Fannin County, Texas -- All five members of Fannin County Commissioners Court were present for a regular meeting held Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

The meeting opened with an invocation by Ronnie Ball, pastor of Sandy Baptist Church, and pledges were led by Army veteran and Pct. 3 Commissioner Jerry Magness.

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In public forum, Fannin County Clerk Jenny Garner reported a record 1,069 early voters on Monday, which equates to 4% of the county's registered voters. Tuesday was another high-volume day; as of 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, nearly 900 voters were processed.

The elections staff would like to recognize Mrs. Betty Broyles Miles as our oldest early voter yesterday. She is currently 101 and will soon be 102. She was born in 1923.

Early voting will continue from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; hours on Saturday will be 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

On Sunday, October 27, early voting will be available from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

From Monday, October 28 through Friday, November 1, early voting hours will be from 7:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Early voting will be held at Roy V. Floyd Civic Center (Bonham Armory), located at 1100 W. Fifth Street in Bonham.

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Routine items

Fannin County Commissioners Court approved payment of bills totaling $127,831.95.

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Discussion, consideration and action items

Fannin County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to extend the countywide ban on outdoor burning.

In recent days, area first responders have battled multiple fires along U.S. 82, a large brush fire in Monkstown, a structure fire in Gober started by a charcoal cooking fire, and another significant fire in Ladonia. 

Of the 254 counties in Texas, 165 are under a burn ban.

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Commissioners court approved a bond reduction for Bois d’Arc Shores development for off-site water, off-site electric, on-site electric and roads and drainage; original amount, $6,337,751.58, new amount, $968,383.34.

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Commissioners court approved a resolution relating to application for the 2025 Fannin County Indigent Defense Formula Grant Program.

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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.

Fannin County Judge Newt Cunningham described courthouse repairs and corresponding litigation as "ongoing."

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Cunningham said workers are busy at the justice center as the project gains momentum.

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In regard to the recent sale of 119 acres of county-owned land near the Multipurpose Complex, Cunningham said the real estate contract with Bonham Economic Development Corporation (BEDCO) has been signed. BEDCO has put down $8,000 in earnest money and an option fee of $5,000.

Bonham resident Rusty Deets addressed the court to say that while he didn't have a problem with the sale or its revenue going for the justice center, he questioned why the county used a real estate broker when it would have been legal for the county and city to negotiate a deal.

Cunningham noted that the county didn't know who the eventual buyer would be when the land was put up for sale. 

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The Fannin County Water Supply Agency will meet 4:00 p.m. Thursday, November 14, 2024, at the Derrell Hall Education Center. Letters are going out to potential participators as the agency continues the effort to reconstitute.

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In regard to Fannin County road issues, Judge Cunningham said the slate of multiple fatalities on Hwy. 56 and Hwy 121 have highlighted dangerous conditions on state highways in Fannin County.

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Cunningham said Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provided by Allegiance ambulance service is dovetailing into the City of Bonham's EMS provider with a mutual aid agreement in effect.

Mr. Deets pointed out that Allegiance asked Bonham Fire Department for back-up while responding to a wreck on Hwy 121 that resulted in five fatalities, but Bonham didn't have an available ambulance to send.

Cunningham said there will be times when Allegiance and Bonham Fire Department won't be able to respond as a back-up, but having Allegiance under contract means that county residents have three additional ambulances at their disposal.

"We now have more than we did have," Cunningham stated. 

Executive session(s) and action if needed