Fannin County, Texas -- All five members of Fannin County Commissioners Court were present for a regular meeting held Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
The meeting opened with an invocation by Fr. Delfin Condori, priest at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Bonham, and pledges were led by Major James Manis (Ret.).
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Fannin County Judge Newt Cunningham recognized Savoy Mayor Roger Cada and a representative of Texas Association of Counties (TAC) in attendance.
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In public forum, Savoy, Texas, resident Joy Henderson expressed concern about the potential danger of the battery energy storage system (BESS) near Savoy.
"It's unsafe to have something like this so close to our community," Henderson told the court.
David Keene addressed the court on behalf of the Vive la Bois d'Arc event that will be held in Bonham May 3, with representatives of the Caddo Nation and the French Consulate attending to celebrate the important role of bois d'arc in this region's heritage.
Keene presented each member of the court with one of his custom-made writing pens fashioned from locally harvested bois d'arc wood with a special Fannin County grain.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Troy Waggoner told about attending a regular meeting of Bonham City Council Monday night, April 13 and inviting the city to join the 391 commission, along with the county and the City of Savoy.
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Routine items
Commissioners court approved payment of bills totaling $165,640.75; payroll was $412,903.72.
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Commissioners court approved minutes from a regular meeting held July 23, 2024.
Pct. 3 Commissioner Kurt Fogelberg asked if the county could offer additional help to the county clerk in order to catch up on the backlog of minutes.
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Indigent Healthcare Coordinator Yvonne Geesaman presented the Indigent Healthcare 2nd Quarter Report of 2025, with included expenditures of slightly more than $40,476.00 for inmates during the three-month period. The department is currently under budget.
Discussion, consideration and action items:
Commissioners court discussed possible action regarding using a portion of land sale proceeds for Road & Bridge use.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Troy Waggoner stressed that he is not against construction of the Justice Center, but he offered a proposal.
Waggoner said that if current jail population numbers don't increase, it could result in the county saving half a million dollars by the end of this budget cycle, and possibly save up to $1.5 million at the end of the next budget cycle.
He feels the public was told that a portion of the land sales could go toward improving roads.
"It's only fitting that this commissioners court keep its word and show our citizens that we are trying to improve the condition of our roads," Waggoner stated.
He noted that the county has a $3.23 million General Fund reserve which could be dipped into, if needed.
Waggoner made a motion to dedicate $600,000 from land sales for Road & Bridge, with the money to be divided equally between precincts.
Cunningham contended that 2 1/2 years ago the county dumped $2.5 million into the four precincts' Road & Bridge funds with no noticeable improvement.
He noted that a recent memo indicates the county only has a margin of $600,000 at the Justice Center.
"We can't have a concrete parking lot if we only have $600,000," Cunningham remarked, adding that the county needs $1.4 million to bring Tax Assessor-Collector Office and Juvenile Probation to the Justice Center.
On top of that, the county may have a million dollar roof repair at the Justice Center hanging in the balance.
Waggoner pointed out that the engineering and architectural firm hired by the county, Eikon Consulting Group, was the entity that wrote the roof was in good working condition.
Michael Evans, speaking as an individual and not as a representative of the City of Bonham, reminded the court of a critical need for a Justice Center with proper security and space.
Evans said the conventional wisdom is that capital assets should be moved into capital projects.
"As a taxpayer, I would ask you to carry on with a project that was promised by a previous commissioners court," Evans said. "There is an urgent need to get this project finished."
He called the current situation "unconscionable" and said the expectation of the silent majority is that the county has agreed to complete the Justice Center without delay or diversion.
Mike Nedjtek urged the court to pass on the motion to move $600,000 from land sales into Road & Bridge.
Nedjtek said that, considering the amount of money that the precincts have in their budgets right now, the court should pass on the motion.
"If we take money out and can't finish the Justice Center, we have made a very, very bad decision," Cunningham said.
Bonham resident Rusty Deets asked many thousands of dollars was in the budget for drainage at the Justice Center.
Cunningham responded that the architect and engineer were hired to plan for drainage.
"Are they liable?" Deets asked.
"I would like them to be liable," Cunningham said.
Deets said that part of the money from land sales was supposed to go to Road & Bridge.
Cunningham countered that only the money that was left over after the Justice Center was completed was to go into Road & Bridge.
"Then borrow the money and finish it on time," Deets said.
Evans mentioned that the State of Texas has free classes to teach road engineering.
Waggoner said Fogelberg has been building roads all his life.
Kopf explained budget constraints that commissioners have to work under and reminded the court that it had voted July 30, 2024 to dedicate money from land sales to the Justice Center.
"We do need more money, but we don't need a one-time lump sum," Kopf said.
Fannin County Auditor Alicia Whipple explained that the county will have $659,000 remaining in the Justice Center budget, provided there are no change orders, and provided the county leaves the Tax Assessor-Collector Office and Juvenile Probation in their current locations.
Under the current budget, the county would come up $1.3 million short if it moves the Tax Assessor-Collector Office and Juvenile Probation into the Justice Center when it is completed.
"Any money that is there at the end of the day, I'm proud to see it go into roads," Cunningham said. He suggested that commissioners pool resources.
"We are already sharing equipment," Waggoner said.
"You need to leave the road building to us, and you worry about the Justice Center roof," Fogelberg told the county judge.
"I am delighted to leave road issues to you guys," Cunningham said, "but I am not delighted to see money for a project being taken from the project to cover road expenses. If we are going to make bad decisions, I want the county to be aware that we are making bad decisions."
Taryn Nejtek reminded commissioners that they represent the residents of the county.
"My question would be, have you reached out to your constituency to see what the general public wants?" Nejtek asked. "This isn't about what you want individually; it's about what your constituency wants as a county. Have there been any town hall meetings? I'm not aware of any. Any pollings? Surveys? Articles published? I can only speak for what I want. I feel very strongly that this Justice Center be completed."
Nejtek called the current set-up at district court "a terrible, terrible situation," and asked that the court pass on this decision until the public can express their desires.
"Was there a town hall meeting to buy that building?" Fogelberg asked.
Cunningham said he has heard there have been meetings to discuss taking money from the Justice Center project and he warned commissioners that walking quorums are prohibited.
David Keene asked the court to look at how other counties are making money off recreational opportunities at lakes.
County resident Galen Bennett said commissioners have a responsibility to manage the budget.
"Live within the budget that you have," Bennett told commissioners, adding that it doesn't make sense to take money out of the project before it is completed.
Cunningham said his priorities are the roof, parking lot, and then moving the Tax Assessor-Collector Office and Juvenile Probation into the Justice Center.
"Let's get the Justice Center built and, if we have money left over, it goes to the roads," Cunningham suggested.
"Which one of you constituents wants to take my phone calls?' asked Waggoner.
Cunningham reminded commissioners that the motion before them is to move $600,000 from the Justice Center and divide that money between the precincts.
"You already know where you are going with this," Cunningham predicted. "I don't even know if we have money for the roof. We are upside down, guys."
Waggoner changed his motion to taking $400,000 from the Justice Center in 60 days in order to buy a new four-speed loader.
One glimmer of hope is that, if jail numbers do continue to run below the county's historical average, $500,000 could go back to the county's reserves at the end of the current budget cycle in September.
Cunningham asked if that money could go to Road & Bridge.
Whipple said jail numbers are unpredictable and called this type of budget maneuver "a bad precedent."
Cunningham suggested waiting until the Justice Center has been completed to see how to increase money for Road & Bridge.
"I don't want to walk out there and spend money we don't have," Cunningham said.
Another possibility is for some money for Road & Bridge to come out of reserves at budget time.
The court decided to pass on the motion.
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Commissioners court approved an updated Resolution to accept grant funding from the Office of the Governor for the Structured Family Therapy Program operated by the Juvenile Probation for FY 2025-2026, Grant number 2806212; original Resolution signed on 02/25/2025.
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Commissioners court approved an amendment to the Farm & Ranch Agreement for the sale and purchase of 41 acres in Ector; extend closing date to April 30 and have county judge sign on behalf of the county.
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Commissioners court voted to use a portion of last year’s Hotel Occupancy Taxes for printing courthouse brochures.
Bonham Visitor Center has been printing courthouse brochures; last year the county had a line item with $1,575 from Hotel Occupancy Taxes (HOT). The county has a total of $5,146.00 in that fund. These brochures will feature the courthouse
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Commissioners court approved the selection of Lakeside Lawn Care as the vendor for Fannin County Mowing & Landscape. The Windom building has been added to this scope of work.
The county contacted nine vendors and secured five bids.
Lakeside Lawn Care of Ector, Texas, had the low bid of $1,269.23 for each mowing at all locations and offered to mulch around trees on the courthouse lawn for free.
The county can cancel this 26-week contract at any time.
The county will need to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to care for landscaping at the Justice Center.
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-----Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding possible action regarding additional work at the Justice Center.
Fannin County Criminal District Attorney John Skotnik submitted three pages of requested changes, including 11 windows, a bathroom, an exterior door, reception windows, rear parking for judges and staff, a panic button and more dedicated electrical outlets. (estimated $130,000 for windows, door and bathroom)
"We had a savings of a little over $200,000 in first quarter by keeping the jail population down," Skotnik pointed out. "Right now it has bumped up a little bit, but we are working on it. I want to tell you that we got that savings because we are working as a family."
Skotnik noted that the DA office is still short staffed but working diligently with departments as a team to keep jail numbers down and is enjoying unprecedented cooperation with the county team.
Skotkik said the walls are cinder block, which are relatively easy to work with, and these changes could possibly be accomplished at a better price by a local contractor after the completion of the Justice Center.
"Change orders...I'm allergic to them," Cunningham told Skotnik. "I like your idea of getting it done cheap, after the fact."
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item grading and asphalt (approx. $215,000.00) or grading and concrete (approx. $576,100.00) for the Justice Center parking lot.
Cunningham said the biggest issue is the roof which could cost close to a million dollars to repair.
Waggoner pointed out that the county could save 20% of the cost of repairing the roof by waiting until Crossland Construction is finished, and then subcontracting the repairs.
The court's consensus seems to be that a concrete parking lot could end up being cheaper than installing and maintaining an asphalt parking lot in the long run.
The county is still awaiting plans for a civil design of the parking lot.
All asphalt must be removed to shoot elevations and the county precincts get first option at all salvageable material.
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Commissioners court discussed specific discretionary exceptions to the Fannin County purchasing policy as permitted by Local Government Code §262.024.
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding the approval of the supplemental and modification section to the current purchasing manual.
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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, Cunningham said that issues with the flooring in the courthouse are due to poor design, but the contractor has made repairs.
The courtroom balcony was closed because of issues with woodwork, but repairs have been made there, also.
Litigation is ongoing.
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In regard to the county budget and revenue sources, the county is still waiting for word on a sales tax payment three months ago that was $300,000 more than expected.
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"We have a fire marshall in place and we are looking at the BESS facility," Cunningham said.
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In regard to Fannin County road issues, Cunningham said new neighborhoods are taking responsibility for appropriate roads for their developments.
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In regard to battery energy storage system, Savoy resident Joy Henderson told the court, "They're bringing in big trucks and ruining our roads with all this."
Henderson said the City of Frisco has paid $14 million to clean up a battery mess and still identifying hazardous waste.
"Sounds like, with your budget, you wouldn't have the money to clean it all up if they left it behind," Henderson said.
Cunningham said performance bonds are meant to protect the county. However, performance bonds may seem to be enough in today's dollars to pay for clean up, but the bonds may not be enough to pay for clean up in the future.
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In regard to overweight trucks and highway safety, Telephone, Texas, resident Shawn Fulton said that dust from 100 to 150 trucks a day on a sandy road near his farm is dangerous and makes working outdoors unbearable.
"What can we do as citizens?" Fulton asked. "We need help out there."
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Executive session(s) and action if needed:
Pursuant to Texas Government Code, Section 551.071, Fannin County Commissioners Court had no need for executive session and adjourned at 11:55 a.m.
