Fannin County, Texas -- All five members of Fannin County Commissioners Court were present for a regular meeting held Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

The meeting opened with an invocation by Fannin County Judge Newt Cunningham, and pledges were led by Major James Manis (Ret.).

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Routine items

Fannin County Commissioners Court approved bills totaling $387,462.50; payroll was $423,761.16.

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Commissioners court approved minutes from regular meetings on May 10, 2022, and June 21, 2022, and also approved minutes from a special meeting held May 17, 2022.

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Report of monies received by the County Clerk’s office for June 2025; All Courts, $14,149.10 and Land Records, $34,472.25.

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Report of monies received by the Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 office for June 2025; $20,830.20.

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Report of monies received by the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 office for June 2025; $12,943.00.

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Report of monies received by the Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 office for June 2025; $8,776.60.

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Fannin County Auditor Alicia Whipple presented the 3rd Quarter Fannin County Healthcare report for Fiscal Year 2025.

Whipple reported 124 inbound calls, 19 outbound calls for a total of 143. There were 28 appointments during this quarter, 15 referrals, two that were approved, one is pending, two were denied, one was a no-show and nine did not make an appointment.

There were 101 claims this quarter for $26,570.37.

There were 68 inmate claims $19,839.18 for a quarter total $46,409.55.

Year-to-date calls for indigent healthcare totaled $64,650.23.

Joyce Sturgess has been hired by Cunningham to replace Yvonne Geesaman as Fannin County Healthcare Coordinator. According to the job application, Sturgess will work 29 hours per week at $20.50 an hour.

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Discussion items

Commissioners court discussed an Internal Audit of Development Services – Fannin County Auditor Alicia Whipple

"Ms. [Di] Hopkins does an excellent job," Whipple told the court. "She has a great crew and they are really doing a great job. They are starting to catch up now that Lita [Leatherwood] is back."

Hopkins and her department also passed a TCEQ audit with flying colors.

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Cunningham read the Rules of Procedure, Conduct and Decorum at Meetings of the County Commissioners Court and said strict application of the rules will be applied. Speakers are allowed a maximum of five minutes and proper attire is mandatory.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Troy Waggoner suggested a three-minute time limit on speakers.

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Discussion and possible action items

Commissioner court approved renewal of the Interlocal Agreement with Texoma Council of Government (TCOG) for 911 Public Safety Answering Point Services.

The consensus of the court was that it would be more cost-effective to pay TCOG to provide this service, as opposed to handling this internally. Whipple advised the court that $65,000 has been budgeted to pay TCOG for the coming fiscal year.

Pct. 3 Commissioner Kurt Fogelberg said he is fielding complaints from the public who tell him it is difficult to get TCOG employees to answer the phone.

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Commissioners court approved a Resolution authorizing participation in the TexPool Investment Pools and sign TexPool Investment Pools Participation Agreements; designate representative as an authorized representative per court order; authorize representative to create a trust for guardianships, probates, eminent domain, and any other court ordered registry accounts.

Fannin County Clerk Jenny Garner said there is currently approximately $3 million in a non-interest bearing account.

This authorization will allow the county clerk to invest trust accounts on a 90/10 basis, with 10% of the interest going into the General Fund.

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Commissioners court approved a Resolution allowing Fannin County to accept grant funding, if approved, from the Secretary of State for the Help America Vote Act for Election Security.

Garner is credited with bringing the possibility of obtaining this grant to the court's attention. She is requesting a grant of $305,600, with the county's 20% match equating to $61,120.00 which could come out of the county clerk's special election fund that has approximately $100,000 in it now.

One of Garner's top priorities if the county receives the grant is to acquire a secure server for the county election department.

The county will be notified August 1, 2025, if it received the grant and all grant funds must be spent by July 2026.

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Commissioner court passed on an agenda item that would have moved $2,000.00 from line 100-509-4750, Contingency, to 100-500-1504, Overtime. This is in regard to the facilities manager who works for Cunningham.

Last year the facilities manager had one of the highest overtime totals in the county.

"Maybe overtime needs to be approved in advance," Pct. 4 Commissioner Doug Kopf suggested.

"Is his second job conflicting with this job?" asked Waggoner.

"The first thing we need to do is stop his overtime," Kopf said.

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Commissioner court voted to approve renewal of current belly dump trailer leases for Precincts 2, 3, and 4; each trailer is a 6-month lease at $700.00 per month.

Pct. 2 is leasing one belly dump trailer, while Pct. 3 and Pct. 4 are both leasing two trailers.

Commissioners court approved placement of a transformer on a pole for the county side of the Justice Center.

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Commissioner court passed on an agenda item regarding renewal of the Cooperative Forest Road Agreement between Fannin County, USDA, U.S. Forest Service and National Forests & Grasslands in Texas.

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Commissioners court voted to enter into a Purchasing Cooperative Interlocal Agreement with Honey Grove for the purchase of rock & gravel, asphalt materials and road oil [once road oil bid(s) are accepted]. 

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Commissioners court discussed switching weekly commissioners court meetings to bi-weekly meetings beginning October 1, 2025 and have weekly meetings for the sole purpose of paying bills.

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Commissioners court discussed holding one commissioners Court meeting per month in the evening to allow more to citizens to attend, but there was concern that this would cause more overtime.

Unlike city council meetings, residents can watch commissioners court meetings on Zoom at their leisure. 

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Commissioners court passed on an agenda item that would have added action to Open Discussion Items for public discussion and court updates from future commissioners court agendas.

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 and construction at the Justice Center, Cunningham continues to insist on an inspection of the courthouse.

The electrical contractor has agreed to continue to address code issues at the courthouse.

Fogelberg pointed out that the county is withholding $96,000 from CEC until code issues are resolved.

"That's the reason they are going to fix it," Fogelberg stated.

"And I am the reason that money is being withheld," added Cunningham.

Kopf noted that the Justice Center may need more of the court's attention.

"I'm not saying there is nothing wrong with this courthouse, don't get me wrong," Kopf told Cunningham. "I just don't like the threats and the threatening tone of voice you have toward us."

Fogelberg questioned how Cunningham has been assigning blame for issues with the courthouse.

"I also hear the statement that there was value engineering done on this courthouse to save money," Kopf added.

"That's exactly right," said Waggoner, "and we are doing the same thing at the Justice Center."

The courthouse came in 64% over budget.

The Justice Center would be 72% over budget if the cost of the concrete parking lot ($576,100.00) and the cost to bring the Tax Assessor-Collector Office and Juvenile Probation to the Justice Center ($1.94 million) are calculated.

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In regard to solar, wind, battery energy storage systems and the county fire marshal, State Representative Shelley Luther has expressed concern about public safety due to a proliferation of battery energy storage systems that have targeted Fannin County and has filed a bill in an attempt to protect Fannin County.

Executive session(s) and action if needed