serves more than 177,000 residential and commercial customers.

“These 180,000 customers are us, you and me,” Hackett said.

via The Marietta Daily Journal – Cobb EMC members vote in record numbers to pass bill of rights.