Fannin County commissioners approve equipment purchases, fire station contracts, three variances, reappointment and emergency courthouse window replacement

Fannin County commissioners on a voice vote approved multiple purchases and personnel actions and granted three property-variance requests, while also authorizing an emergency replacement of windows at the county courthouse.

The most significant spending approvals included a purchase of a Kubota tractor and pull-behind mower for $43,207.17 for the public works department; purchase and installation of five insulated overhead doors and a 48-inch exhaust fan for Fire Station 2 for $36,200; purchase of a red-steel building for Fire Station 2 from Ascent Building for $90,000; and $69,928 for labor to assemble that building. Commissioners also approved an emergency purchase to replace the courthouse windows from Tennessee Family Specialties Inc., citing storm damage and a vendor quote that included tax totaling $116,930.61 and an estimated tax-exempt net of about $111,978.40.

Why it matters: The public-works purchase and Fire Station 2 contracts fund county operations and emergency response capacity; the emergency courthouse window purchase was placed on the agenda midmeeting as an urgent item after commissioners said recent storms damaged the building.

Commission actions and key details - Tractor and mower: The public works director requested procurement of a new Kubota and a 7-foot pull-behind mower at a total price of $43,207.17 from Mason Tractor. The board approved the purchase to be charged to public works funds. - Fire Station 2 doors and fan: Fire Chief Larry Thomas and Building Inspector Keith Nicholson presented a $36,200 quote to supply and install five insulated 12-foot-by-14-foot overhead doors (one with glass) and a 48-inch exhaust fan; the board approved the purchase. - Fire Station 2 building and assembly: Commissioners approved buying a 40-by-20-foot red-steel building from Ascent Building for $90,000 (COD on delivery) and separately approved $69,928 to pay a local contractor to assemble the building. Staff said footers had been dug and concrete work was being scheduled; delivery of the building was reported as expected around June 25. - Emergency courthouse windows: After amending the agenda to add an emergency purchase, commissioners approved replacing the courthouse windows with Tennessee Family Specialties Inc. The vendor quote on the record included a total with tax of $116,930.61 and an estimated tax-exempt amount cited as about $111,978.40. Commissioners said the cost will come from administration funds. - Variances and reappointment: The board granted three setback variance requests — for Doyle Carter Jr. (27 feet from the center of Crabapple Road), for George David (garage 30 feet from the center of Azure Point), and for Jeremy Underwood (33 feet from the center of Canyon Drive). The board also reappointed Jackie Seft to the Fannin County Development Authority for a three-year term beginning April 2025.

What commissioners and staff said Chairman Jim Hensley opened discussion on the emergency window item, calling it an "emergency purchase" after recent storms damaged windows. Public works staff (identified in the meeting as Zach, Public Works Director) explained the Kubota purchase as needed before the mowing season. Fire Chief Larry Thomas described the Fire Station 2 project, including door sizing, exhaust fan and restroom plans, and said local contractors would assemble the building.

Procurement and funding details Board discussion and staff remarks on the record identified funding sources: the tractor purchase from public-works funds; the courthouse window replacement from administration funds; and the Fire Station 2 costs to be charged to public safety or public-safety-related accounts. The Ascent Building purchase was described as a cash-on-delivery (COD) price; the labor payment to the local contractor will be paid when assembly is complete.

Procedure and votes Motions to approve each purchase, variance and the reappointment were made and approved by voice vote. Where the transcript records only a voice vote, commissioners called "Aye" without a roll-call tally recorded in the minutes.

Ending Commissioners closed the meeting by moving into an executive session to discuss litigation; they reported no action taken in executive session and then adjourned.