Fannin County, Texas -- All five members of Fannin County Commissioners Court were present for a regular meeting held Tuesday, July 26, 2022. The meeting opened with an invocation by Jase Waller, pastor of Telephone Baptist Church, and pledges were led by Cub Scouts from Pack 64.
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336th District Judge Laurine Blake spoke in public forum and encouraged citizens to participate in local government.
"Our community is only as good as the citizens doing the work," stated Judge Blake before she made a symbolic presentation of a toy road grader to Pct. 1 Commissioner Edwina Lane.
"Those in elected office sometimes feel they may not have the equipment or manpower they need, and may often feel unappreciated in these challenging jobs," Blake said later. "I had something for Commissioner Lane since I know she is short-handed and could use more equipment. It may not rise to the level of usable equipment, but I hope it will serve as a reminder or symbol of appreciation for the work she has done, and continues to do on our behalf."
The model toy road grader comes with a working steering wheel, a blade that moves and even has Goodyear tires!
*****Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to extend the countywide ban on outdoor burning for 30 days. The burn ban has been in place since July 5, 2022.
The U.S. Drought Monitor indicates Fannin County is experiencing severe drought, with extreme drought conditions creeping into the southern portion of the county.
Judge Moore encouraged citizens to be very cautious when working outdoors.
ORDER FOR PROHIBITION
OF OUTDOOR BURNING
WHEREAS, in accordance with provision of Section 352.081 of the Texas Local Government Code, the Fannin County Commissioners Court has found that circumstances present in all or part of the unincorporated area of Fannin County create a public safety hazard that would be exacerbated by outdoor burning; and
WHEREAS, a finding of such public safety hazard authorizes the imposition of controls on activities which tend to increase the likelihood of such fires;
BE IT THEREFORE ORDERED that the following regulations are hereby established for all unincorporated areas of Fannin County, Texas for the duration of this Order:
(1) Actions Prohibited:
A person violates this Order if the person burns any combustible material (including burn barrels for trash) or orders such burning by others.
(2) Exceptions:
This Order does not apply to outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for (1) firefighter training, (2) public utility, natural gas pipeline, or mining operations, (3) burns that are conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Section 153.048, Natural Resources Code, and meet the standards of Section 153.047, Natural Resources Code. (4) This Order also does not apply to any burns that are conducted in accordance with a plan that has been approved by the natural Resources Conservation Service or by the directors of the Fannin Soil & Water Conservation District. (5) US-Forest Service employees with RXB2 Burn authority for Caddo Grasslands only. (6) Welding, including cutting and grinding with the following restrictions: areas 10 ft. radius altered with the fire retardant or non-combustible material, fire fighting capability of 100 gallons of water, fire watch with cell phone, winds less than 20 mph, call into the County Judge or Commissioner (903-583-7455) AND Local Fire Department (closest to work location), to provide work location address before work begins. (7) NTMWD may burn within the permanent water area of the Bois d’ Arc Lake (8) UTRWD may burn within the permanent water area of Lake Ralph Hall.
(3) Enforcement:
(a) Upon notification of suspected outdoor burning, the fire department assigned to the location of the fire shall respond to the scene and take immediate measures to contain and/or extinguish the fire.
(b) As soon as possible, a duly-commissioned peace officer shall be sent to the scene to investigate the nature of the fire.
(c) This Order may be enforced in accordance with section 352.081 of the Texas Local Government Code. An offense based on a violation of this Order is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500.00
(4) Duration:
This order shall remain in effect from the effective date listed below for 30 days, and shall continue upon determination by the Commissioners Court, either by its own action, or through the County Judge as its authorized agent, in which the circumstances referred to herein no longer exist, whichever is earlier.
EFFECTIVE on the 5th day of July, 2022.
APPROVED for extension for 30 days this 26th day of July, 2022 in Regular Session of Commissioners Court:
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Bonham Fire Chief Scott Ridling presented the EMS report for June 2022.
Chief Ridling reported that the department is averaging 12.2 calls per day and has experienced some sick leave due to COVID-19, but it has not impacted response times.
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Daniel Harrison of Freese and Nichols, Inc. gave commissioners court an update regarding the Lake Ralph Hall project status. The brief overview included general land-use plans for commercial and residential developments.
The project has two phases; Phase 1 consists of formulating the Lake Ralph Hall Comprehensive Plan and Phase 2 will concern implementing the actual zoning regulations. More details are available online.
An open house with a public hearing to allow comments has been tentatively scheduled for August 25 at Honey Grove Library; Mr. Harrison is hopeful that at the end of that public hearing the Lake Ralph Hall Zoning Commission will vote to recommend approval of the Lake Ralph Hall Comprehensive Plan to Fannin County Commissioners Court.
Newt Cunningham, the Republican candidate for county judge, had several questions.
How much land does UTRWD own outside of the lake basin and where is the property line?
Will the City of Ladonia eventually annex Upper Trinity Regional Water District property and therefore be responsible for jurisdiction?
Will funds from water sales be provided to the City of Ladonia to fund policing Lake Ralph Hall?
"The longer we wait to get zoning in place, the more people who will jump in now in hopes of being grandfathered," Mr. Cunningham cautioned.
Another pressing concern of the county is whether or not private landowners will be allowed to build docks and marinas.
"If there is not something in there regarding private docks and marinas being allowed, it's not going to be a lake for citizens," Judge Moore remarked.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to move $20,000.00 from Contingency 100-509-4750 to the following: $5,078.63 to Elections Workers 100-404-1090, $1,631.79 to Postage 100-404-3110 and $5,651.94 to Election Supplies 100-404-3100 due to legislative changes.
Fannin County Clerk Tammy Biggers noted that her office was required to purchase $360 of postage for letters sent to clean up Voter Registration rolls this past week.
"Plus we’ll need to mail out over 1,000 ballots by mail before the end of this fiscal year, and we used our ballot-by-mail supplies for the cities and schools so those need to be replaced, for about $1,800," Ms. Biggers added. "The election supply vendors are all saying we need to order all paper goods immediately. That will leave roughly $4,000 for thermal paper rolls, ‘pizza kits’ (for polling places) ballot by mail thermal paper which is different from in person voting, sample ballot paper, election equipment cleaning kits, window envelopes, Avery labels, combination forms for election day, legal size paper for voter registration rolls and many other items, nearly all of which are paper products."
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved a one-time severance of 3.992 acres out of a 8.98-acre tract; Property ID# 82194 on FM 981 in Leonard.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved a one-time severance of 3 acres from a 31.358-acre tract on CR 4640 in Trenton, Property ID# 100316.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to approve Final Plat for Orduna 2, Phase 1; 21 lots on 28.81 acres on CR 4875 in Leonard, Property ID#s 80330 and 80340.
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Due to a petition with 20 signatures, Fannin County Commissioners Court denied the partial closure of CR 2215 in Precinct 1; beginning at CR 2210 and extending south to the curve, a closure of approximately .3 miles (about 1,690 feet).
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved the closure of CR 3820 in Leonard.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to begin performing criminal history and driver’s license checks for job applicants.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court passed on an agenda item detailing Foreman, Equipment Operator I and Equipment Operator II job descriptions for Precinct 1.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court discussed its lease with American Tower.
The current contract calls for annual payments of $14,692.00.
If the county's stipulations for a 10-year contract with a 10% rent increase each year and a $10,000 signing bonus are met, the county judge is authorized to sign the contract.
American Tower has verbally agreed, but Fannin County has not received the modified contract.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court voted to approve payment of bills.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court went into executive session at 10:48 a.m. to deliberate personnel matters regarding the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee; or (2) to hear a complaint or charge against an officer or employee – regarding county positions and salaries.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court reconvened in regular session at 11:34 a.m.
"We are talking about the budget, but no action was taken," explained Judge Moore.