The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V1
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*************************April 12, l999*********************
As "work" continues in the state legislature, prospects for a
significant property tax reduction grow dimmer. It's amazing how a
state surplus of some $5 billion dollars can so quickly evaporate in
the hands of our senators and representatives. It's indeed fortunate
for the taxpayers that they only meet every other year.
There has been some recent talk in the news of revisiting Robin
Hood. As most of you know, Robin Hood is the state seizure of taxpayer
money from allegedly property-rich school districts, that is then
redistributed to others that are not quite so fortunate. As one school
board candidate recently quipped, in the Robin Hood fable, the hero
robbed from the government and gave it to the poor. ... Under present
circumstances, state government robs from the poor, and gives it to
those even poorer.
Sadly, this area has been declared a property-rich school district.
Why? To answer the question, one needs to look at the property
appraisal district, and how it conducts its business. This publication
will be taking a very careful look in the months to come.
For years, it has been common knowledge in the lakes area that
taxpayers here have been forced to bear a disproportionate share of the
county tax burden. Why? It was an easy and convenient way to reduce the
taxes of others living elsewhere, -- particularly in the City of Llano.
Many of us, including myself until recently, were non-resident
taxpayers. While we were forced to pay the taxes, we had no voting
rights. -- Nothing quite like taxation without representation, no? That
is changing, and so are the county demographics. Many of us are now
residents and registered voters. We can no longer be ignored by the
Llano "nobility".
How indeed have lakes area taxpayers been forced to bear a
disproportionate share of the burden? Very simply, our properties have
been egregiously overappraised by the appraisal district. Worse yet,
this has directly led to our area being declared a property-rich school
district. Now, we're not only unduly penalized (royally shafted) by the
county, but by the state as well. Aren't we lucky? It's called Robin
Hood. Our current chief appraiser Mr. Eldridge as well as his
predecessors are directly responsible for this ongoing fiasco and gross
injustice.
Recourse? ... What's that? A review board that is beholden to the
chief appraiser? A lawsuit? -- The cost of suing is far greater than
the tax burden, unless one owns a ranch, or an enormous estate. The
chief appraiser and his cronies know this, and use it to their
advantage to shaft the taxpayers.
It is my understanding that a class action lawsuit against the
appraisal district on behalf of lakes area taxpayers is not possible
due to sovereign immunity issues. It is indeed an amusing fantasy
though, no? All joking aside and after having spoken personally with
Mr. Eldridge some three years ago, I somehow doubt even that would get
his attention. In my own case and unlike many of you, we're not talking
a whole lot of money. Regardless, appraisal district intransigence and
methods of appraisal have made my lots useless for the original purpose
intended, or for further development. There are, however, many of you
out there suffering far greater injury than I.
Sadly, the review board is to the appraisal district what the fox
is to the chicken coop. In 1986, I had the opportunity to experience my
first taste of the "kangaroo" nature of county government at a tax
protest hearing. One official brazenly and bluntly told me: "We do what
we want to do around here. If you don't like it, leave." ... Sound
familiar? I have since jokingly referred to these remarks as the
definition of the "Llano mentality". It was true then, and is still
true today some 13 years later.
This has to change, and will, if the people finally decide to
peacefully challenge it. One way is to carefully select and vote for
the best candidates possible. _The Ledger does not, however, endorse
political candidates for office. I will do all I can to keep you
informed, but you absolutely need to get out, meet the candidates, and
decide for yourself. Most importantly, you need to vote.
There is another way to peacefully force change: Take advantage of
this newsletter and submit your views for publication. I invite and
strongly urge all to do so. I also want and need as much information as
possible from the community. This publication will continue to
carefully look at the jail and law enforcement. Continue to talk to me.
As promised, I will protect your identity. I guaranty it, regardless of
the personal cost. Keep the information coming. Sadly, in Llano County
there is only one effective way to end the corruption and abuse: Expose
it to the light of day.
I also want to hear from realtors in regard to appraisal district
problems that they, or their clients may have experienced, or are
currently experiencing. I hope you would be willing to talk to me on
the record. I will understand and protect your identity if you can't.
-- Just talk to me. Sunlight indeed quickly solves most problems of
abuse, inequities, corruption, etc.. Make a difference in the
community, and come forward. The same applies to anyone else who has
had problems with an appraisal. This publication is unlike any other in
the area. It is willing to take a hard look at our most egregious
problems. Take advantage of it, and allow me to expose the corruption
and abuse.
It is terribly tragic that so many of our officials are deaf,
abusive, corrupt, -- or all three. Sadly, the most egregious offenders
are insentient to anything less than the figurative hard-slap upside
the head, or swift kick to the butt. As our illustrious district
attorney, sheriff, county judge, commissioners' court, and others know
full well and to their chagrin, I won't hesitate to figuratively
inflict either when necessary.
Help me to help you. Together, we can make a peaceful change in the
status quo. We CAN have good, honest, responsive, and reasonable
government. It is up to each of us to make it happen. The Founders of
this great republic left us a precious legacy, dearly paid for by the
blood of truly valiant and courageous soldiers on so many battlefields
in too many wars. We seem to have forgotten that it is we, the people,
who are the government, not our abusive and corrupt officials. Our
officials seem to have forgotten that they are supposed to work for us,
-- not the other way around. Sadly, most of them are self-serving,
arrogant, corrupt, and abusive. This has to change, peacefully. The
election is coming May 1. Be sure to vote. Make a difference.
Tim Chorney, Publisher (Scroll Down For Earlier Edition)
*************************April 7, l999***********************
School board elections are coming up on Saturday, May 1. Protect
Lake Area Needs (PLAN) has been presenting a series of forums giving
county citizens a chance to meet and question the candidates. With
school taxes claiming the lionshare of the property tax burden, it is
critical that voters make an informed choice. PLAN is providing a great
public service, and I do urge you to attend.
I did have a chance to meet several of you last night at the first
forum in Kingsland. Thank you for the kind words and the support. I am
still having e-mail problems so please be patient.
Candidates Harvey Klee (Place 3) and Bob Poole (Place 4) put on
very interesting presentations. Although the group was small, audience
participation was spirited. Mr. Klee, a semi-retired attorney and
arbitrator, is quite knowledgeable of school finances and fiscal
issues. Mr. Poole is a retired educator with years of experience as a
teacher, principal, and superintendent of schools. Klee and Poole
appear to be more than qualified, and would offer fresh input and
insight to the school board. Both men were relaxed, affable,
informative, and readily answered questions. Sadly, none of the other
candidates chose to attend and participate. Had they, I certainly would
have included them in this edition of the newsletter.
Full participation by all the candidates and the community is
essential if the electorate is to be fully informed. Citizens will have
two more opportunities to meet, greet, and hear the candidates:
Thursday April 8, 7PM Llano County Court House, Llano.
&
Tuesday April 13, 7PM Training room behind Horseshoe Bay
Police Department.
I urge you to attend. Support PLAN. Take advantage of a great
opportunity. PLAN is non-partisan and evenhanded in its approach. Their
agenda is honorable: Good, honest, responsive, and reasonable
government. With all the problems, abuse, and corruption in government,
it was a pleasure to attend and write about a function that was trying
to make a difference in our community. Be an informed citizen. Above
all and as always, get out and vote!
Tim Chorney, Publisher (Scroll Down For Earlier Edition)
*************************April 5, l999**************************
Once again, Sheriff Nathan Garrett and the jail are in the news. Mr.
Garrett apparently now thinks there's misinformation being bandied
about the county regarding the alleged need for a new law enforcement
center. Well, Sheriff, you have indeed been confusing the issue and
misleading the public yourself, while whining about the necessity of a
new jail since you took office some six years ago. Why? Who indeed will
benefit? The people of Llano County? The beleaguered taxpayers?
No. Not a chance. They'll just be forced to pay for it, as they
were some 17 years ago when the current jail opened. We were fleeced
back then, and we're about to get the royal shaft once again. Aren't we
lucky? WHO will indeed benefit? The owner of the land where the new
facility is to be built? The builders? How many of the jail contractors
will find a way to line the pockets of our illustrious county
officials? ... Think it could never happen in Llano County? Better
think again. If the Commissioners' Court is indeed successful in
saddling the taxpayers with this egregious example of pork, rest
assured this publication will closely scrutinize all parties, as well
as relentlessly follow the money trail.
It is indeed interesting to note the sheriff's renewed effort to
promote this pending pork pen, while conveniently ignoring both the
recent jail-rape scandal as well as the escape of the burglars. His
short-term memory is either failing, or more likely he's merely
displaying a stunning level of arrogance, outrageous for even a Llano
County official. Does he need to be reminded he has yet to give a full
public accounting of both recent jail fiascos? Quite clearly and sadly,
accountability in Llano County is reserved for the "unwashed masses",
not the "nobility" or the "Good Old Boys". More pointedly, Sheriff, how
can we trust your assessment of the need for a new facility when you
continue to "stone-wall" and obfuscate the two earlier egregious
examples of mismanagement at the jail?
Just as pointedly, when are our illustrious justices of the peace
going to finally wake up and learn how to set reasonable bail for
relatively minor offenses? Moreover, when are they going to demonstrate
a little ingenuity, creativity, efficiency, effort, determination,
etc., and MOVE the cases through the system more expeditiously? Could
it possibly be that our stellar judges are indeed dragging their feet
to force the building of a new law enforcement center for their
cronies? Think it could never happen in Llano County? Think again. ...
After all, one hand does indeed wash the other, doesn't it?
The Eighth Amendment to the Constitution clearly states that "Excessive
bail shall not be required". Our illustrious judges have been routinely
ignoring this proscription due to pressure coming from the Narcotics
Enforcement Team (NET) and other law enforcement agencies. The Founders
clearly intended that excessive bail not be used as a form of
punishment against accused defendants. Why are our judges ignoring
this? Why isn't District Attorney Sam Oatman reining in abusive law
enforcement that is operating under his jurisdiction?
Mr. Oatman continues to have problems of his own. The public has
still received no adequate explanation of his pre-emptive dismissal of
the jail-rape indictment of the trusty last year. While he has claimed
this was done ostensibly to facilitate a plea bargain, his explanation
is sadly lacking.
Why didn't he insist on an independent outside criminal investigation
of the jail-rape scandal? What was he afraid of? Who was he protecting?
Worse yet, there have been allegations that he tampered with a grand
jury witness last year. That grand jury was investigating the jail-rape
scandal at the time of the alleged tampering.
To avoid even the slightest appearance of impropriety in his office,
why didn't he insist on an independent investigation of his former
victims' assistance coordinator, instead of allowing her to quietly
resign last year under questionable circumstances. All of these
questions continue to remain unanswered by our illustrious district
attorney. Why? He does answer to the people, doesn't he? Justifiably or
not, willingly or not, the district attorney has become deeply mired in
the scandal. If there is indeed no substance to any of this, Mr.
Oatman, order an independent outside criminal investigation that is not
beholden to you, your office, the sheriff, the "Good Old Boys", or
other Llano County officials.
While NET commander Brent Nichols and his colleagues are currently
trying to put a happy face on their abusive tactics, and repair some
self-inflicted public relations damage, this publication will take a
very careful look at how they are operating. Sadly, abusive law
enforcement and the judges continue to ignore Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and
Eighth Amendment rights. If you have been a victim of abusive law
enforcement, contact me. The ends don't justify the means. Abusive law
enforcement will be held responsible for its excesses.
Before we spend an enormous amount of money building a new law
enforcement center, and then turn it over to a sheriff who has already
demonstrated poor judgement and management ability, let's first take a
careful look at the judicial system and the jail, and how both are
being run. The feasibility study ordered by county officials is a sham,
a joke, and a far cry from what I am suggesting. After all, the outcome
is preordained and will be exactly what the commissioners want and
expect it to be. ... Sadly, another glaring example of the "kangaroo"
nature of county government.
Most pointedly, we do have the best government money can buy.
Ironically, we the taxpayers are dearly paying for it. It is time to
wake up before these scoundrels successfully wring the life out of the
golden goose.
Tim Chorney, Publisher (Scroll Down For Earlier Edition)
*************************March 31, 1999*********************
Well, well, well. What better subject for the inaugural issue of
this newsletter than the Llano County Jail? Recently, not only has
there been a jail sexual assault scandal, but the escape of two
burglars through an unbarred, flimsily screened window. Sheriff Nathan
Garrett has had little to nothing to say publicly about either fiasco.
Apparently, accountability is reserved for the "unwashed masses", and
not the "nobility" or the "Good Old Boys".
"Justice" in Llano County is exquisitely convoluted and really
quite remarkable to behold in all its glory. Let me see if I finally
understand at least some of this. The first Llano County jail-rape
lawsuit tried in Austin rendered a "finding" that a rape did in fact
occur. The Sheriff and his minions, however, were found not liable by
the same jury.
Since Garrett and the "Boys" are ostensibly not responsible for
what goes on in the jail according to the jury, who is? Apparently, the
jail either runs itself, or the inmates do. Either way, why are we
paying our illustrious sheriff and his cronies.
The stench of "kangaroo" justice is growing increasingly putrid with
time, and even more convoluted. Consider the fact that despite a
"finding" of rape, the victim is nonetheless expected to now repay the
county's legal expenses. Eminently convenient, wouldn't you say? ...
Nothing quite like holding the victim responsible for the crime?
The rape victim happened to have been an inmate. Should that have
made any difference? Sadly, do any of you think she got what she
"deserved"? H-e-l-l-o? Does anyone "deserve" to be raped? The cowardly
silence of this community is sickening, appalling, and chilling.
Sadly, all of this smacks of fascism, especially in view of the
fact that both our illustrious district attorney as well as the sheriff
refused to order an independent outside criminal investigation. Who
were they protecting and why? It's not too late for District Attorney
Sam Oatman to finally do the right thing, unless he did tamper with a
grand jury witness as has been alleged.
Our illustrious district attorney has other problems. His former
victims' assistance coordinator was allowed to quietly resign under
questionable circumstances last year. Why? To avoid even the slightest
appearance of impropriety in his office, why didn't he insist on an
independent outside investigation?
The public needs to be reminded that the Llano County grand jury
early last year returned an indictment against the jail trusty for the
sexual assault of yet another inmate. That indictment was ostensibly
dismissed by our illustrious district attorney as part of a plea
bargain. Apparently, there are at least two women who have been
sexually assaulted in the jail. There may have been more. Others have
come forward with allegations. We'll never know for sure unless there
is an independent outside criminal investigation of all this.
Sadly, at least two of these inmates are now being financially
penalized for having had the audacity to file suit against the county,
our stellar sheriff, and the "Good Old Boys". Lawsuits filed against
government and abusive officials are extraordinarily difficult to win
because of statutes that coddle and protect the corrupt. I applaud
these women for their courage.
The jail is owned by the people. It does not belong to the district
attorney, the sheriff, or the "Good Old Boys". We, the people, are
ultimately responsible for what goes on in there, as well as for what's
done in our name. There are too many unanswered questions. It is time
to demand an independent outside investigation. If our district
attorney and the sheriff are indeed pristine, why are they so opposed
to this? What are they so afraid of? Why are they "stone-walling"? Why
all of the obfuscation? Who are they protecting? Several of our
"favorite sons"?
County Judge J.P. Dodgen thinks the jail-rape scandal is behind us,
does he? Well Judge, the investigation is just beginning at this
publication. I urge the public to provide me with any information you
might have in regard to all of this. I will protect your identity. A
terrible injustice has been done to these women. This has to be
corrected no matter where the chips fall.
In a civilized society, rape is certainly not an acceptable part of the
incarceration process. If these women are willing to come forward, I
will certainly print their story. I also encourage anyone else who has
been physically or sexually abused in the jail to contact me.
Furthermore, if you know of someone who has been, urge them to write
me. I am determined to get to the bottom of this. Our illustrious
county officials have been all too willing to sweep it under the rug.
Why?
Of course, all of this begs yet another question:
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Tue Oct 9, 2001 1:45pm EDT