Fannin County, Texas -- "The sand companies are coming and they are coming fast," Velma Jones warned during the regular meeting of Fannin County Commissioners Court held Tuesday, October 4, 2016. "We need some help."

Once again, a discussion regarding the consequences of sand and gravel operators moving into western Fannin County dominated a large segment of the weekly meeting of commissioners court.

Austin and Velma Jones have been living five miles west of Ravenna since 1957 and they are among the residents of rural northwestern Fannin County who feel their peaceful setting is being threatened by a surge of sand and gravel mining operations in the area.

"They are already mining on the west side of our property and will also be mining on the east side of the property line," Ms. Jones stated in commissioners court. "Needless to say, this is stressful."

Jones said a nearby neighbor recently passed away and she wondered aloud if the mounting tension between rural homeowners and large mining operations was a contributing factor.

"This is what we are going through," Jones told commissioners. "Are you willing for us to sit back and say, 'There's nothing we can do.'"

Velma Jones addresses Fannin County Commissioners Court.

Jones is concerned that some of the commercial vehicles aren't legal and that sand and gravel operators are making a profit at the expense of taxpayers who will have to pay for road repairs needed because of a significant increase in heavy-vehicle traffic.

Fannin County Judge Spanky Carter said that a town hall meeting, to be attended by Texas Senator Bob Hall, has been set for 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 24 in the Fannin County Courtroom.

"We are going to talk and see what our options are," Judge Carter said.

Carter indicated discussions are already underway with State Representative Larry Phillips, as well as Sen. Hall.

Fannin County Pct. 2 Commissioner Stan Barker pointed out that, with the notable exception of now being able to zone around lakes, state law generally does not allow counties to zone in the same manner that cities do.

"Other zoning must go before the legislature," Commissioner Barker explained. "It will have to be the result of legislative action because they are very reluctant to give that authority to counties."

Fannin County Commissioners Court unanimously approved a resolution that requires reclamation of land damaged by sand and gravel mining.

The signed resolution will be presented to Sen. Hall at the town hall meeting October 24.

WHEREAS, the County of Fannin appreciates the importance of industry and as a County, encourages, supports and welcomes commercial and industrial growth;

WHEREAS, the County of Fannin is concerned about the environmental and economical impact of surface mining; which can include erosion, loss of biodiversity, destruction of native ecosystems, and agricultural losses through decimation of land suitable to sustain livestock, all of which would result in a substantial decrease of land values concurrent with the depletion of land productivity and aesthetic value;

WHEREAS, the County of Fannin believes in the importance of restoring our land that has been mined to a natural and economically usable state. We believe as stewards of the land, we must restore productive ecosystems, not destroy them;

WHEREAS, Mining reclamation minimizes and mitigates the environmental and economical effects of mining and it is imperative that reclamation be a regular part of the mining process, and that the same occur prior to a mine being permitted or started;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Commissioners Court of Fannin County, Texas does hereby resolve that for the foregoing reasons, it is in the best interests of Texas counties and their taxpayers to support and favor the passage of legislation which would require the reclamation of mined land in the State of Texas, and the Commissioners Court of Fannin County, Texas expresses its deep appreciation to all legislators who support the same.

In other business, Fannin County Commissioners Court approved a proclamation regarding National 4-H Week, approved a proclamation regarding National Earth Science Week, and approved a proclamation that designates October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Fannin County Commissioners Court poses for a photograph with local 4-H members.