Fannin County, Texas -- Fannin County Judge Newt Cunningham presided over a regular meeting of Fannin County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, with Pct. 1 Commissioner Troy Waggoner, Pct. 3 Commissioner Kurt Fogelgerg and Pct. 4 Commissioner Doug Kopf in attendance; Pct. 2 Commissioner A.J. Self was absent.
The meeting opened with an invocation by David Woodson, and pledges were led by Major James Manis (Ret.).
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Fannin County Judge Newt Cunningham introduced Savoy Mayor Roger Cada in attendance.
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In public forum, announced that commissioners court would soon enter into executive session which could last for a couple of hours.
Fannin County resident Richard Glaser told commissioners that his road has been neglected for 19 years.
"We keep throwing money at it and nothing gets improved," Glaser remarked.
Glaser complained that commissioners voted to give themselves a 10% raise that increased their annual salary to $81,000, in addition to $8,400 for the use of a vehicle, $5,000 in fuel, and $15,000 in health insurance.
"Y'all are making over $100,000 a year and we aren't getting the service we deserve," Glaser told commissioners.
Glaser suggested the county would do well to study unitization as an alternative to the current precinct system.
Ron Green, owner of Wise Funeral Home, continued to complain that Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home graded much higher than Wise Funeral Home by a committee that selected the county's Mortuary and Transportation Services contract.
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Executive session(s) and action if needed
Pursuant to Texas Government Code, Section 551.071, Fannin County Commissioners Court entered into executive session at 9:12 a.m. to consult with their attorney in regard to pending BESS litigation, and to discuss personnel issues.
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Commissioners court reconvened in regular session at 10:58 a.m. to announce no action was taken in executive session.
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Routine items
Commissioners court approved payment of bills totaling $64,814.15.
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Commissioners court approved minutes from special meetings on June 2, 2023 and August 15, 2025.
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Commissioners court approved the Treasurer’s Financial Report for August 2025, as well as the Treasurer’s Investment Report for August 2025.
Total receipts for the month was $994,914.50.
Total interest for the month was $81,270.45.
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Fannin County Auditor Alicia Whipple discussed the Auditor Monthly Reports for August 2025.
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Discussion items
Fannin County Elections Administrator Cristian Pérez García led a discussion regarding voting locations for the November 4, 2025 Election.
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Commissioners court discussed office space at the County office in Windom.
Honey Grove ISD Superintendent Todd Morrison explained that the Fannin County Shared Services group is needing office space. Morrison believes there is adequate space available in the Windom building and expressed an interest in eventual ownership and maintenance of the building.
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Commissioners court discussed office space in the courthouse.
Judge Goodwater and the auditor's office are both in need of additional space.
Current plans call for developmental services and OSS personnel to remain in the east annex with TxDOT.
Commissioner Kopf noted that the county owns the south annex and the east annex and that county employees would soon be vacating rented office space.
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Discussion and possible action items
Commissioners court approved a Proclamation declaring that September 27, 2025 will be WALK4HOPE Day in Fannin County in support of suicide prevention and mental health awareness.
Saturday, September 27, 2025 will be the WALK4HOPE Day at Legacy Ridge Country Club in Fannin County.
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Commissioners court voted to dismiss court costs associated with tax cases that have been nonsuited or dismissed and are no longer collectible.
This is an effort to clean up 22 years of records and to reconcile $106,730.89 of court costs that are uncollectible.
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Commissioners court approved replacing three AC condenser units and evaporator coils at the South Annex, at a maximum cost of $18,700.00 from Contingency after deduction of $2,339.00 from Repair & Maintenance.
This is the result of a power surge and the county will check to see if there is an avenue of recovery with the power company.
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Commissioners court voted to pull $480.62 from Contingency to pay for additional repairs of the Environmental Services truck.
That leaves $96,337.38 in Contingency with one week remaining in the fiscal year.
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding vendor(s) for RFP 2025-005, Justice Center Furnishings.
Purchasing Agent Julie Criswell said the committee interviewed four companies and believes furnishings can be acquired for significantly less than the $1 million that was budgeted.
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Commissioners court approved an Interlocal Agreement with Grayson County for inmate housing, subject to approval by Grayson County Commissioners Court.
The agreement contains many of the same terms, although it reflects an annual increase of cost and takes effect October 1, 2025, when the daily cost of inmates will go from $87 to $97.
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding a corrected Commissioners Court dates for calendar year 2026.
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Commissioners court voted to reappoint Billy Stephens to the Red River Groundwater Conservation District Board.
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Commissioners court voted to appoint Boston Ross, Misty Woodlee, Jana Wood and Trudi Fortune to the Fannin County Child Welfare Board.
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Commissioners court voted to approve the Office of the Attorney General Maintenance Grant Contract through August 31, 2026 with regard to the Statewide Automated Victim Notification Service program (SAVNS).
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding RFQ for Engineering/Inspection Services for courthouse.
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Open discussion items
Open discussion items may be passed on unless discussion requested by a member of the court or a citizen.
In regard to the county budget and revenue sources, Fannin County Clerk Jenny Garner informed the court that she was successful in securing a grant for $305,600 to improve election security. The county's match of slightly more than $16,000 has already been budgeted.
"We are extremely happy," remarked Garner.