Fannin County, Texas -- The regular meeting of Fannin County Commissioners Court began with the call to order and established a quorum with all members present.
Agenda item two was the invocation, David Woodson introduced Nathan Clinkscales, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Trenton, who delivered the invocation.
Agenda item three was the Pledges of Allegiance. Judge Moore lead court in the pledges.
Agenda item number four was for introductions: Which there were none.
Item number five was public forum.
Thoa Allen spoke asking for the commissioners to go out for bids, more than just Turner Construction. She would like to see different phases of the project with specific plans and costs for each.
Gabe Parker then gave an update on Lake Fannin. At the beginning of the year the volunteers had 3 projects they wanted to complete, improve the main road, remove foliage from the buildings, and clearing the dam of trees. Today, Commissioner Whitlock and Tom Gaedtke, N-Tex sand and gravel, have completed the road leading into Lake Fannin. Foliage has been removed from the caretaker's cabin and lodge. Clearing of the dam is 20% done and should be finished by the end of the week.
Agenda item number six was to approve and sign the amended Rules of Procedure, Conduct and Decorum at Meetings of the County Commissioners Court. These items will be effective September 1, 2019 in accordance with House Bill 2840. These new rules can be found at the end of this article.
Agenda item seven obtained LexisNexis Software for Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 for $91.00/month. Justice of the Peace, Judge Bob Clemons, stated that this software would give him more up-to-date addresses and drivers licenses to clear up old warrants.
Item number eight approved the proposed lease for office space at the Wire & Plastics Building, 800 East 2nd Street occupied by the District Attorney and County Clerk. Michelle Case recommended the new lease saying it could save the county $775 a month this year and $625 a month next year.
Agenda item number nine rejected the drywall and steel bids received for the Courthouse Restoration Project and to solicit new bids for drywall and steel again.
Agenda item ten dealt with the approval of the contracts for the Masonry work for Bryco Company and the Roofing with Anchor Roofing, this item was tabled until next week as the contracts were not in hand.
Agenda item eleven accepted the award letters from Turner Construction for the demolition, to performed by Precision Demolition at a cost of $987,645.00, concrete from Sage Concrete at a cost of $2,140,689.00, fire protection from Life Protection Sprinkler at a cost of $152,041.00 and photography scopes of work from Multivista Documentation Technologies at a cost of $45,712.00.
Agenda item twelve approved FY 2019-2020 an Interlocal Agreement between TCOG and Fannin County regarding the provision of GIS Services (Geographic Information Systems) to Fannin County for $23,000.
Agenda item thirteen approved the grant application for Hazard Mitigation Plan DR 4377 for emergency disasters in Fannin County. This is an increase for the grant application from $120,000.00 to $160,000.00. If this is not done, the county cannot receive any federal money.
Item fourteen on the agenda approved Fannin County Auditor's Office July monthly report. Income, year to date, is $16,220,876.20 which is 59% of budgeted income received. Expenses, year to date, are $14,404,941.64 which is 54% of budgeted expenses used.
Agenda item fifteen approved the payment of the bills. This week's bills totaled $441,345.65 for the county. This included indigent healthcare payments and a payment of $103,237.50 interest payment.
Item sixteen on the agenda was comments by the County Commissioners and County Judge.
Commissioner Whitlock thanked Tom Gaedtke and Steve Edwards for their help with the road into Lake Fannin.
Commissioner Self had no comment today, except to say he was at a loss for words.
Commissioner Magness reminded everyone that Senator Bob Hall would be having a town hall meeting at city hall tonight, Tuesday, August 13.
Commissioner Lackey
o Reminded everyone that Highway 82 east would be closed at various times on Wednesday, August 14 for the delivery of more beams for the bridge.
o There will also be various county road closures and upgrades to 2910, 2970, 2971, 2975.
o Attended a fundraiser for the Fannin County Children's Center and thanked Rebel Roots Boutique and Hammett Excavation for their support that raised $7,000.00.
County Judge Moore
o August 20 at 8:30 a.m. there will be a public hearing on the 2019-2020 proposed budget.
o August 27 at 8:45am and Sept. 13 at 9:00 am for the proposed tax rate.
o Thanks for conduct and participation and thanks for being here today.
o Thanks to David Woodson for lining up the Pastors for the invocations.
Agenda item seventeen adjourned the meeting.
If you have any questions or comments for your County Commissioners or County Judge their contact information can be found at the web addresses below.
http://www.co.fannin.tx.us/page/fannin.County.Judge
http://www.co.fannin.tx.us/page/fannin.Commissioners.Court
Rules of Procedure, Conduct and Decorum at Meetings of the County Commissioners Court
I. All Regular, Special, Emergency and Executive Session Meetings of the Fannin County Commissioners Court will be called and conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Government Code.
II. Regular, Special and Emergency Meetings of the Fannin County Commissioners Court are open to the public and to representatives of the press and media. Executive Sessions of the Commissioners Court are not open to the public, the press or the media and only those individuals expressly requested or ordered to be present are allowed to attend Executive Sessions.
III. The Fannin County Commissioners Court meets in Regular Session on each Tuesday of the month. In order for a matter or issue to appear as an agenda item on the Agenda of any Regular Meeting of the Commissioners Court, a request must be filed with and approved by at least one member of the Commissioners Court and/or the County Judge by 12:00 p.m. (noon) on the Thursday immediately preceding the next Regular Meeting of the Commissioners Court.
IV. The business of Fannin County is conducted by and between the members of the Fannin County Commissioners Court and by those members of the county staff, elected officials, department heads, consultants, experts and/or members of the public requested to be present and participate. While the public is invited to attend all meetings of the Commissioners Court (except Executive Sessions) the public's participation therein is limited to that of observees unless a member (or members) of the public is requested to address the Commissioners Court on a particular issue (or issues) or unless the member (or members) of the public completes a Public Participation Form and submits same to the county clerk prior to the time the agenda item (or items) is addressed by the Court. A sample of the Fannin County Commissioners Court Public Participation Form is attached hereto as Exhibit A. A. Each member of the public who appears before the Commissioners Court shall be limited to a maximum of five (5) minutes to make his/her remarks. Time for each speaker shall be maintained by the County Clerk or such other designated representative of the Commissioners Court. B. Maximum discussion on any agenda item, regardless of the number of members of the public wishing to address the Commissioners Court on such agenda item (or items) shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes. In the event that more than six (6) members of the public wish to address a particular agenda item (or items), then time allocated to members of the public recognized to speak shall be divided equally between those members of the public wishing to speak for the agenda item (or items) and those members of the public wishing to speak against the agenda item (or items). C. In matters of exceptional interest, the Court may, by the majority vote of the members of the Court in attendance at the meeting, either shorten or lengthen the time allocated for all members of the public and/or the amount of time allocated for all agenda items and/or a specific agenda item. D. It is the intention of the Court to provide an open access to the citizens of Fannin County to address the Commissioners Court and to express themselves on issues of county government. Members of the public are reminded that the Fannin County Commissioners Court is a Constitutional Court, with both judicial and legislative powers, created under Article V, Section 1 and Section 18 of the Texas Constitution. As a Constitutional Court, the Fannin County Commissioners Court also possesses the power to issue a Contempt of Court Citation under Section 81.024 of the Texas Local Government Code. Accordingly, all members of the public in attendance at any Regular, Special and/or Emergency meeting of the Court shall conduct themselves with proper respect and decorum in speaking to, and/or addressing the Court; in participating in public discussions before the Court; and in all actions in the presence of the Court. Proper attire for men, women and children is mandatory. Those members of the public who are inappropriately attired and/or who do not conduct themselves in an orderly and appropriate manner will be ordered to leave the meeting. Refusal to abide by the Court's order and/or continued disruption of the meeting may result in a Contempt of Court Citation. E. It is not the intention of the Fannin County Commissioners Court to provide a public forum for the demeaning of any individual or group. Neither is it the intention of the Court to allow a member (or members) of the public to insult the honesty and/or integrity of the Court, as a body, or any member or members of the Court, individually or collectively. Accordingly, profane, insulting or threatening language directed toward the Court and/or any person in the Court's presence and/or racial, ethnic, or gender slurs or epithets will not be tolerated. These Rules do not prohibit public criticism of the Commissioners Court, including criticism of any act, omission, policy, procedure, program, or service. Violation of these rules may result in the following sanctions: 1. cancellation of a speaker's remaining time; 2. removal from the Commissioners Courtroom; 3. a Contempt Citation; and/or 4. such other civil and/or criminal sanctions as may be authorized under the Constitution, Statutes and Codes of the State of Texas.
V. The County Judge is the presiding officer of the Fannin County Commissioners Court and is a fully participating member thereof. In the event of the absence of the County Judge, the senior member of the Commissioners Court (in terms of total number of years as an elected representative) present at the Regular, Special, Emergency meeting or Executive Session, shall serve as the Judge Pro-Tem of the Court. However, nothing herein shall prevent the senior member of this Commissioners Court from delegating this duty to another member of the Commissioners Court.
VI. The County Judge (or the designated Judge Pro-Tem of the Commissioners Court), as presiding officer of the Commissioners Court, is responsible for conducting all meetings and members of the public who have properly completed a Public Participation Form and submitted same to the County Clerk must wait to be recognized before they will be allowed to address the Court.
VII. Special rules for the press and media: A. No media personnel or equipment, including lights, cameras or microphones will be located on the Commissioners Court bench nor closer than five (5) feet in front of the Commissioners Court bench. B. Reporters and media technicians are required to structure their movements, equipment setup and take-down and adjustments, etc., in such a manner as to not disrupt the Commissioners Court deliberations or the ability of the public to see, hear, and participate in the proceedings. C. Interview shall not be conducted inside the Commissioners Courtroom during the time the Court is in session. D. Media interviews which are conducted outside the Commissioners Courtroom should be conducted in such a manner that the interview does not disturb, impede or disrupt the proceedings of any regular, special, or emergency and/or executive session of the court.
VIII. The Sheriff of Fannin County, Texas, or his designated deputy, shall serve as the bailiff at all Regular, Special, and Emergency meetings of the Court. However, in the event of the absence of the Sheriff, or in the event that there exists a conflict of interest between the Sheriff, any member of the Sheriff's department, and the Commissioners Court, or in the event of an Executive session of the Court in which the Sheriff is not an authorized participant, then in such event, the Court shall appoint such other commissioned peace officers to serve as bailiff as may be necessary.
IX. From time to time, the Commissioners Court shall conduct town meetings and public hearings. These rules of procedure, conduct and decorum shall also apply to such town meetings and public hearings; however, the Commissioners Court may adopt such additional and supplemental rules for such meetings as may be necessary and appropriate to conduct such meetings in an orderly, efficient and proper manner.
X. These Rules of Procedure, Conduct and Decorum at Meetings of the Fannin County Commissioners Court shall be effective September 1, 2019, and shall remain in full force and effect until amended or repealed by a majority vote of the Commissioners Court.