Fannin County officials address impasse with Forest Service regarding Lake Fannin

Dear Fannin County Residents:

Citizens and Fannin County officials have been working for years trying to obtain ownership of historical Lake Fannin. The Lake Fannin Volunteers have worked tirelessly to beautify and maintain the property and structures that was closed and neglected for so long. Citizens of Fannin County would greatly benefit to have such property that could be used for camping, fishing, historical education, environmental education, access to the Red River and much more.

Below are a few key points to help you understand the current progress.

· Fannin County began the required appraisal and survey of Lake Fannin as noted in the Lake Fannin Conveyance Act of 2018. An Environmental Site Evaluation was also done in May 2019.

· The County received an Agreement of Intent from the USFS and was told to stop the already in-progress survey of the land until a minimum of $70,000+ was paid (see Aug 2019 costs below). This was the first Judge Moore had heard anything regarding additional costs besides the appraisal and survey stated in the Conveyance Act.

· Another Agreement of Intent was sent to the County in July of 2020 asking for an additional $300,000.00 for a cultural resources survey/contract (see July 2020 costs below).

· There have been numerous meetings between the County, USFS and representatives of our State elected officials. The conveyance is currently at a standstill because the County Judge feels this was intended to be a land conveyance and not a land sale, which is what this appears to have turned in to.

* Question: Is this truly a conveyance or has it become a real estate sale?

* Note: None of the costs below include the actual purchase of the land at fair market value.

(August 2019 Estimated Costs to the County from USFS)

(July 2020 estimated costs to the County from USFS)

Please reach out to your elected officials and express what Lake Fannin means to you and any concerns or questions you may have.

Representative Pat Fallon
1118 Longworth HOB
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-6673
www.fallon.house.gov

Senator Ted Cruz
Russell Senate Office Bldg. 127A
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-5922
www.cruz.senate.gov

Senator John Cornyn
517 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-2934
www.cornyn.senate.gov

Go to https://www.co.fannin.tx.us/page/fannin.lakefannin for more information