Fannin County, Texas -- All five members of Fannin County Commissioners Court convened at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday for a public hearing to hear comments regarding the Change in Zoning application for 60.0887 acres on CR 2650 in Lamasco; from Rural Estate, Single Family District to Retail and Commercial District.
No public comments were received and the special meeting adjourned at 8:52 a.m.
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A regular meeting of Fannin County Commissioners Court followed at 9:00 a.m. The meeting opened with an invocation by Glen Tyson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bailey, Texas, and pledges were led by Fannin County Judge Randy Moore.
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Commissioners extended by one week the Covid-19 Response and Continuity of Operations Plan for Fannin County, as well as the Covid-19 Response and Continuity of Operations Plan for Fannin County.
As of Monday afternoon, February 8, Fannin County had been notified of 2,409 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 606 probable cases, with an estimated 2,881 recoveries and 88 fatalities. The county has an estimated 95 active cases.
The hospitalization rate in Trauma Service Area E is 16.88%, a slight increase over the past two days.
"The hospitals are still full," cautioned Judge Moore.
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Judge Moore gave an update regarding restoration of the 1888 Fannin County Courthouse. The exterior roof sheathing (decking) has been installed. Crews are installing blocking for cornice around the building and column bases have been installed on the west entrance.
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Steve Long of North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) provided commissioners with an update of construction at Bois d'Arc Lake.
NTMWD is monitoring archeology sites. The archeological studies will be completed before water is impounded.
"The boat ramps are coming along nicely," Mr. Long noted.
The Leonard Water Treatment Plant is 60-70% complete.
The embankment is almost 90% complete.
The intake tower is just over 90% complete.
Service spillways wall nearly complete.
The raw water pipeline from Bois d'Arc Lake to Leonard Water Treatment Plant is 97% complete.
The treated water pipeline from Leonard toward Melissa is just getting started.
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Commissioners approved minutes from 02/01/2021 (S), 01/19/2021 (R), 12/22/2020 (R), 12/08/2020 (R), 12/01/2020 (R) 10/13/2020 (S), 09/15/2020 (S-Clerk), 09/15/2020 (S-MHRC)), 09/15/2020 (R), 07/07/2020 (R) and 06/30/2020 (R).
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Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 reported monies collected for January 2021.
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Commissioners approved JoAnne Duncan as an additional member of the Courthouse Dedication Committee.
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Commissioners voted to go out for bids to mow Right of Ways.
Pct. 4 Commissioner Dean Lackey and Pct. 1 Commissioner Edwina Lane expressed interested in a cost comparison of contracting out mowing versus having precinct crews do the mowing on county right-of-ways.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to authorize the purchase of a fingerprint reader for the district clerk’s front counter, not to exceed $150, from county funds.
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Commissioners adopted a resolution regarding acceptance of the Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council and Settlement Allocation Term Sheet.
Fannin County Criminal District Attorney Richard Glaser discussed the settlement allocation agreement.
Fannin County's share would likely be approximately $131,000.
If the county receives funds from this settlement, it can be spent at the county's discretion.
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Commissioners approved the demolition of Honey Grove properties, located at 613 Maple and 508 E. Scott Street, at no cost to the county.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved the MOU between Fannin County and the Fannin County Adult Probation Department regarding the Bond Supervision Officer.
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Discussion, consideration and action regarding the Bois d’Arc Lake Zoning Commission’s recommendation to increase application fees for Change in Zoning, Special Use Permit, Special Exception to $350.
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Fannin County Commissioner Court tabled the change in zoning request for 60.0887 acres on CR 2650 in Lamasco; change from Rural Estate Single Family District to R&C Retail and Commercial
P&Z unanimously recommended that commissioners not approve this zoning change due to possible detrimental impact on property owners on both sides.
The area was originally zoned for single-family homes and there are already three RV parks in this area.
The county is still defining the language that describes an RV park.
There may be a need for the county to zone property for the specific use of Commercial/RV Park, as opposed to the more general term of Commercial.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court set a public hearing on March 9, 2021 at 8:40 a.m. to hear comments regarding a change in zoning request for 1.75 acres on CR 2900 in Dodd City.
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Commissioners set a public hearing on March 9, 2021 at 8:50 a.m. to hear comments regarding changes to the Lake Zoning Regulations. This is action to make one correction, as well as define RV parks.
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Commissioners set the annual salary of the position of Fannin County Court at Law court reporter at $67,000.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to use CARES Act funds to install UV lighting systems in the 4 HVAC units at the South Annex; total materials and labor is $1,000.
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Commissioners approved the purchase of the CCTV system and installation to access control for the District Court using Courthouse Security funds for approximately $27,000.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court discussed personnel or supplies for Covid-19 from the CARES Act Grant or other funding. Judge Moore advised commissioners to expect a bill from Fannin County Multipurpose Complex to assist with utilities due to the county utilizing the facility.
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Commissioners discussed the Fannin County Vaccine Call Center. A call-back person has been added to expedite the process.
The indoors vaccination originally scheduled for Wednesday, February 10 in Bonham has been postponed until Wednesday, February 24.
Judge Moore explained that the county vaccine hub, TMC Bonham Hospital, has been getting 975 doses per week and he is hopeful that Brookshire's will begin dispensing the vaccine next week.
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Commissioners approved the auditor’s monthly reports for January 2021.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to increase income and expense by $300 donated by the Firefighters Charitable Foundation for the Volunteer Fire Departments.
The check from Firefighters Charitable Foundation came to Fannin County to be dispersed to volunteer fire departments.
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Commissioners voted to move $278 from line 100-370-1310 Automobile Insurance Loss Payments to line 100-560-4540 R & M Automobiles.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved payment of bills.
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In the segment of the regular meeting reserved for comments by county commissioners and the county judge, Pct. 1 Commissioner Edwina Lane said she was impressed by the curriculum at the V.G. Young Institute of County Government Conference she recently attended. Commissioner Lane encouraged residents to register for the vaccine.
Pct. 2 Commissioner A.J. Self thanked everyone for listening to commissioners court on Zoom and he advised residents to continue being careful in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Pct. 3 Commissioner Jerry Magness called the V.G. Young Institute of County Government Conference a "fast-moving, informative conference."
Pct. 4 Commissioner Dean Lackey cautioned residents to be especially safe on the slick roads.
Fannin County Judge Randy Moore warned that freezing weather will continue for the next week.
Judge Moore will be absent at next Tuesday's commissioners court; senior commissioner Jerry Magness will preside.
Moore remarked that the vaccine hub at TMC Hospital Bonham will help the county receive larger shipments of the vaccine.
"The real story here is that Fannin County is working together to make this work," Moore said of the countywide cooperation to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.