Fannin County, Texas -- All five members of Fannin County Commissioners Court were present for a regular meeting held Tuesday, May 24, 2022. The meeting opened with an invocation by Michael Evans, pastor of United Methodist Church in Windom, and pledges were led by Major James Manis (Ret.).
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved the Treasurer’s Financial Report for April 2022, as well as the Treasurer’s Investment Report for April 2022.
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Troy Hudson, Fannin County Emergency Management Coordinator, gave an update of the storm event that brought 95mph winds to a swath of the county from Red River to the City of Ladonia on May 15 and May 16, 2022.
Mr. Hudson said the National Weather Service warning went out at 8:57 p.m. May 15; he arrived in Windom and Honey Grove on May 16 to witness widespread damage, including trees blown down and structures damaged.
Hudson said one home was destroyed, 23 homes suffered major damage and approximately 1,000 homes received some degree of damage from winds equivalent to an EF1 tornado. Residents are still in the process of cleaning up and Hudson is continuing to assess damage.
Fortunately, no one was injured.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved minutes from a regular meeting held April 26, 2022.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court briefly discussed the need for a traditional indoor stand or a digital kiosk for the Fannin County Courthouse in order to allow the county clerk to properly post notices, citations, tax sales, etc.
This agenda item will be revisited with prices for the different options for commissioners court to consider.
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Discussion, consideration and action to choose method of selecting the Salary Grievance Committee for fiscal year 2022/2023
Fannin County Commissioners Court selected a nine-member committee Salary Grievance Committee for fiscal year 2022/2023 consisting of six elected county officials: sheriff - Mark Johnson, county tax assessor-collector - Gail Young, county treasurer - David Woodson, county clerk - Tammy Biggar, district clerk - Nancy Young, county attorney - Richard Glaser and county judge - Randy Moore; three members of the public from the grand jury list: Walter Ray Ford, Christen Rhodes and Mandi Bruso; and two alternates: Brigitte Jennings and Dawn Riales.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to approve a one-time severance of 2 acres from a 12-acre tract, Property ID# 109477 on FM 1752 in Savoy.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to open two temporary part-time positions at $12 per hour for June 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022 for Precinct 1.
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Pct. 2 Commissioner A.J. Self volunteered to deliver a load of rock to repair the west parking lot at the South Annex.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to use Auctioneer Express to sell a 2001 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab Pickup (diesel) with flatbed and a John Deere 5101-E Utility Tractor for Precinct 3.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court passed on an agenda item calling for the purchase of a minimum 100-horsepower tractor with front-wheel assist and front-end loader, new or used.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to approve a sales agreement with Reliant for one year and have the county judge sign on behalf of Fannin County.
Fannin County Auditor Alicia Whipple suggested the one-year contract would allow the county to pursue a better agreement if one is available next year.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved payment of bills.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved an order setting the new location of the following Fannin County Courts as of June 7, 2022: County Court at Law, Justice of the Peace Court, Precinct 1 and County Commissioners Court will convene in the Fannin County Courthouse.
Veterans Court, which operates under the auspices of District 336th District Court, will meet Friday, May 27 in the County Court at Law courtroom if it is ready for use, or possibly in council chambers at Bonham City Hall. Meeting sites will be at the discretion of 336th District Judge Laurine Blake. Future meetings of Veterans Court may held in the commissioners courtroom at Fannin County Courthouse.
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In public forum, one person voiced concern regarding the proposed wind farm, one person thanked the sheriff’s department for helping with the move into the courthouse, and one person expressed concern over the growing problem of 18-wheelers parking along the side of roads.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court went into executive session at 9:53 a.m. to deliberate commercial or financial information that the governmental body has received from a business prospect that the governmental body seeks to have locate, stay, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations; or (2) to deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business prospect described by Subdivision (1) – regarding economic development with the City of Bonham.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court also held an executive session to deliberate personnel matters regarding the purchasing agent position.
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No discussion was held regarding deliberations in executive session.
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Pct. 1 Commissioner Edwina Lane announced that Lake Fannin Volunteers will meet Thursday, May 26 at 6:00 p.m. in the Lake Fannin Lodge. Commissioner Lane noted there will be workdays at Lake Fannin June 4 and 5 from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
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Fannin County Judge Randy Moore expressed appreciation to Richard Glaser and Patty Kreider for helping residents improve their future prospects via the "Getting Ahead" program. The sixteen-week program -- "Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin’ By World" -- helps participants examine their own experiences and explore issues in the community that impact success and could help break the cycles of poverty.
Judge Moore reminded residents to continue contacting state and federal elected representatives and urge them to oppose the VA proposal to move a significant portion of the local VA to the metroplex.
"We don't want anything to happen to the Bonham VA," Moore stated. "It would be detrimental to our veterans and our county."