Hunt County commissioners hear proposal to create Emergency Services District No. 1; questions raised about local fire leadership

A special session of the Hunt County Commissioner’s Court on July 9 drew public comment and a detailed presentation about a petition to create Hunt County Emergency Services District No. 1, an entity proponents say would fund expanded fire and emergency medical services across roughly 84 square miles.

Alex Stead, introduced as fire chief for Caddo Mills Fire and Rescue, presented the ESD proposal and a draft one‑year budget, saying the district’s goals include certified, full‑time staffing on each shift, reduced response times and a five‑year capital plan. "This is our formal proposal for Hunt County Emergency District number 1," Stead said, outlining staffing costs (he estimated about $704,000 for nine full‑time certified personnel) and a total one‑year cost estimate in the proposal of roughly $2.3 million.

Stead explained the ESD governance model to the court: a five‑member board appointed by the commissioners court would set the tax rate and oversee budgets and audits. He said state law caps an ESD tax rate at 10 cents per $100 of assessed value and emphasized that ESD revenues are legally restricted to emergency services.

Why the district now: Stead said volunteer recruitment and retention have fallen and described rapid local growth; he told commissioners his department covers a large area and that full‑time staffing and additional stations would improve care and allow pursuit of lower ISO ratings, which can reduce homeowners’ insurance premiums over time.

Public comment and concerns: Winston Knowles, a nationally syndicated investigative journalist who said he writes under the name "Otto the Watchdog," addressed the court during the public‑comment period and urged commissioners to make information available to voters before the question goes to the ballot. Knowles alleged that a local official, identified in his remarks as Chris Burkett, had not confirmed whether he holds a high school diploma or GED and questioned whether Burkett holds required Texas certifications to serve as a fire chief. Knowles also alleged past resistance to public‑records requests and said complaints about conduct remained unresolved. "A refusal to confirm the minimum credentials of the job is itself information the voters are entitled to weigh," he said.

Court response and next steps: County staff told the court they have more than the required 100 verifiable petition signatures but flagged mapping and municipal consent issues from Royce City and Josephine that must be resolved and attached to final orders. Staff explained that some signatures may be excised where municipalities withheld consent for portions of the petition area and that corrections to the petition’s findings and maps are in progress.

Commissioners and staff discussed timing: Judge Stovall and Stead clarified that ad valorem taxes are levied in arrears, so ESD revenues would not be available immediately; Stead said year‑one operating funds would practically be available in 2028. Commissioners asked about the process and timing to appoint initial ESD board members after canvass; county staff said initial appointments occur after the election and suggested scheduling the adoption items at the court’s next regular meeting on July 28 to meet administrative deadlines.

No final vote: The court closed the public hearing on the petition and took no final vote to create the district at the July 9 special session. Commissioners placed related adoption items on future agendas for consideration and additional public input.

What’s next: County staff will finalize petition maps and findings to address municipal consent conditions and mapping complications before the court considers adoption items at an upcoming regular meeting; the court and staff discussed the timing needed to ensure the ESD board can be appointed and, if approved by voters, set tax rates before the relevant deadlines.