FANNIN COUNTY FAILS TO PUBLISH CODE OF ORDINANCES

COUNTY VIOLATES STATE LAW, INCONVENIENCES CITIZENS

Fannin County has not complied with a 2001 state law that requires it to codify and publish a code of ordinances.

The Coming Storm of Development

COUNTY NEEDS TO PREPARE FOR GROWTH

There’s a tempest coming to Fannin County … or at least a lively squall. And it will cross the boundary between newcomers and old-timers and divide the county into two camps. The dispute will be over progress, commerce and development. If you spent the last 35 years living in Pinellas County on the west coast of Florida across the bay from Tampa as I did you would recognize that the first signs are already here. 

A Coup at the County

POST COMMISSIONERS WANT SAY IN HIRING AND FIRING

There is a minor coup d’état happening at the county commission. The two post commissioners, Earl Johnson and Larry Joe Sosebee, want to horn in on Chairman Bill Simonds’ authority to hire and fire department heads. 

Muzzling Public Comment at Commission Meetings

PROHIBITION AGAINST POLITICAL COMMENTS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

SIMONDS EXPOSES COUNTY TO POSSIBLE LAWSUIT

Fannin County Commission Chairman Bill Simonds has severely limited a citizen’s right to speak at Fannin County Commission meetings by prohibiting “political comments.” While Simonds may have the right to adopt reasonable rules to regulate public comments at Commission meetings, First Amendment attorneys say that it is unconstitutional for him to prohibit political comments but allow other comments.