Fannin County, Texas -- All five members of Fannin County Commissioners Court were present for a regular meeting held Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
The meeting opened with an invocation by Nathan Peebles, children's pastor at First Congregational Church of Bonham, and pledges were led by Major James Manis (Ret.).
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In public forum, Will Campbell expressed frustration at the lack of noticeable action regarding oversight of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Savoy.
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Routine items
Commissioners court approved payment of bills totaling $172,311.19.
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Commissioners court approved minutes from a special meeting held November 9, 2022.
Pct. 2 Commissioner A.J. Self was the only current member of commissioners court who was seated in November 2022, but Judge Cunningham noted that the actions of the court at that time went into effect despite the lag in approved minutes from county meetings.
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Matthew Brown of Allegiance Mobile Health, presented the Emergency Medical Services Report for April 2025.
Brown said the average response time was 13:02 and the longest response time was 41:50 to Ladonia.
In questioning Brown about the availability of mutual aid, Cunningham stated, "We need to make sure our partners are on board with the back-up."
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Discussion only
Commissioners court discussed thru traffic on county roads. Last week the court instituted a restricted zone prohibiting thru truck traffic on County Road 2520, only to watch heavy trucks begin to use County Road 2510 as a cut-through.
"It seems they are trying to avoid the Farm-to-Market roads because law enforcement is on the Farm-to-Market roads," Cunningham opined.
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Discussion and possible action items
Commissioners court voted to set a public hearing for June 17, 2025 to hear comments regarding designating specific county roads as restricted zones prohibiting thru truck traffic; including county roads 2510, 2500, 2040, 2010 and 2005.
These restricted zones for thru traffic are meant to address a variety of current issues with heavy trucks in the area between Hwy 78 and FM 273.
Commissioners court is asking citizens for feedback regarding other cut-through roads being damaged by heavy trucks.
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding an Interlocal Agreement between Fannin County and the City of Bonham regarding the reciprocal use of fire marshals.
The City of Bonham continues to review this agreement.
Bonham resident Rusty Deets addressed the court, saying, "A long time ago, you criticized the [City of Bonham] fire marshal for the way he inspected the sprinkler system for this courthouse. You said it was done wrong and you had to spend money to correct it. Two weeks ago you criticized the city on the way they've done the inspections on the courthouse. And now you want to go into partnership with them?"
"Nobody's perfect and if we cooperate we can get things done and we can help each other improve," Cunningham responded. "I think it is important that we help each other improve and that we make this a safe community. That includes cooperation, education and mutual aid; those are the things I'm in favor of. I'm not in favor of people taking an architect's word that something is done correctly, when it's not done correctly. We need people who have training and a skillset as a whole in this county to make sure things are safe."
"I'm not going to disagree with what you just said," Deets remarked, "but when you speak in court, it comes out in the paper and makes the city look bad and I don't take kindly to that because I am a resident of the city."
"When I see something as a public official, I'm going to call it out, and I'm not going to keep my mouth shut to protect somebody's feelings," Cunningham replied. "So, I apologize if I have hurt somebody's feelings."
"I think you've hurt the whole City of Bonham's feelings," Deets said.
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Commissioners court voted to allow the Veterans Service Officer, Paul Chandler, to remain in his current location at the Fannin County Courthouse, which will allow the VA to use Chandler's former office space for other veteran-related affairs.
Maj. Manis pointed out that the Veterans Service Officer's location at the VA was a long walk for veterans.
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Commissioners court voted to follow the recommendation of Di Hopkins, Development Services Director, and approve a one-time severance of 1.01 acres from a 2.02-acre tract on FM 273; Property ID# 73378.
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Commissioners court voted to renew NRG Electricity Agreement at .07302 per kilowatt hour for 24 months.
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding mowing at the Justice Center.
Lakeside Lawn Care quoted $300 for an initial clean-up and then $125 every two weeks.
Commissioners court discussed the cost involved to purchase a riding lawnmower, a weed trimmer and a trailer.
Pct. 4 Commissioner Doug Kopf volunteered to mow the frontage along Hwy 78.
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding renewal of an agreement with Cintas Uniform Services.
Cunningham mentioned that he is wary of uniform contracts in general, however the agreement with Cintas Uniform Services has seemed to work well for Pct. 4 employees, with the company charging $35 a week for four uniforms. Cintas has also been repairing the uniforms and supplying cleaning rags.
Fannin County Purchasing Agent Julie Criswell will proceed with negotiations with Cintas.
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Commissioners court approved Services Request #006R from Eikon Consulting to design the added storage areas at the Justice Center; $10,500.00 with air-conditioning and heat.
Unlike some previous issues the county has had with Eikon, this is a genuine change order.
After the design has been completed, Cunningham estimated the actual work could cost as much as six figures.
Fannin County Auditor Alicia Whipple informed the court that the Justice Center project should end up with a little more than $600,000 remaining in the budget unless addition change orders whittle that figure down.
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding the hiring of a litigation attorney(s) to attempt to recoup cost of repairs and damages for taxpayers related to the Fannin County Courthouse.
The county is in the process of having specialists compile a comprehensive list of issues with the courthouse in order to accurately calculate the cost of repairs and damages.
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Open discussion items:
Open discussion items may be passed on unless discussion requested by a member of the court or a citizen.
In regard to the Fannin County Subdivision Committee, Cunningham said there are concerns regarding access to lots that have been broken off of larger tracts.
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In regard to the county budget and revenue sources, Cunningham repeated his intention to send a letter to the vendor that failed to implement a countywide Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) after promising a six-figure annual revenue stream.
Cunningham said he is asking the vendor to return $25,000 the county paid to get the HOT system up and running.
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The Fannin County Water Supply Agency will meet Thursday, May 22, 2025 at the Derrell Hall Education Center.
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In regard to solar and wind farms, and Battery Energy Storage Systems, Cunningham said he is joining with Savoy Mayor Roger Cada and Fannin County Fire Marshal Troy Hudson to call for an inspection of the Battery Energy Storage System near Savoy before the facility becomes operational in June.
Cunningham, Cada, Hudson and an out-of-state industry expert were scheduled to meet with representatives of Engie, the owner of the BESS, on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, to look over plans and walk through the facility.
Bonham resident Steve Cobb expressed concerns about toxicity levels, the potential of leaks into the aquifer and other long-term issues often associated with BESS facilities.
"I'm assuming you had better have some pretty good fail-safes to make certain that doesn't get into the environment because there's probably no way to come back from it," Cobb surmised.
Will Campbell asked about progress of the 391 commission.
Cunningham said the county is compiling documents and encouraging local entities to get onboard.
The 391 commission is a planning authority that will make recommendations to local governments.
Cunningham prefers that the 391 commission is focused on the concerns of Fannin County and he invited Campbell to join the meetings.
"Bonham needs a vote, Savoy needs a vote and Ector needs a vote, but we don't necessarily need the people in McKinney," Cunningham said.
"Has the State Fire Marshal been brought in to look this over?" asked Pct. 3 Commissioner Kurt Fogelberg.
"The State Fire Marshal is not terribly interested in this stuff," Cunningham replied. "What they do is controlled by Austin."
Deets addressed the court again to say, "The county now has a fire marshal. Has the county made any attempt to purchase any equipment, or do they have a system set up to control a problem when it goes online in June?"
"One of the things we are meeting with Engie about today [May 20] is them providing us equipment and training," answered Cunningham.
Deets suggested this should have already been in place and he asked if the county fire marshal is prepared to respond to an emergency right now.
"It seems like no one in the country, since this is a new technology, knows exactly what to do...nobody," said Cunningham. "We've had to go all over the country to find someone who is familiar with this."
Cunningham repeated his opposition to battery plants, wind turbines and solar farms.
"They don't bring us any jobs," Cunningham stated, "just 'rat cheese tax stuff'...you know, a little bit of money. I'm not in favor of any of this at all."
"What kind of a tax break did they get," Deets asked. "Can you rescind that tax break?"
"We are looking at it," Cunningham replied.
Al Travis, who lives a mile north of the BESS plant near Savoy, also addressed the court saying, "I just want to state for the record that I am absolutely against it ever turning on. Everyone I've talked to is against it," emphasizing that he is appalled that the state is apparently dodging the responsibility of protecting its residents.
Cunningham said the county went for the rat cheese and didn't look at the trap overhead.
"We stuck our head in it," Cunningham said.
"And we've got an elementary school a half-mile from that place," Travis cautioned.
Executive session(s) and action if needed:
Fannin County Commissioners Court had no need to go into executive session and adjourned at 10:31 a.m.
