The Fisher County Commissioners Court resumed ongoing discussions regarding road agreements with various industries, the issues of which seem to fuel heated debates among officials but have not gained traction in reaching an actionable resolution.
Issues with damaged roads from oil & gas, wind energy, or other infrastructural industries that obtain road use agreements with the county have been discussed and debated among county offices for going on years, with two outspoken opponents at the center of the debate. Commissioner Preston Martin and County Attorney Michael Hall faced off again on Monday, with Hall addressing claims Martin made last month.
During the October meeting, commissioners met with representatives of Equitas Energy and Clear Fork Inc. to discuss a proposed pipeline easement across county-owned land at the Fisher County Sheriff’s Posse Arena. Pushback from commissioners ultimately left a motion to accept the proposal dead on the floor, however, during the discussion Martin claimed there were 15 spots where a county road was crossed without the proper permit.
Martin reminded officials it was an issue he has brought to the court’s attention before but has received no support from the county attorney. Hall said last month and again during Monday’s meeting that Martin has not shared that information with his office.
“I wanted to follow up on what Commissioner Martin said last month, that he informed me of 15 different unpermitted violations. That is untrue,” said Hall, adding that he wrote the commissioner a letter asking him to provide names, locations, and other relevant information about the unpermitted crossings. “I have not received a response.”
However, Martin doubledowned on the prior claim, bringing in a stack of what he said were permits that were issued with only a signature from the county judge when those permits require the signature of both the county judge and precinct commissioner. A short series of questions later, the familiar hostilities erupted between the two for several minutes until Judge Holt brought the court to order and proceeded down a lengthy agenda.
However, just a few agenda items down, the court convened in executive session to discuss a possible breach of contract between the county and BayWa/ Amadeus, the wind farm company operating in the western portion of the county. Officials spent roughly a half-hour behind closed doors but took no action upon resuming open deliberations.
Hall did not return to the courtroom, and Commissioner Martin spent the better part of an hour bringing information to the forefront regarding a spectrum of issues ranging from the county’s failure to adhere to proper permitting policies for, or the enforcement of, its road use agreements and how other facts he obtained about the roads, materials, and operations in the county were part of the reason the State dismissed charges levied against him earlier this year.
More detailed information will be shared about each of the ongoing road-related issues as these stories unfold.