The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V43
This Website Is Full. Starting With The December 25, 2000 Newsletter,
All Future Editions Will Be Posted In The Llano Ledger 2, Found By
Clicking http://maxpages.com/llanoledger2.
BANNER ADVERTISING PAYS ONLY FOR WEBSITE
Publisher's Note: Accessing _The Llano Ledger website without
generously providing financial assistance to this non-profit
publication not only denies desperately needed funds for investigative
expenses, but amounts to theft of this writer's labor. T.C.
*************June 5, 2000**********
A second "Statement" dated May 30 was received May 31 from our
illustrious LISD Superintendent Jack Patton. The following snail-mail
was sent in response:
Jack Patton, Superintendent
LISD
200 East Lampasas
Llano, Tx. 78643
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609
Re: Bogus "Billing" "Statements"
June 1, 2000
Dear Mr. Patton:
Two unsigned "billing" "Statements" were recently received. Neither
were LISD invoices, nor printed on School District stationary, but
appear to have been sloppily created by an amateur hacker using
oversize fonts. Both envelopes bore the return address of your office,
however, and came shortly after open records requests.
Why are you dishonestly and unethically attempting to charge for
copies and "research" NEVER requested nor agreed to? If there were to
be fees for "research", postage & handling, unrequested copies,
etc., they should have been agreed to PRIOR to the mailing of your
outrageously non-responsive letter of April 28, 2000. Ch.552.2615,
Gov't Code, Public Information.
More pointedly, why are you so desperately trying to discourage
legitimate inquiry and scrutiny of School District operations and
finances? What are you hiding, Jack? Outrageously stonewalling from the
time of the first open records request last year, your latest juvenile
attempt at intimidation is pathetic and clearly unprofessional. -- Just
like your erratic, unprofessional combative conduct during our meeting
of March 23. Foolishly squandering a golden opportunity to finally set
the record straight regarding a variety of issues of concern to
taxpayers, you arrogantly chose to continue stonewalling. Is this how
you teach your students to take "personal responsibility"?
Other area media have irresponsibly ignored enormous waste and
apparent corruption within the School District. Not so here, friend.
Your outrageously non-responsive letter of April 28 and subsequent
"billing" "Statement" provided great fodder for the website. Your
arrogant refusal to answer long-standing questions of great concern to
the community is glaring. Sadly, your earlier letter clearly
demonstrated to readers your utter disregard and contempt for taxpayers
responsible for financing an outrageously bloated governmental
bureaucracy called LISD. Equally pointedly, your erratic behavior at
our March 23 meeting and your subsequent phoney "billing" "Statements"
raise serious questions regarding your fitness for office.
The 10-day clock provided by the Public Information Act is ticking
on the latest open records request of May 25. Should you refuse to
provide access to the documents requested, a complaint will be filed
with the Open Records Division. Should they refuse to take action, not
to worry, sir. Our apparently corrupt and abusive District Attorney and
County Attorney are highly selective in their "prosecutions" and indeed
protect their own. With a rubber stamp Board, there is essentially no
oversight. School management is free to do as it pleases. Aren't we
lucky, sir?
There will, however, be a steep public relations price to be paid.
More importantly, your continued refusal to cooperate will only support
and encourage further inquiry into the egregious waste and apparent
corruption in the School District.
Your behavior and correspondence have indeed certainly provided
great fodder for _The Ledger website. I'm deeply grateful. Regarding
the latest "billing" "Statement" and as already asserted in _The
Ledger, Hell will freeze over before you see a penny. Why not instruct
one of your legal beagles to file a lien against my property? It would
certainly present additional fodder, sir. More importantly, it would
glaringly provide further evidence of your ineptness and unfitness for
office.
Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
cc: File
The following letter, apparently in response but dated earlier, was received June 3:
Llano Independent School District
200 East Lampasas
Llano, Texas 78643
May 30, 2000
Mr. Tim Chorney
Rt. 2, Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Texas 78609
Dear Mr. Chorney:
I am responding to your letter dated May 25, 2000. I have put
together an estimated charge for the research and processing of the
information you have requested in this most recent request. The
following will reflect this estimation:
1. 2000 copies @ 10cents = $200.00
2. research = $200.00
3. postage & handling = $10.00
TOTAL = $410.00
Mr. Chorney, when we receive the payment on your prior request for
information, we will gladly begin processing your current request.
Please remit to:
Llano I.S.D.
200 E. Lampasas Street
Llano, Texas 78643
Sincerely,
Jack Patton
Superintendent
JP:gs
enclosure
Readers are advised there was no "enclosure" in Patton's latest
letter. Apparently, he or his secretary forgot to send a third copy of
the earlier bogus "Statement". Furthermore, NO copies or "research"
have ever been requested of the Superintendent. Apparently he has
continuing difficulties understanding the English language. The open
records request sought access to documents and can be found in the May
30, 2000 Newsletter. With regard to the ongoing stonewalling, yet
another open records complaint is being prepared and will be filed with
the Open Records Division. ... Don't hold your breath, friends.
Furthermore, with apparently corrupt and abusive local prosecutors,
i.e. the District Attorney and County Attorney, nothing will be done
should the Open Records Division balk. Should the Division refuse to
take action, however, the matter will be pursued directly with the
Attorney General, -- for whatever the hell that's worth. After all, by
statute the District Attorney enjoys enormous power, -- more so for all
practical purposes locally than the Attorney General.
Sadly, Sam Oatman's influence extends even to the Open Records Division
as has grown increasingly apparent. More pointedly, few officials can
withstand the glaring light of day, right, Sam? Just as pointedly and
as far as our "prosecutors" are concerned, I wouldn't waste time or
effort filing a complaint with either. ... Highly selective in their
"prosecutions", they only "take care of their own".
The point, however, has been clearly made by the Superintendent he
in fact considers himself above the law and intends to stonewall and
obfuscate all information requests. ... Like he's done for nearly a
year. Sadly, Patton's incompetence and unfitness for office are
repeatedly and glaringly apparent. Yet, he is the darling of the
community due to the failure of the main-stream media to expose this
"educator" for the bumbling, inept, governmental bureaucrat he truly
is. Want fluff and feel-good propaganda? Read another publication. Want
the truth? Read on.
Citizens should understand there has, and continues to be, enormous
waste in the School District. Recently, the Board allegedly approved an
additional $30,000 for lighting at the High School football field. Four
new air-conditioned buses will be purchased for our little darlings at
a price of $60,000 each. -- For long-distance trips, you understand.
The cash cow knows no bounds. You don't really mind though, do you?
After all, "it's for the children", isn't it? ... It doesn't matter at
all if taxpayers are looted for outrageous pork. More pointedly, wonder
if School officials will indeed get a kickback on the buses? So do I.
Could never happen here though, could it? Nah. Never...
Equally pointedly, there is apparently past corruption within the
School District, necessitating Patton's continued stonewalling. The
$32,000 pressbox duplicate payment required because of a bankrupt
contractor who was apparently unbonded, raises serious questions. All
attempts to secure further information regarding this fiasco have been
vigorously stonewalled and obfuscated by the Superintendent. A team
player, Mr. Patton is apparently protecting his cronies, -- and
predecessor.
Despite over a year of diligent effort, no credible, reliable
sources have been secured within upper School management. Hopefully,
that will change as Patton's true colors become evident. With his
unprofessional combative approach to dissent, Patton's cronies may
indeed be too afraid of their bumbling bureaucratic boss. ... If you
are indeed a school employee and have direct knowledge, courageously
step forward. Your identity will be protected.
Numerous questions remain regarding the yearbook fiasco resulting in an
$11,630.85 past debt due to Taylor Publishing Company. Patton is again
apparently protecting the party or parties responsible. Interesting,
isn't it? When the excrement finally hits the fan, -- and it most
certainly will, Jack, better quickly duck. All joking aside, friends,
you're being looted. Worse yet, you're paying the salary of a bumbling
governmental bureaucrat not only incompetent and unfit for office, but
an official who has glaringly and arrogantly refused to be accountable
to anyone, -- other than the rubber stamp School Board outrageously in
his pocket. ... Or is it indeed the other way around? You decide.
At our earlier meeting of March 23, Mr. Patton strongly asserted he
ordered a District-wide audit. Yet, he has refused access to the
results. Why? Are they unflattering, -- or worse? Has a system-wide
audit in fact been conducted? Good question. In addition to the recent
$37,000,000 (interest included) for unneeded new facilities, the
taxpayers were looted $15,225,384 this year for the "education" of our
children. Yet, the Superintendent has essentially refused access to
records germane to determining whether or not those funds have been
properly spent.
He has accomplished this by arrogantly and arbitrarily imposing
artificial, bogus fees for access to public documents in an effort to
thwart the Public Information Act. Apparently, he is desperate to keep
taxpayers from knowing the outrageous degree of waste in the District.
--Or, more importantly, the apparent corruption. Again, friends, we're
paying for this. Even if you don't own property and are renting, you're
still paying. It is indeed reflected in your rent.
Our fine feathered friend, the Superintendent, has outrageously
refused to take responsibility for his actions, -- as well as the lack
thereof. Yet, he hypocritically holds his students to a higher standard
he's not willing to be held to himself. Think your students are too
naive, inexperienced, or stupid to fully appreciate the hypocrisy and
irony of your actions, Jack? Think again, pal. They're way ahead of
you.
Want to know why so many children have serious problems today? Look
closely not only at their parents, but school administrators as well.
Between uncaring parents and worthless administrators, our teachers
don't stand a fighting chance. In view of this and numerous other
issues, who the hell would want to be a teacher?
Mr. Patton, however, will continue to have his feet held firmly and
aggressively to the fire. It will indeed be amusing and a pleasure to
continue exposing this bumbling governmental bureaucrat for the
incompetent, inept, stonewalling "educator" he truly is.
Since the point has been finally driven home to readers and the
County Judge, the earlier pounding regarding a lack of financial
support for this publication is no longer necessary. The truth,
however, is still the truth, -- and it isn't very pretty nor will it be
muzzled by our self-serving officials. With that in mind, the visitor
count stands in excess of 17,500.
Despite the holiday break, yet another excellent week. With rare
exception, however, this publication receives no financial support from
the readership it serves due to greed, gut-wrenching fear, and the
continuing intimidation of our abusive officials. Regardless, _The
Llano Ledger remains beholden to NO ONE, and will continue to firmly
and aggressively hold the feet of our worst offenders to the fire, --
with or without the financial support of the community.
Tim Chorney, Publisher
_The Llano Ledger
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Tue Oct 9, 2001 1:15pm EDT