Generator — Summer 2023

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Steve Heesacker Chairman Bob Cerv First Vice Chairman Jim Donoghue Second Vice Chairman Mike Fleming Secretary Dick Tooley Treasurer Rich Aerni Alan Drozd Chris Langemeier Larry Zach EXECUTIVE STAFF Neal Suess President/CEO Walt Williams Vice President, Accounting & Finance/CFO Todd Duren Vice President, Corporate Services Korey Hobza Vice President, Engineering Dan Hellbusch Vice President, Operations The Loup Generator is published quarterly as a service for Loup employees, families, friends, and associates. For feedback, story ideas and submissions, contact: Stacy Wemhoff Communications Coordinator 402-562-5711 swemhoff@loup.com RETIREE PROFILE: BOB ANDERSON Bob Anderson had a feeling he’d end up working at Loup Power District. His grandpa, Pete, was a dredge operator at the Genoa Headworks. So was his dad, Gilbert Anderson. And eventually he became one too. “It’s what I always wanted to do,” he said. Anderson was a selfemployed drywall installer in 1997 when he saw a job open up at Loup and decided to apply. He knew his dad and grandpa enjoyed the work. His uncle, Bob Ramaekers, also worked for Loup as Genoa Local Superintendent. He was hired as Maintenance Man at the Headworks in 1997 and was promoted to Equipment Operator in 2002. In 2012, he achieved his goal of becoming Dredge Operator and continued in that role until his retirement last year. In that role, Anderson was responsible for dredging sand from the Loup canal settling basin at the Headworks just southwest of Genoa. Dredging takes place in the spring and fall. In the off season, he helped maintain the dredge. “When you’re not dredging, you’re fixing something,” Anderson said. “Sand destroys everything.” He also took care of a variety of other tasks, such as steaming the intake gates in the icy winters or checking the canal during his night shifts. Some people hate working in temperature extremes. But Anderson wasn’t one of them. “I love the outdoors,” he said. And he loved working at Loup — until 2019. “I enjoyed it right up until the flood,” Anderson said. “It was heartbreaking.” A storm in March that year dumped rain on top of melting ice, causing ice jams and flooding that breached the canal and destroyed areas of the Headworks. “All the work we did and in 24 hours it was gone and we had to start all over.” The result was months of working overtime every week. In addition, Anderson said the shift work can be tiring after many years. And that’s how he knew it was time to retire. He said retirement started off pretty good last fall. “Then winter hit and it was awfully boring,” he joked. Still, he has plenty of projects to keep him busy in retirement — yard work and property and vehicle maintenance. He does miss the Headworks, the coworkers, and the dredge. He drives out for a visit every once in a while and takes a look at the dredge. It was his home away from home for 25 years and it’s been hard to leave it behind. But then he throws a fishing line in the canal, sits back to relax, and realizes retirement isn’t so bad after all. 2 | GENERATOR
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 2019 storm damage totals $9.8M FEMA reimbursement stands at $4.5M to date It has been more than four years since the 2019 mid-March storm affected the District and the operations with the hydroelectric facilities. I often get asked about where things stand regarding repairs and reimbursement for the repairs the District has made. For the most part, all of the repairs regarding the hydroelectric facilities have been completed. There is still minor work to do on the canal banks to ensure they are sloped and firmed up, but for the most part, these repairs are completed. The District is still waiting to bid out an overflow structure along the canal near the Headworks operation. This overflow structure is meant to return water from the canal to the Loup River when excess water enters the canal. This was a requirement from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The District has received all approvals on the design concept from FERC and is just waiting on approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to bid the project out and start the construction. Regarding cost and reimbursement, to date the District has spent approximately $9.8 million on repairs from the 2019 storm. The District has been reimbursed slightly more than $4.5 million from FEMA and insurance; however, we expect to eventually be reimbursed for almost all expenses associated with repairs from this storm. Sometimes it is frustrating at the amount of time it takes to get reimbursed for project costs from FEMA. The District has had to front this money, all the while waiting for the reimbursement. This has affected the District’s cash flow, but luckily the District’s financial position was strong before the 2019 storm, and we have been able to weather the slow nature of reimbursement by using cash reserves and not issuing any new debt, all the while keeping retail rates stable and cost effective. Once all of the funds are reimbursed from FEMA, the District’s cash position will be much better and the financial flexibility will be back to pre-2019 conditions. Coming back from the 2019 mid-March storm has taken a lot of resilience from all District employees, and this has been a challenge. Having to deal with facilities that are damaged and making repairs while trying to keep the facilities in operation takes a great deal of effort and concentration. All District employees should be proud of their performance during this difficult period. Storms like the one in 2019 are never fun to deal with, but they are a way of life in our industry. Wind and ice storms can damage poles and lines, and District employees respond to these quickly and efficiently. It is one of the many reasons I am proud to work at Loup Power District. NEAL SUESS President/CEO SUMMER 2023 | 3
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Page 7 and 8: The rise and fall of Citizens State
Page 9 and 10: “ COLUMBUS MORE THAN EVER IS POWE
Page 11 and 12: PUBLIC POWER EXPANSION In 1936, Lou
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Page 15 and 16: ANDY YRKOSKI Journey Line Technicia

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