Fannin County Commissioners Court discusses challenges to courthouse renovation

At a regular meeting Monday morning, Fannin County Commissioners Court discussed courthouse restoration, approved a Resolution authorizing the submission of a Home Program Application to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for Home Funds, appointed initial members to the new Fannin County Animal Control Facility Board, and was presented with an approved hazard mitigation plan by Texoma Council of Governments.

With Fannin County Judge Eileen Cox under the weather, Pat Hilliard, the Fannin County Commissioner with the most seniority, presided over the meeting. 

David Chase (left) and Jay Firsching, representatives of Architexas, met with

to verify the court wanted the architectural firm to continue developing advanced plans and specifications necessary for restoration of the Fannin County Courthouse.  Chase and Firshing expect this next phase of architectural plans will take four to five months to complete.  On the basis of plans produced so far, a total restoration is expected to cost approximately $14 million.  As architectural drawings become more defined, the total cost of the project should be refined, as well.

Fannin County Commissioners Court expressed a desire to get a project of this size in front of voters as soon as possible, although there was debate over whether it would be better to hurry a non-binding referendum onto the next ballot of wait until this next set of plans firms up the cost of restoration so that voters can make the final decision in a bond election.

Another concern is the fact that the state legislature drastically cut funding for historic courthouse restoration in the last session.

Fannin County Commissioner Pat Hilliard told the architects it would require a “sizeable chunk of money coming from the state” to make this project feasible.

Fannin County is eligible to receive up to $5.6 million to help restore the 1888 courthouse.  If the state legislature decides to fund courthouse restoration in the next session and, in some point in the future, if the Texas Historical Commission should decide Fannin County has met the criteria to receive the maximum $5.6 million, taxpayers would have the final say in whether or not they supported an $8 million bond election to pay for a complete historical restoration. 

Another important consideration is the justice center proposed for Fannin County.  Future plans call for the Office of the District Attorney, Office of the District Clerk and Office of the Fannin County Clerk to all be housed in the justice center after the courthouse is renovated.

In February 2009, Chase and Firshing told

that initial studies indicate the county will need a 37,000 square-foot justice center that will cost approximately $10 million.

Commissioners explained to the architects that it will be tough to convince voters to approve two projects with a combined price tag of roughly $18 million in a tight budget year locally and with the economy still struggling to recover.

(l-r) Fannin County Clerk Tammy Skidmore Rich, Fannin County Commissioner Pct. 3 Pat Hilliard, Fannin County Commissioner Pct. 2 Stan Barker, architect David Chase of Architexas, Fannin County Commissioner Pct. 4 Dewayne Strickland, and Fannin County Commissioner Pct. 1 Gary Whitlock.

Two compromises were offered.  Gregory Hall asked about the possibility of restoring the courthouse to its status in the early 1930s when it was rebuilt after a devastating fire.  Hall suggested that perhaps this project would be more cost-effective without the belltower and without Texas Historical Commission’s insistence on renovating the courthouse to the exact way it looked in 1888.

Another compromise sought to determine if the exterior of the courthouse could be restored without the added expense of relocating all county offices currently in the Fannin County Courthouse.

Chase and Firshing indicated that even restoring the exterior of the courthouse would be so extensive that it would require employees to relocate.

Commissioners inquired about the cost to terminate restoration plans and were told Fannin County would have to pay an opt-out fee of approximately $60,000 plus reimburse the state’s portion of this project.  The total cost for Architexas to develop plans and specifications is $800,000, with Fannin County paying $400,000 and the other half coming from a state grant.

In other business, Fannin County Commissioners appointed initial members to the new Fannin County Animal Control Facility Board.  This board will supercede and replace previous animal control facility boards. 

Members named to the Animal Shelter Board include Tom Long, Thoa Allen, Pat Ward, Gilda Spiller, Stephanie Wood, Joey Rickman (Honey Grove), Jackie Garner (Honey Grove alternate), Melissa Rickman (Savoy), Ronnie Bruce (Ravenna), Butch Henderson (Leonard), Melba Baker (Ector), Don Simmons (Windom), Corby Alexander (Bonham), Jackie Lackey (Dodd City), and Fannin County Commissioner Dewayne Strickland.

Commissioners court was presented with an “approved” hazard mitigation plan researched and organized by Stephanie Davidson of Texoma Council of Governments.

Attending Monday’s

meeting with Davidson were C.J. Durbin-Higgins, TCOG Criminal Justice & Emergency Planning Program Manager, and Fannin County Emergency Management Coordinator Darrell Brewer.

In a letter to Texoma Council of Governments, John Gaete, Texas Division of Emergency Management Plans Officer in Austin had this to say about the mitigation plan developed by Davidson:

Stephanie Davidson, working in your Criminal Justice & Emergency Planning Department, recently earned the distinction of being the only planner to ever get a local mitigation plan approved by the FEMA, Region VI the first time submitted.  My FEMA counterparts and I agree the Fannin County Local Mitigation Plan is now the “gold standard” in mitigation planning for FEMA, Region VI and in Texas.  The plan is organized, well-researched, well-written, and logically consistent.  I fully intend to use this plan as a case study in “best practices” throughout my planning courses at the State.  Stephanie is the “stuff-of-legends” in the mitigation planning world and deserves special recognition.

Commissioners also approved a Resolution authorizing the submission of a Home Program Application to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for Home Funds. This program can provide up to $20,000 in down payment assistance for up to 10 people per county over a two-year period.  This assistance could be a valuable asset to Fannin County Habitat for Humanity. To date, Fannin County Habitat has completed three homes and one home is currently under construction in Leonard.