Letter from Board President to DiscredIT AND INTIMIDATE

https://www.insiderutah.com/articles/recent-letters-falsely-accuse-garkane-board-and-employees/

Recent Letters Falsely Accuse Garkane Board and Employees

September 13, 2022

     My name is William Hammon. I am the president of the Board of Directors of Garkane Energy Cooperative. I have served in this position for three and a half years and have been on the board, generally, since 2016.

     I am writing in response to the letters that have recently been published from Mr. Lavoy Tolbert, in which he has accused me and many others of misusing and inappropriately processing Capital Credit funds. Garkane has responded multiple times to Mr. Tolbert’s questions, criticisms and accusations in writing and in-person many times in the past. We have tried to educate and help him understand how cooperatives work and the laws and regulations that govern them.

     At this point, I feel that Mr. Tolbert is maliciously, purposely and irresponsibly attacking my character and the character of the other Garkane Board members past and present as well as the CEOs. Trust and confidence is paramount between our Board and our membership. Many of the past and present board members Mr. Tolbert has been disparaging have businesses in our service territory, and their good name is of the utmost importance to their personal welfare. Personally, I seriously resent the slander of being called a thief and a liar!

     We have tried for some time to educate Mr. Tolbert and show him that he is mistaken and have patiently endured his attacks against us. Recently, Mr. Tolbert filed a formal complaint to the Utah Public Service Commission regarding these very issues, and the Commission ruled in favor of Garkane.  

(The PSC DID NOT RULE IN FAVOR OF GARKANE.  It is an outright lie and attempt to sidetrack the public who don't do the research! - READ THE LAST LINE of the PSC's very own and final response on Page 2. - https://pscdocs.utah.gov/electric/20docs/2002801/3163672002801odc11-12-2020.pdf 

     If Mr. Tolbert genuinely believes that we have perpetrated fraud against our membership, he should present his case in court, and stop this flagrant and irresponsible slander and defamation of our characters!

     To your readers, I say, “Garkane welcomes your questions, interest and comments regarding our operations.”

     To Mr. Tolbert, I say, “There are roughly 42-million Americans served by more than 600 Electric cooperatives just like Garkane. These co-op members are served by a cooperative and capital credit structure that is common and is approved by the IRS. Utah, like 33 other states in the nation handle unclaimed capital credits in the same manner as Garkane.

     If you do not understand, after all the explanations provided to you, that Garkane is doing its very best to provide its members safe, reliable power at affordable cost in a legal and appropriate manner, please contact me and I will arrange another meeting to discuss these matters.”

     If Mr. Tolbert continues to falsely accuse Garkane’s Board members and employees of actions that are not true, I will encourage the Board to take appropriate actions to ensure that the good name of these individuals is preserved.

Respectfully, William Hammon