{"id":50759,"date":"2026-04-07T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/?p=50759"},"modified":"2026-04-07T07:11:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T11:11:41","slug":"3500-in-scholarships-bill-credits-awarded-at-paulding-putnams-90th-annual-meeting-broadcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/3500-in-scholarships-bill-credits-awarded-at-paulding-putnams-90th-annual-meeting-broadcast\/","title":{"rendered":"$3,500 in scholarships, bill credits awarded at Paulding Putnam\u2019s 90th Annual Meeting Broadcast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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PAULDING, OH \u2014 Paulding Putnam\u2019s 90th Annual Meeting of Members premiered on Facebook and YouTube at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026. More than 3,600 viewers tuned in to watch the meeting for co-op updates and a recap of 2025. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board election results were announced, with each serving a three-year term. All three trustees were re-elected by affirmation, as no other candidates submitted petitions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 District 1 (Marion, Madison, Monroe, Preble, and Union townships in Allen and Adams Counties, Indiana): Incumbent Joseph Kohnen was re-elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 District 6 (Auglaize, Brown, Latty, and Washington townships in Paulding County, Ohio; Defiance and Highland townships in Defiance County, Ohio): Incumbent Dr. John Saxton was re-elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 District 9 (Sugarcreek, Pleasant, Union, Ottawa, and Riley townships in Putnam County, Ohio): Incumbent Dr. Ronald Black was re-elected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Board Chairman Adam Schnipke – Paulding Putnam 2026 annual meeting.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Board Chairman Adam Schnipke highlighted $4 million in electric system improvements completed in 2025, including rebuilding 20 miles of aging line, replacing poles, and strengthening infrastructure to enhance reliability. He also noted the co-op\u2019s ongoing efforts to manage costs and protect members from market volatility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Much of his report focused on the cooperative\u2019s expanding fiber internet service, which is already making a meaningful impact across the service territory. He shared several testimonials from members, including remote worker Tammy Clark of Paulding, who called Paulding Putnam\u2019s fiber internet a \u201cgamechanger.\u201d Tim and Robin Worline in Continental said their new internet plan gives them \u201c10 times the speed for free compared to their old provider.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese connections are opening doors for remote work, education, and daily life,\u201d Schnipke said. \u201cFor many of our members who were previously unserved or underserved, this is a transformation similar to when electricity first came to rural communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He encouraged members to attend the 2026 Member Appreciation Day on July 25 at the Fort Wayne Zoo and for members of Paulding Putnam\u2019s Political Action Committee to attend a legislative dinner with speakers on August 24 at the Wassenberg Art Center in Van Wert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secretary-Treasurer Tim Derck reported that the co-op remains financially strong despite ongoing industry challenges. Paulding Putnam recorded more than $50 million in electric sales in 2025, a 5% increase and the highest in the co-op\u2019s history. Power supply costs totaled approximately $33 million, continuing to represent the largest expense for the organization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Derck noted that material costs for essential equipment such as poles, wire, and transformers have risen significantly between 25% and 50%, requiring careful financial management and modest rate adjustments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key financial highlights included: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 A $6.50 per kWh increase in the large power demand charge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 A $3.50 increase to the monthly residential and general service charge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Core residential rates remaining steady at 12.9 cents per kilowatt-hour<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite these pressures, Paulding Putnam\u2019s rates remain below the state average in both Ohio and Indiana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe typical member pays about $7 per day for electricity,\u201d Derck said. \u201cThat\u2019s a strong value for power your home and daily life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President and CEO Randy Price emphasized the cooperative\u2019s forward-looking investments to support reliability, growth, and new opportunities across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For 2026, Paulding Putnam is doubling its investments in the electric system, with $8.4 million budgeted for reliability upgrades. These improvements include enhanced system inspections, expanded vegetation management, and infrastructure upgrades like substation expansion to reduce outages and support future demand and capacity needs. Several large economic development projects were cited in both Paulding and Putnam counties, supporting the need for reliable electricity and fiber internet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price cited more than 500 miles of mainline fiber have already been constructed, with plans to exceed 1,500 miles. Service is now available in multiple communities, with continued expansion planned throughout 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe impact we\u2019re seeing from remote work opportunities to improved access to healthcare and education is exactly why we\u2019re making this investment,\u201d Price said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To check availability, members of the community are encouraged to visit www.fiber.PPEC.coop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marketing and Communications Manager Samantha Kuhn joined Price to draw the 2026 General Scholarship Winners, recognizing the exceptional students in our local communities. A total of $2,500 in general scholarships were awarded during the meeting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The $250 general scholarship winners drawn were as follows: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Owen Whitaker (Hoagland)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Elizabeth Verhoff (Ottawa)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Lane Rellinger (Cloverdale)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Alana Branigan (New Haven)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Beau Reyna (Ottawa)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Emma Fuelling (Decatur)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Landon Verhoff (Ottawa)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 David Westrick (Ottawa)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Abigail Bullinger (Paulding)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Landen Danberry (Paulding)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A total of $1,000 in bill credits were drawn at random from those members who watched the meeting and left a comment. The winners were as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

$100 bill credit winners: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Joyce Verhoff<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Sue Wagner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Chad and Courtney Smith<\/p>\n\n\n\n

$25 bill credit winners:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Dallis Gibson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Amy Miller Eickholt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Myrna Hubbard<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Jill Patrick<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Brian Pertel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Emma Recker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Angie Fenton Gibson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Tamera J. Bartz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Krista Pierce<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Alan Tonya Gerschutz<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Kris Lantow <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Ruth Ann Ellerbrock<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Jan Bockrath Schroeder<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Paula Meek<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Jeanne Wenzinger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Sally Baumle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Timothy Worline<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Dustin Jenna Miller<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Cierrah Glisson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Andrew Allen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Douglas & Michelle Lynne Kemerer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Cheryl Troyer Mansfield<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Nikki Miller<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Donald H Schroeder<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Deb and Rick Carder<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Malinda Schmidt<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022 Gloria Gerig<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To view the annual meeting, visit https:\/\/ppec.coop\/2026-annual-meeting. Paulding Putnam\u2019s 2025 annual report and financials can be found here as well. Those wanting more information can call the office at 800-686-2357.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PAULDING, OH \u2014 Paulding Putnam\u2019s 90th Annual Meeting of Members premiered on Facebook and YouTube at 10 a.m. on Saturday,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":50760,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","nf_dc_page":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2230,6],"tags":[28572,22217,12253,25205,28578,28587,28603,28592,28579,28590,28584,28604,28602,28585,28586,15940,28607,28606,20775,13902,17706,28601,28576,28580,28591,28609,28597,28589,28573,28582,28595,28594,24554,28581,28577,21890,20774,28588,28605,28575,28598,2749,12098,3145,17850,28608,28596,28599,28583,28593,28600],"class_list":["post-50759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-community","category-community","tag-90th-annual-meeting-of-members","tag-abigail-bullinger","tag-adam-schnipke","tag-alan-tonya-gerschutz","tag-alana-branigan","tag-amy-miller-eickholt","tag-andrew-allen","tag-angie-fenton-gibson","tag-beau-reyna","tag-brian-pertel","tag-chad-smith","tag-cheryl-troyer-mansfield","tag-cierrah-gisson","tag-courtney-smith","tag-dalis-gibson","tag-david-westrick","tag-deb-carder","tag-donald-h-schoreder","tag-douglas-kemerer","tag-dr-john-saxton","tag-dr-ron-black","tag-dustin-jenna-miller","tag-elizabeth-verhoff","tag-emma-fuelling","tag-emma-recker","tag-gloria-gerig","tag-jan-bockrath-schroeder","tag-jill-patrick","tag-joe-kohnen","tag-joyce-verhoff","tag-kris-lantow","tag-krista-pierce","tag-landen-danberry","tag-landon-verhoff","tag-lane-rellinger","tag-malinda-schmidt","tag-michelle-kemerer","tag-myrna-hubbard","tag-nikki-miller","tag-owen-whitaker","tag-paula-meekjeanne-wenzinger","tag-paulding-county","tag-paulding-putnam-2","tag-putnam-county","tag-randy-price","tag-rick-carder","tag-ruth-ann-ellerbrock","tag-sally-baumle","tag-sue-wagner","tag-tamera-j-bartz","tag-timothy-worline"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Board-Election-Update-2026-Paulding-Putnam.png?fit=1016%2C592&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2YQd9-dcH","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-14 21:38:43","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=50759"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50759\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50762,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50759\/revisions\/50762"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=50759"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=50759"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.westbendnews.net\/autonews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=50759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}