Dakota Electric annual meeting to be held March 27

Dakota Electric Association's Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 27, at Dakota Electric's office at 4300 220th Street West, Farmington. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6 p.m., and refreshments will be served before the meeting.

Dakota Electric members will have the opportunity to hear reports from officers and directors, ask questions and hear election results at the meeting. The board is recommending one bylaw change that details the current process for director candidates applying for the board.

Balloting materials will be mailed on March 11. Once again, Dakota Electric members will have the opportunity to vote online through a secure Web site. (Once balloting materials are mailed on March 11, a link for voting will appear on Dakota Electric's homepage.)

Members are to return ballots — using the enclosed postage-paid envelope — to Survey and Ballot Systems, or vote online (www.dakotaelectric.com) using the e-signature included with their ballots no later than noon on March 27.

Ballots should not be put in payment drop boxes or brought in or mailed to Dakota Electric Association's office. Also, if a person chooses to vote at the annual meeting, they must bring their ballot because no replacement ballots will be provided.

Following are the eight candidates running for four seats on the board of directors:

District 1

• Ron Swagger, Burnsville, incumbent
• Ruthe Batulis, Burnsville
• Jack DeYoe, Lakeville

District 2

• Janet Lekson, Rosemount, incumbent
• Jerry Hansen, Burnsville
• Robert Rokke, Apple Valley

District 3

• Margaret Schreiner, Eagan, incumbent

District 4

• Ray Nicolai, Hampton, incumbent

All directors are elected by membership vote to serve three-year terms on the 12-person board of directors.

Members with special needs, who plan to attend the Annual Meeting, should contact Cathy at 651-463-6387 or e-mail cwerner@dakotaelectric.com. Senior citizens or disabled persons who need transportation to the Annual Meeting may contact DARTS at 651-455-1339.

A customer-owned, non-profit utility since 1937, Dakota Electric Association provides electricity to more than 99,000 members throughout Dakota County and portions of Goodhue, Rice and Scott counties. Dakota Electric, your Touchstone Energy Partner, serves its member/owners with integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.