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Cooke County commissioners discuss selling west portion of county'owned 'Poor Farm' property; take no action
Summary
Commissioners revisited long-running questions about the county-owned "Poor Farm" tract, debating sectioning the property, potential sale of the west parcel, maintenance responsibilities, brush and fire risk near communications infrastructure. No motion was taken; the item will return for further consideration.
At the June 22 meeting, Cooke County commissioners discussed options for the county'owned property long referred to as the "Poor Farm," including possibly dividing the tract and selling the west side.
Several commissioners said the west edge of the property, which borders a nursery, presents the most maintenance challenges. Options raised included fencing tie-down areas, surveying to create separate parcels, selling the west portion, using part as a storage yard for a precinct, or keeping the site for future speculation. Commissioners and staff also discussed repeated brush growth, large brush piles, and fire risk near a building that houses county communications equipment; one commissioner suggested putting rock or a barrier around the equipment to reduce fire danger.
Commissioners noted past remediation actions (tree removal, mowing and occasional burning in coordination with the city and volunteer fire departments) but said recurring brush and the cost of ongoing maintenance remained a concern. Several suggested a survey and additional legwork would be required before any sale. The court took no action on the item and agreed to revisit the matter at a later date.
The discussion left open who would be responsible for routine mowing and maintenance; commissioners asked staff to assess maintenance responsibilities and possible contracting options before returning the item to the docket.
