Bonham -- Fannin County Courthouse was the site of the first of four town hall meetings scheduled in locations throughout the county and designed to allow residents an opportunity to offer solutions and express opinions regarding the possibility of a countywide animal control facility. Residents gathered in Bonham and Honey Grove May 2 and additional meetings are scheduled for Savoy and Leonard May 3.
“Thank you for attending tonight’s meeting,” Fannin County Judge Spanky Carter told a group of 20 residents seated in the county courtroom. “We have an issue we have been talking about, I’ve been told, for at least 10 years. The purpose of these meetings is to gather information and give everyone an opportunity to speak. I want to know what you’re thinking. My top priority is to take care of tax dollars and use them wisely.”
Thoa Allen, an outspoken proponent of a countywide solution to animal control who has been extremely successful at soliciting donations to build a modern facility, spoke first. Allen has operated a private animal shelter for seven years and managed to find homes for over 800 spayed or neutered animals in the past six years.
Allen remarked that it would not be feasible for Fannin County to enter into an interlocal agreement with Grayson County to seek a regional solution to both counties’ animal control issue. However, Allen did strongly suggest that the most appropriate answer to this difficult issue would be a countywide solution.
“The problem with unwanted pets is not just a problem for the City of Bonham,” said Allen.
Two county residents affirmed her observation.
“It isn’t a Bonham problem and it isn’t an Ector problem,” stated Russell Graves. “It is a Fannin County problem.”
“I live in Bailey,” added Tom Long. “We are a dump ground. I don’t know that there is any possible way to take a census of all the stray animals in Fannin County of any given day.”
Long hinted at possible compromises.
“Maybe the county builds it and the city runs it,” he offered.
“No one has mentioned ‘humane’,” Mindell Ayer remarked. “Have any of you been to the Bonham animal pound?”
There were also differing perspectives about the amount of donations available should the county decide to construct an animal control facility.
Allen estimated that donations, including $50,000 donated by the late Linda Kirkpatrick, totaled $225,000.
Judge Carter explained that the donation by Linda Kirkpatrick had been handed over to the city and, after studying the letter submitted by Joe W. Kirkpatrick, father of Linda Kirkpatrick, the county judge said that he felt the intent of the donation was for the money to be used by the city to upgrade animal control facilities. That would mean the county, at best, would have $175,000 in donations to help build a countywide facility.
Carter went on to say that he studied the way surrounding counties dealt with animal control.
“Does Grayson County have its own animal control facility?” asked Carter. “Does Bryan County? Does Lamar County? The answer to all of those questions is ‘no’. Typically, the largest city or county seat works out an agreement with the county. Do we want to take on something that we are not mandated to take on?”
Dillon Weeks voiced a concern about the lack of thoroughly documented numbers regarding unwanted pets and he implored Fannin County Commissioners Court to explore all options and viable alternatives, including the possibility of entering into a contract with a local veterinarian.
"It's a matter of public safety," stated Allen, "and it's going to escalate. People are waking up now and finding five dogs in their back yard."
"We have a $12 million budget," responded Carter. "That may sound like a lot, but it's not. Right now we are losing deputies on a regular basis because we can't pay them enough. We have a lot of people who work for our county and don't make very much money. I'd like to do something about that."
Carter reminded the crowd of some financial obligations hanging over Fannin County, including the $173,000 payment the county will have to make in September on a former county jail that was built in 2000 and has been vacant for 18 months. Unless a deal is hammered out in the interim, county taxpayers will have to cough up another payment for the old jail, this one totaling $300,000, in two years.
"To do this [build a countywide animal control facility], we either raise taxes or take money from somewhere else," said Carter. "That's the math. I don't want to put another burden on our taxpayers."
After listening to suggestions and concerns from taxpayers attending the four town hall meetings, the county judge expects Fannin County Commissioners Court to reach a decision whether or not it will undertake the construction of a countywide animal control facility at a regular meeting May 23.
"I'd like to make that decision May 23,” stated Carter, “and I encourage all of you to be here May 23 to be part of the solution."