It is time for us to come together resolute to make Fannin County a better place. This needs to be done in an open and transparent fashion. In this process we should begin by asking ourselves some basic questions.
First, what is Fannin County?
Second, what do we envision Fannin County looking like in the future?
Third, what do we need to do to turn this vision into reality?
What is Fannin County? For me it’s more than a 900 square mile track of land with 35,000 plus inhabitants on the Red River; it is a community. I am at home surrounded by neighbors, good neighbors to whom I owe a fiduciary duty as their County Judge. Neighbors willing to put Fannin County first.
What do we envision for Fannin County in the future? We have varying views on what we want for Fannin County’s future. None is wrong in itself. Many of us would like it to remain unchanged. We love our community, the rural setting, the peace and quiet, the small-town atmosphere. Others, many of whom are not Fannin County Citizens, see it as an opportunity to profit off the coming boom. The more profit the better. The more development the better. No holds barred. When they have made their profit, they will move on to the next opportunity.
The hard fact is change is one of life’s constants. We cannot stop development any more than we can stop aging. Change is a certainty. But we can affect change. Again, what do we want for Fannin County? I personally do not want to see helter-skelter development in Fannin County. I do not want to see substandard development. I do not want to see Fannin County turned into an energy plantation, a dumping ground, a transient encampment, or a red-light district, for the Metroplex. I do not want Fannin County to find itself without water. I do not want unnecessary regulations. I do not need to see our fate controlled by outsiders.
For me, the open question is what do the majority of our Citizens want our future to look like? We need to reach a consensus. I believe the majority of my neighbors, our Citizens, want much the same things as I do: good schools, good jobs, adequate infrastructure (including roads and bridges), emergency services, fire and police protection. We all want to be safe and secure in our homes. We want adequate public buildings. We want parks, lakes and other recreational facilities. We want lower taxes. We want property rights. Most of us want open and transparent government. Obviously, many of these wants are in conflict with each other.
It’s time to take the bull by the horns. We need to take advantage of the opportunity which now presents itself to collectively establish realistic goals, set priorities, inventory available resources, and establish a plan to foster desirable development. We need to do a reality check. County government has limited powers and limited resources, and there are private property rights to be respected. Both the federal and state government, rightly or wrongly, have placed limitations on what Fannin County can do. We need to understand the rules of the game.
During the year 2024, working within these limitations, the County moved forward with a number of projects, including several that were already underway. Those projects include construction of the new Justice Center, investigation of the Fannin County Courthouse Restoration Project and the continuing repairs of Courthouse defects. Repairs that should not be made at our taxpayers’ expense. The County also contracted with Allegiance Ambulance Service who as of October 2024 is providing ambulance service in parts of the County resulting in an increase in the number of ambulances available to our citizens. While by law the County cannot prohibit sexually oriented businesses, junkyards, landfills, and RV parks in the County, it can and has implemented a number of regulations lessening their negative impact on our community. Those regulations can be found on the County Website at co.fannin.tx.us. The County is also in the process of implementing a Hotel Occupancy Tax, paid by visitors, which will add revenue to the County’s coffers without increasing our tax burden. Last but not least, Fannin County boat owners can now once again register their boats in Fannin County.
In 2025 we have an opportunity to affect positive change. It’s time to take action. Happy New Year!
