Hunt County commissioners vote 3–2 to terminate Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department contract; 90‑day notice ordered

Hunt County Commissioners Court voted 3–2 on Jan. 5, 2026, to terminate the countyfire protection agreement with the Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department (QVFD), directing county staff to provide written notice by certified mail and beginning a 90‑day termination period.

Judge Stovall opened the special session at 10 a.m. and allowed three‑minute public statements. Dozens of residents and written commenters addressed the court, sharply divided over whether the county should remove contract funding from QVFD ahead of any election on an emergency services district (ESD).

The court first approved amendments to existing work authorizations for Breeze and Nichols Inc. for several FM road projects, then moved to agenda item No. 2, which asked the court to "discuss and possibly take action on terminating the fire protection agreement contract with Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department subject to the relevant notice provisions." Commissioner (Speaker 9) framed the question as a business decision about coverage and mapped service footprints, telling the court, "This is not the only ALS certified in the county. Lone Oak actually has certification as well." He urged the court to consider district maps and longer‑term ESD planning rather than performance or personalities.

Supporters of keeping QVFD funded said the department provides the only advanced life support (ALS) capability in southern Hunt County and warned that defunding would increase response times, raise ISO ratings and homeowner insurance, and shift hundreds of calls per month to neighboring departments. Angie Shackleford, QVFD treasurer and a member since 2005, told the court the department is debt‑free and would close if funding were removed: "In the event you do decide to defund us today, we will close the doors and cease operations," she said. Benjamin Smith, a current QVFD volunteer, described roughly 1,200 annual calls and disputed online allegations about the department's performance.

Families and critics also spoke. Julie Bedwell, whose son died in the March 5, 2025 Quinlan fire, accused Quinlan leadership of telling responders to "stand down" during that incident and said she has not received clear answers about what happened. Bedwell said social media, not officials, was how she learned details of the death investigation and urged accountability.

County officials and some written commentators pushed back on claims about immediate loss of coverage. The Sheriff (unnamed in the record) said county radio distribution was still being phased in and that Quinlan's radios remain at the annex ready for installation. Commissioner (Speaker 9) repeated that the county's updated fire district map, which he said had been reviewed by the county fire chiefs, would assign much of the territory west of Highway 34 to the Hunt County Fire Department and other areas to nearby departments, and he argued there would be "no immediate impact" on fire suppression coverage.

After discussion about notice periods (participants cited both a 90‑day approach and a contractual "60 or more" minimum), Commissioner (Speaker 9) moved to proceed with terminating the existing contract; the motion was seconded and passed on a 3–2 vote. Judge Stovall announced the outcome: "It passes 3 to 2." County staff said the resolution requires written certified‑mail notice and that the termination period would run from the date of that notice.

The court directed staff to provide written notice to QVFD and then recessed to an executive session under Texas Government Code §551.074. The public session resumed at 11:29 a.m., and the court adjourned.

What happens next: the termination notice window and the timing of any ESD petition or ballot measure will determine whether an elected ESD board or a voter decision changes the county's approach; court discussion during the meeting indicated an ESD, if petitioned and approved, would require a voter referendum and would not generate tax revenue for at least a year after approval.

Votes at a glance: the court approved amendments to several Breeze & Nichols work authorizations (net increases of $138,572; $132,899; and $10,340) and approved the termination of the Quinlan Volunteer Fire Department contract, 3–2, with written notice to be sent by certified mail and a termination period per the resolution.