Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.
Information about Schedule O (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and its instructions is at| Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 | THE COOPERATIVE IS COMPRISED OF A SINGLE CLASS OF APPROXIMATELY 18,141 MEMBER-OWNERS, EACH OF WHICH HAS EQUAL RIGHTS IN OWNERSHIP, GOVERNANCE, AND VOTING RIGHTS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEMBER-OWNERS WHO ARE ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A | THE MEMBER-OWNERS OF THE COOPERATIVE HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ELECT THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7B | CHANGES TO THE GOVERNING DOCUMENTS (BYLAWS AND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION) MUST BE APPROVED BY THE MEMBER-OWNERS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. APPROVAL OCCURS WHEN AT LEAST 50% OF THE MEMBER-OWNERS VOTE TO APPROVE. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 8B | THERE ARE NO COMMITTEES WITH BOARD AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY. ALL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TAKEN TO THE FULL BOARD FOR ACTION. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11 | THE LEADERS OF EVERY DEPARTMENT, GENERAL MANAGER, AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL REVIEW THE 990 PRIOR TO SUBMITTING IT TO THE IRS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C | THE COOPERATIVE MAINTAINS A WRITTEN POLICY AS TO WHAT INCLUDES A CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND HOW ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES WILL BE HANDLED. BOARD POLICY STATES THAT DIRECTORS MUST DISCLOSE ANY POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. THE POLICY COVERS ALL DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES. DETERMINATIONS OF WHETHER A CONFLICT EXISTS AND REVIEW OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS ARE MADE BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL MANAGER, DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR EMPLOYEES, AND GENERAL MANAGER FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 | SURVEYS OF COMPARABLE MINNESOTA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES ARE CONDUCTED AND USED TO DETERMINE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION. THERE ARE NO WRITTEN CONTRACTS FOR EXECUTIVES. THERE IS ALSO A PERFORMANCE REVIEW IN THE COMPENSATION PROCESS. THIS PROCESS WAS LAST COMPLETED IN 2015. |
| FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 | GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST AND PUBLISHED WITH THE ANNUAL REPORT TO MEMBERS. |
| FORM 990, PART XI, LINE 9: | CAPITAL CREDITS RETIRED -1,013,422. MEMBERSHIP CHANGES 14,740. PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS ALLOCATED 1,949,803. HEARTLAND SECURITY SERVICES K-1 -8,617. |
| FORM 990, PART XII, LINE 2C | THE PROCESS FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT AND SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT HAS NOT CHANGED FROM THE PRIOR YEAR. |
| FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 4 | THE IRS INSTRUCTIONS STATE THAT PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS PAID BY SECTION 501(C)(12) ORGANIZATIONS TO THEIR MEMBERS SHOULD BE REPORTED ON LINE 4. THE ORGANIZATION HAS INTERPRETED PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS PAID TO MEAN PATRONAGE DIVIDENDS ALLOCATED OR TO BE ALLOCATED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR. SINCE THIS ALLOCATION IS NOT AN EXPENSE UNDER GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (GAAP), THIS HAS RESULTED IN A RECONCILING ITEM TO NET ASSETS IN PART XI ON PAGE 12 OF THE FORM 990 AND IN PART XII ON SCHEDULE D. |
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