Fannin County, Texas -- All five members of Fannin County Commissioners Court were present for a regular meeting held Tuesday, July 2, 2024. The meeting opened with an invocation by Dave Bradley, pastor of First Baptist Church of Whitewright, and pledges were led by Major James Manis (Ret.).
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Routine items
Fannin County Commissioners Court approved payment of bills totaling $415,299.46.
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Bonham Fire Chief Scott Ridling presented the Emergency Medical Services report for May 2024.
Chief Ridling said May was a busy month with 401 calls, 50 more than last month.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG) for FY2024 Homeland Security Grant Division equipment.
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Commissioners court approved minutes from a regular meeting held April 23, 2024.
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Judge Bob Clemons, Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, announced his retirement.
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Commissioners court continued its discussion regarding I-CrimeFighter software for the district attorney’s office.
Fannin County Purchasing Agent Edwina Lane will continue her research and present a recommendation for commissioners court to consider.
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Discussion, consideration and action items
Fannin County Commissioners Court approved a reduction in bond amount for The Peninsula and The Shores at the Peninsula; onsite water complete, reduce from $941,388.00 to $463,898.00.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved the Preliminary Plat for Fannin Farms; 76 one-acre-plus lots on 103.8 acres, ID# 79096 on CR 4941 and CR 4940 in Leonard.
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Fannin County Commissioners Court approved sending the lessor of county-owned property in the area of FM 898 and CR 4070, Property ID# 70475, 90 days written notice to vacate the property and approve listing the property for sale.
The lease expired last year, but a relative of the former lessor, Jordan Sells, asked for consideration to purchase the property.
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Commissioners court voted to accept rock and gravel bids for all precincts.
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Commissioners court voted to accept asphalt materials, emulsions and road oil bids for all precincts.
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Commissioners court approved sending a 90-day cancellation notice to Document Logistix.
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Commissioners court approved placing ‘Road Closed to Thru Traffic’ signs on certain county roads once necessary legal steps are taken.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Dale McQueen said a limited amount of free signs are available from TxDOT to help the county cut down on heavy trucks using county roads as shortcuts.
All four commissioners will determine which roads in their precincts need signs.
The county must establish detour routes and will need to hold a public hearing before placing these signs on roads and issuing citations to violators.
Additional signs will cost approximately $150 each.
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding an additional cost for hotel room for the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 Clerk; Justice Court Personnel training in Corpus Christi, one night prior to training, 07/21/2024; $149.00 per night plus taxes - $177.41 total.
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding the responsibility to maintain the portion of CR 2909 that is located inside the city limits of Dodd City without the fully executed Interlocal Agreement for Road Maintenance.
The county has asked for its employees to be covered by liability insurance while working inside the city limits, however Texas Municipal League is apparently informing representatives of Dodd City that providing the insurance isn't necessary.
Former Pct. 4 Commissioner Pat Hilliard said the county is responsible since CR 2909 is a county road.
"I will look at the law and we will do what is right," Judge Cunningham remarked.
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Open discussion items
Open discussion items will be passed on unless discussion requested by a member of the court or a citizen.
In regard to courthouse repairs and litigation, Judge Cunningham said he met recently with Turner Construction and received pertinent information.
Cunningham said a forensic computer specialist will be hired to recover information on a laptop turned in by Pct. 2 Commissioner A.J. Self.
Commissioner Self objected to the insinuations and contended that he turned in the laptop to the county IT department to be scrubbed and reused by another department to save money.
County resident Jason Walker asked why the county judge who signed many of the work orders, Randy Moore, and the senior commissioner at the time aren't being scrutinized.
"Watch the end of the show," Cunningham replied.
County resident Rusty Deets said he listened a budget meeting July 1 and isn't sure if the county is selling property to pay for a shortfall at the justice center, or if the money is earmarked to balance the budget.
"Which is it?" Mr. Deets asked.
Cunningham said his first priority is to complete the justice center project without borrowing any more money. In the event any money from real estate sales is left over, it would be used to balance the budget.
Executive session(s)
Fannin County Commissioners Court entered into executive session at 10:12 a.m. to consult with their attorney, to discuss personnel issues, and for a deliberation regarding contract negotiations.
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In Executive session #31, commissioners court approved the 2024 Amended and Restated Facility Operation and Management Agreement of the 96-bed County Facility and capital improvements relating to Fannin County Jail South Annex and corrective repairs to upgrade security recommendations of Texas Commission on Jail Standards; and other matters related to the Fannin County Jail.
The daily rate for county detainees will increase from just over $56 per day to approximately $77 per day beginning October 2024.
The 5-year contract with LaSalle Corrections to operate the 100-bed Fannin County Jail South Annex on CR 4200 will coincide with LaSalle's contract to operate the 500-bed Fannin County Detention Center on Silo Road.
LaSalle will install a perimeter fence and upgrade the interior at the Fannin County Jail South Annex.
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No action was taken in executive sessions #29 and #30.