Fannin County, Texas -- All five members of Fannin County Commissioners Court were present for a regular meeting held Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
The meeting opened with an invocation by Jason Points, pastor of First Baptist Church in Trenton, and pledges were led by Air Force veteran, Jenny Garner.
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In public forum, Jason Walker objected to the way Fannin County Judge Newt Cunningham used the term "gaslighting" in an interview with a small-town TV station that is apparently on a short leash.
Walker read the definition of gaslighting:
A form of psychological manipulation where someone tries to make another person doubt their own sanity, perception of reality, or memories. It is a tactic used to gain power and control by distorting the facts and making the victim question their own judgment.
Walker said he feels like the interview accuses the commissioners of gaslighting.
"If you come up here every week for the past year or so, you realize it is the exact opposite," Walker said. "The commissioners are constantly being accused of walking quorums, yet nobody has brought any proof. Two weeks ago, I guess it was, Mr. Fogelberg asked about the agenda items and it got turned into 'Well, you don't care about roads, you don't care about this, you don't care about that.' Basically, we have the 10 items on the agenda, 18-29 each week, which are on there just to grandstand."
Walker took offense at the commissioners being accused of gaslighting.
"I keep hearing some of the dumbest things I've ever heard," Walker told Cunningham, "and it just keeps going on and on and on. If anybody is gaslighting, you have tried to gaslight the commissioners by intimidating them and threatening them. That's gaslighting because you are trying to change their minds by psychological abuse and threats."
"She has worked as an elections official," Garner began, "she has worked in HR, and before that she was a legal assistant, has a degree in English, and is bi-lingual on top of it all. So, I don't think we could have asked for very much more that what we have managed to find."
Garcia was a unanimous selection by an election commission comprised of Newt Cunningham (county judge), Jenny Garner (county clerk), Amber Sutherland (tax assessor-collector), Bill Roberts (Fannin County Democratic chair) and Darren York (Fannin County Republican chair).
Garcia will be working with the same equipment that she used in Oregon and is experienced at ballot programming, which will likely save the county money.
Garcia's first day will be August 11, 2025, and then she will go for additional training at the election academy.
The next election will be in November.
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Routine items
Commissioners court approved payment of bills totaling $127,040.14. Fannin County Auditor Alicia Whipple advised the court that a $35,793.00 payment to Eikon Consulting Group that was withheld two weeks ago must go out July 1, 2025 due to contractual obligations.
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Commissioners court approved minutes from regular meetings on October 12, 2021 and October 26, 2021; and the court also approved minutes from special meetings held November 21, 2021; May 17, 2023; and December 5, 2023.
Discussion items
Commissioners court received the Auditor's Monthly Reports for May 2025.
Revenue for May was $718,507.38; expenses were $1,037,629.15. Year-to-date revenue is $15,154,529.78; expenses are $9,908,904.70, for a difference of $5,245,625.08.
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Commissioners court received a submission of County Auditors Certification for Continuing Education for 2025 Investment Training per the Public Funds Investment Act and the Fannin County Investment Policy.
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Discussion and possible action items
Commissioners court approved a Resolution designating $250,000.00 of General Fund Reserves as Committed (Restricted) Fund Balance for the Highway 121 Improvement Project as permitted by the Governmental Standards Accounting Board (GASB); approval of this resolution will have a total of $637,500.00 of General Fund Reserves restricted.
TxDOT has the project 30% engineered, and plans are to have the project 60% engineered by the end of this year, but the improvements are several years away.
"The closest date I've heard is 2032 for the project to 'let'," explained Pct. 2 Commissioner A.J. Self.
The county is committing 1% ($1.55 million) of the $155 million project as an incentive for TxDOT.
"That's $1.1625 million left to pay on that, and if we divide that up by five payments, that's $232,500," noted Pct. 1 Commissioner Troy Waggoner.
Judge Cunningham said the City of Bonham is also committing $1.5 million, for a total of $3 million to incentivize this project.
Hwy 121 is Fannin County's primary feeder into the metroplex and is notorious for serious accidents.
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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item regarding a Request for Quotes #2025-001, Inspection Services, regarding issues at the courthouse.
Cunningham said this inspection is needed to determine how much money to set aside for maintenance items this year.
"I think we need to pass on this until after the walkthrough," Waggoner stated.
The walkthrough is scheduled for Wednesday, June 2, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. The commissioners will be accompanied by a licensed electrician, and the county judge will also be accompanied by a licensed electrician.
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Commissioners court approved a 30-day extension for the current janitorial services provider, D&A Services, while voting to retain the lowest bidder, Ambassador Services, for the coming year. The change will result in an annual savings of 43% for janitorial services.
Six proposals were submitted.
Ambassador Services bid of $6,328.60 per month represents a savings of $4,806 over the current contract.
Ambassador Services is headquartered in Houston, has offices in Dallas, and has experience with historical buildings. The company is the janitorial services vendor for Grayson County.
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Commissioners court approved the transfer of one belly dump trailer from Precinct 1 to Precinct 3 and transfer $24,000.00 from Precinct 3 to Precinct 1.
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Commissioners court voted to enter into an Interlocal Agreement for Mutual Aid with Delta County and other possible entities.
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Commissioners court voted to approve entering into Interlocal Agreements for road maintenance with adjoining counties.
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Commissioners court initially voted 3-2 to move Open Discussion Items (#18-#29) that appear on the agenda for every regular meeting of Fannin County Commissioners Court and list them as action items instead, but eventually the court seemed to pass on the agenda item because any member of the court is allowed to place items on the agenda.
Waggoner, Self and Fogleberg voted to remove repetitive Open Discussion Items, with Cunningham and Pct. 4 Commissioner Doug Kopf voting to continue placing the list of Open Discussion Items on every agenda.
"This has been very repetitive," remarked Pct. 3 Commissioner Kurt Fogelberg, and he suggested listing pertinent subjects as Action Items.
Cunningham said he believes Open Discussion Items are important when pressing issues call for immediate discussions.
Walker asked Cunningham to convene a special meeting any time a situation requires timely attention.
"What these 12 items have turned into is the Newt Cunningham grandstanding event," Walker remarked.
After a curt exchange, Cunningham said a bailiff would be present at the next meeting.
"If a bailiff gets involved, do we have to vote on that?" asked Self.
"We do," answered Cunningham.
Fogelberg asked if it would be more cost effective to have fewer regular meetings of the court.
Waggoner noted that the word "litigation" should be removed from the Open Discussion Items regarding courthouse repairs, because there is no ongoing litigation.
"We wouldn't even be in here if this courthouse wasn't safe," Waggoner stated.
Self suggested condensing the list of Open Discussion Items when possible.
Fannin County resident Nita Bankston said people are frustrated over the time spent on Open Discussion Items because they see no action, and she objected to Cunningham appearing to cut off commissioners and be disrespectful.
"When you cut them off, you are cutting off our voices," Bankston said. "In the Open Meetings Act of Texas, we have the right to speak on every single issue if we choose to."
Beginning in September, HB 2520 will require agenda items to be more specific, and HB 1522 will require agendas to be posted three business days in advance of the meeting, as opposed to the current deadline of 72 hours.
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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 courthouse repairs, Waggoner said, "The only way to fix that leak is to install a French drain around this thing, or concrete around the outside edge, up against the walls, to get the water away from this building, because right now it is leaching down through all that gravel."
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In regard to the Justice Center, commissioners court has issues with Eikon, particularly with how their design will accommodate drainage.
There are concerns about liability if black mold develops in Justice Center as a result of not having power connected.
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In regard to the county budget and revenue sources, salary letters went out to elected officials, however some negotiations continue.
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In regard to solar and wind farms, Battery Energy Storage Systems, Cunningham said officials have had two meeting with representatives of ENGIE, owner of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) near Savoy, Texas, to talk through an emergency plan.
The BESS will need two means of access from different directions to help keep first responders safe in an emergency, and questions remain about how much water is required.
Savoy Mayor Roger Cada said he wants an order of restraint imposed until all safety requirements have been addressed.
Savoy resident Cindy Tranzano told the court, "I'm not worried about myself; I'm concerned about the future."
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In regard to Emergency Medical Services, Cunningham said he received a couple of complaints when it took an ambulance 17 minutes to respond because an ambulance was apparently out of location.
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Executive session(s) and action if needed
Fannin County Commissioners Court had no need for executive session; the court adjourned at 10:55 a.m.
