Episode 15: Roads, Rules, and Rural Revival: A Deep Dive with Wichita County's Mickey Fincannon

Get It Right, Texoma!

• Introductions and Background: Wichita County Commissioner Mickey Fincannon joins hosts Mike Handren, Terry McAdams, and Trey Serralla. Fincannon has served three years as a commissioner, focusing on financial oversight and infrastructure maintenance within the county.
• Role and Responsibilities: Commissioners act as the county's chief financial officers, managing budgets and overseeing road maintenance. They do not create laws but enforce state legislation and manage financial decisions, including budgeting for county projects and roadwork.
• Challenges and Costs: Discussing the financial and logistical challenges of maintaining county roads, Fincannon highlights the skyrocketing costs of materials and labor, severely impacting the ability to maintain and upgrade roads effectively.
• Collaboration and Community: Fincannon stresses the importance of collaboration among counties and with state agencies like the Texas Forest Service, especially in managing natural disasters like wildfires. He underscores the community's reliance on volunteer fire departments for emergency responses.
• Government and Business: The commissioner criticizes overregulation and emphasizes the need for government to facilitate a conducive environment for businesses rather than impede their growth. He shares his personal experience with city ordinances affecting his businesses and hopes for more business-friendly policies.
• Future Plans and Wishes: Fincannon expresses a desire to improve the county's road maintenance capabilities, including acquiring an asphalt laying machine for better road repairs and exploring new technologies for more efficient and cost-effective infrastructure maintenance.
• Contact Information: Fincannon provides his office and personal contact details for constituents wishing to reach out to him regarding county issues or concerns.