The Llano Ledger


Newsletter Text V48

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.

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*************Continuation of August 7, 2000 Newsletter***********

The Llano Memorial Healthcare System Foundation business address is apparently identical to that of Mr. Center's accounting firm, L Center & Company, PC. Interesting, isn't it? The Treasurer's letter was typed on plain white paper with no corporate letterhead. The return address on the envelope, however, was indeed that of his business. The address used by the Administrator in correspondence to the Foundation is identical. It will certainly be most interesting to explore the nuances, structure, and status of this LMHS subsidiary through additional open records requests.

Relieved to see the end of the GOP Convention? Groaning at the prospect of a repeat performance shortly at Democratic festivities? More pointedly, why are we paying the salaries of George "The Tush" Bush and Al "The Bore" Gore? After all, both clowns aren't doing their "jobs" are they? How is it proper and ethical for Presidential candidates to draw salaries from government positions for functions they're not performing?

Thankfully in Texas, the governorship is severely constitutionally limited, however, and the Governor is little more than a figurehead. At the federal level, the same is indeed true of the Vice President. Again, why are we paying the salaries of full-time Presidential candidates? Why aren't both political parties picking up the tab? What a novel concept, -- reimbursing looted taxpayers, no? Never happen, though. Sadly, the people are too aggressively stupid to demand it.

Indeed, we have another three months of this nonsense to endure. ... The campaign, that is. Despite severely limited powers, the Governor is disingenuously claiming to have generated enormous positive change in Texas. Just as ludicrously, the Vice President claims to have "invented" the Internet. Whatever the hell happened to honesty and the truth?

Clicking the About button above the Table of Contents, the visitor count stands in excess of 23,500. Non-profit and outrageously unfunded by the readership it serves due to greed, gut-wrenching fear, and the continuing relentless intimidation of corrupt and abusive Llano County officials, this publication remains as always beholden to NO ONE.

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger (Scroll down for July 10, 2000 Newsletter. July 17, 2000, July 24, 2000, and July 31, 2000 Newsletters can be found by scrolling up the Table of Contents.)

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.

*************July 10, 2000**************

The following letter was snail-mailed to LISD Board President Tere Hutto:

Llano Independent School District
Tere Hutto, President LISD Board
Hwy 152 HC 10
Llano, Tx. 78643

Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609

Re: Open Records Stonewalling

July 5, 2000

Dear Ms. Hutto:

Llano Superintendent of Schools Jack Patton has dishonestly and unethically attempted to impose $515.90 in charges for access to public records germane to financial irregularities and outrageous waste within the School District. Why? Who is he protecting? Certainly not the taxpayers who continue to be mercilessly looted, -- legally or otherwise.

Among other issues, these irregularities involve the apparent use of an unbonded contractor resulting in a $32,000 pressbox double billing, an $11,630.85 past debt due to Taylor Publishing Company for yearbooks, School District-Fields & Associates Architects financial agreements, and a District-wide independent audit conducted by Story and Stovall as claimed by the Superintendent.

Since Mr. Patton's employment over a year ago, he has egregiously stonewalled repeated open records requests and ignored all informal inquiries. Last winter he disingenuously extended an invitation to tour school facilities. Arrangements were made and he agreed to personally conduct the tour and answer all longstanding questions.

Upon arrival as scheduled March 23, however, he reneged on the deal to personally conduct the tour and initially refused to submit to questioning. Applying low-key but firm pressure on this appointed governmental bureaucrat, he began to answer. His responses, however, were hurried, incomplete, and highly combative. His behavior was outrageously unprofessional, erratic, and barely in control. He disingenuously and dishonestly promised to provide additional information, but failed to do so, necessitating additional open records requests. These additional requests were stonewalled and are now subject to investigation by both the Open Records Division and General Services Commission.

Kindly be advised the Superintendent foolishly missed a golden opportunity to clear the air, set the record straight, articulate the needs of the District, and finally answer longstanding questions regarding enormous waste and financial irregularities within LISD. What I received, however, was a "bum's rush" tour of school facilities by High School Principal Dennis Hill with no allotted time to closely question all three principals. It seems Mr. Hill was called into service as a substitute bus driver that day.

Kindly be reminded the Superintendent had several weeks to prepare for the visit. Since the alleged terroristic threat by a middle school student had occurred several days prior to my tour, it could not have been a factor in the Superintendent's erratic behavior. Had it, the visit could and should have been rescheduled for a more appropriate time. This outrageously inept, bumbling bureaucrat has repeatedly been targeted on _The Llano Ledger website, -- aggressively and mercilessly so. Assuredly, the highly pointed criticism will continue unabated, -- for good reason.

My question to you is exceptionally simple. If there is nothing to hide, why is this sorry excuse for an "educator" charging $515.90 for access to recent public records? Kindly be advised, no copies nor "research" have been requested. This publication has not, and will not, pay for access to public information.

My heartfelt thanks, however, to you, the Board, and the Superintendent for the endless fodder so generously provided. Without question, Mr. Patton will continue to have his feet aggressively held to the fire. So will the Board, -- one of the worst in recent history.

Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger

cc: Llano Ledger website
cc by e-mail: June B. Harden, Assistant Attorney General, Open Records Division; David Mendoza, Legal Assistant, Open Records Division; David Short, Investigator, Open Records Division; Hadassah Schloss, Open Records Administrator, General Services Commission; Jack Patton, Superintendent

The following e-mail was sent to June B. Harden, Assistant Attorney General, Open Records Division July 3:

(cc: David Mendoza, Legal Assistant, Open Records Division; David Short, Investigator, Open Records Division)

June B. Harden
Assistant Attorney General
Open Records Division

Re: ID#138059

Dear Ms. Harden:

In regard to ID#138059, kindly be advised there is no overcharge issue. No copies nor "research" have been requested of LISD Superintendent Jack Patton. Mr. Mendoza is well aware of this and in possession of both relevant open records requests and accompanying documentation.

In addition, this fact has repeatedly been pointed out to him in telephone and e-mail follow-ups to no avail. Mr. Mendoza has apparently not taken the time to carefully read all documents sent. He has also not answered several e-mail messages. While I've been informed there've been recent changes in the Open Records Division regarding staffing, Mr. Mendoza has NOT been responsive to three ongoing complaints filed recently.

Returning to the current issue of ID#138059, the Llano Superintendent of Schools has dishonestly and unethically attempted to charge $515.90 for copies and "research" NEVER requested in either open records request in an effort to thwart access to recent records and required disclosure. The Superintendent is arbitrarily charging for access to public records to block all inquiry by this non-profit publication. Records requested are germane to LISD's apparent illegal use of unbonded contractors and financial irregularities regarding school yearbooks and other expenditures. The Superintendent may very well be attempting to cover-up past and possibly currently ongoing criminal activities of school officials.

Since there has been no request for copies nor "research", how is this a matter for the General Services Commission? Kindly be advised, the General Services Commission is not responsive to complaints and has failed as of this date to take action on ID#137572. This matter involves a complaint filed against Llano County Judge J.P. Dodgen for his imposition of $1.00/copy charges in ALL Llano County offices. The law allows this in only the County Clerk and Treasurer's Offices. Yet, the Judge and Commissioners' Court have imposed this charge in all County offices in an attempt to thwart the Public Information Act and legitimate inquiry.

In a letter dated June 23, Ms. Hadassah Schloss, Open Records Administrator, General Services Commission essentially dumped the matter back in the lap of the Open Records Division. Apparently, there are jurisdictional issues between both state agencies. This publication has essentially been caught in the middle, -- with no action taken by anybody. Meanwhile the open records abuses continue unabated in Llano County.

Due to the unresponsiveness and footdragging displayed by Mr. Mendoza, I am now mired in red tape with two state agencies while fighting to expose corruption here in Llano County. Can you provide any assistance in expediting matters? With an apparently corrupt and abusive District Attorney and County Attorney, no open records complaints will be filed with either. It would be a waste of time. As repeatedly asserted, the District Attorney himself failed to fully respond to an open records request dated March 12, 2000. Worse yet, he dishonestly and unethically attempted to charge for copies never requested in an unsuccessful attempt to intimidate this writer.

Sincerely,
Tim Chorney, Publisher
The Llano Ledger
http://maxpages.com/llanoledger
Rt 2 Box 464A
Buchanan Dam, Tx. 78609

Regarding copying charges in County offices and in response to an e-mail sent June 28 (posted in the July 3, 2000 Newsletter), the following response was received July 5 from Hadassah Schloss, Open Records Administrator, General Services Commission:

[Hadassah Schloss]: "Sorry I didn't answer earlier, I was finally able to take a few days off...

I will send a letter to the County Judge and the Commissioners to make them aware of the charges for offices that do not have separate statutes.

In the meantime, you may want to show them the info I sent you (since it is the same info I will send them)."

The withdrawn LMHS request for exception ruling has been posted on LMHS V2. The donor records issue has not been resolved and the battle continues.

Think government lackeys at the Llano Central Appraisal District will ever tire of looting property owners? With a proposed budget of $451,000, Gary and the Gang are looking for an additional $20,700. For what? With 9 full-time leeches, and 2 part-timers, will Chief Appraiser Gary Eldridge ever have sufficient operating funds? -- Funds used to strangle taxpayers? Apparently, not. What do you want, Gary? Every last drop of blood? Other than your cronies and Llano's "elite", you already have every damned property owner by the gonads.

In a published notice, Mr. Eldridge disingenuously asserts, "Appraisal District is supported solely by payments from local taxing units served by appraisal district." ... Hey Gary, wake up, pal. It's the taxpayers who financially support you and your fellow leeches. Furthermore, you're not "serving" the taxpayers. You're screwing them. -- With outrageous skyrocketing appraisals, especially along the lakes chain from Tow to Horseshoe Bay. Hit the motherlode, haven't you, friend? Got to take care of your Llano cronies, don't you, sir? After all, they "own" this County, -- or think they do.

There'll be a public hearing on the proposed Appraisal District Budget tonight July 10, 5:30pm, at 103 E. Sandstone. Amazing, isn't it, Eldridge "needs" a half million bucks to continue shafting taxpayers? Not to worry, Gary, you'll get it, sir. This outrageous turkey has, and will continue to be repeatedly targeted on this website, -- for good reason. With gusto.

Yet, the taxpayers are getting exactly what they deserve, aren't they? After all, they willingly bend over and cowardly take the shaft. -- Without the Vaseline. More pointedly, for well over a year, no aggrieved property owner has been willing to allow publication and exposure of Appraisal District abuse. Although the number of complaints received is staggering, NO ONE is courageously willing to stand up. Not one. They're too damned afraid of retribution. ... Hey Gary, that's power, 'ain't' it, pal? -- It's also outrageous despotism, but again, this is Llano County, isn't it? You pay to get screwed.

Most pointedly and all joking aside, when you cower in fear, you get exactly what you deserve. Nothing quite like paying to get it rammed hard up home plate. Eldridge must be laughing his ass off. While the records are indeed public, this publication will NOT invade the privacy of property owners without permission. Enjoy the shaft, though, and be sure to thank Gary for the screwing. You've earned it.

County Judge J.P. Dodgen and his cronies on the Commissioners' Court are apparently planning to loot taxpayers an additional $850,000 in tax anticipation notes. Some $300,000 will be used for the new law enforcement center and $550,000 for restoration of the courthouse. Aren't we lucky? Shivering in anticipation?

The unneeded new jail is already some $800,000 over budget. The "Judge" and his cronies on the Commissioners' Court are directly responsible for this fiasco. Don't forget, ground hasn't even been broken. Yet, the looting of taxpayers for this latest boondoggle is well under way. The money trail will indeed be carefully scrutinized. Be interesting to see who gets what, no?

Despite the screwing, the public remains deafeningly silent. Again, you're getting precisely what you so richly deserve. Enjoy. ... Think the "Judge" and Commissioners aren't gleefully laughing their asses off? With rare exception, there was, and is, no strong opposition nor pointed questioning of the turkeys responsible for running this County.

Setting the issue of the Law Enforcement Center aside for a moment, the Llano Library has finally re-opened after closing nearly four months for badly needed roofing repairs. The librarians have assured this writer there was no leaking during heavy rains several weeks ago. Library staff and helpers, however, had a lot of construction-related cleaning to do prior to re-opening.

... Hey, Judge, why were the taxpayers apparently looted an additional $10,000 in "overruns"? When will you and your cronies on the Commissioners' Court finally learn to sign contracts obligating contractors to eat their losses? -- Instead of passing them on and additionally screwing the taxpayers? ... Think the "overruns" might have miraculously found their way back into the pockets of County officials? Nah. Not here. After all, 10,000 bucks is chump change to our "leadership".

While the repairs were desperately needed, the amount of money spent could have built a modest new facility, -- provided it was located well off the Square. More pointedly, the Commissioners' Court was well aware of severe structural roofing problems prior to acquisition of the current building years ago. -- Nothing quite like foresight, planning, good judgement, and greed of County "management", is there? The kickbacks must have been horrendous.

-- As years ago, when the current jail on Sandstone was refurbished at enormous expense back in 1982. ... Only to be abandoned now by a greedy and inept Commissioners' Court hell-bent on looting taxpayers additional millions for an unneeded, unnecessary new facility. These current turkeys, as had their predecessors, must indeed be laughing their asses off at the gullibility and stupidity of the public. With good reason.

Hat's off, J.P., to you and the Commissioners. The charade is working, sir. Think you'll manage to drive the "overruns" to at least twice the original estimate, if not much more? I bet you will, Judge. Keep working at it. You can do it, sir. There'll be no political price to pay. Remember? The people are stupid, aren't they?

... Haven't you indeed said so yourself, sir? -- Or was the report received from a disaffected former minion of yours false? Doesn't matter anyway, does it, Judge? After all, the public has gullibly bought the supposed need of a new jail, hook, line, and sinker. Nothing quite like smoke and mirrors, is there? Highly effective, especially when the aggressively stupid public is targeted. Right, Judge? Stay the course, J.P.. Apparently, the public hasn't been sufficiently looted. ... Spread the cheeks, friends. The Judge and Commissioners are on the way.

Time constraints and other more pressing issues have delayed continuing critique of Mr. Garrett's jail-rape deposition. Nor has their been time to continue posting the Lawson Deposition and numerous other jail-rape documents. Such tasks, however, will resume shortly. Although unopposed in November and for the sake of principle, it is critical pressure be maintained on our inept, unfit, and abusive Sheriff. While he will indeed continue in office, the public must be aware of Mr. Garrett's character and management skills, -- or lack thereof.

Just as importantly, relentless pressure on Garrett, in turn, conveniently and usefully places pressure on our apparently corrupt and abusive District Attorney, who outrageously dismissed a jail-rape indictment to protect the Sheriff's ass and "Good Old Boys" who "run" the jail. Although running unopposed himself in November and solidly entrenched in power, the people are certainly entitled to know the character and management skills of Mr. Oatman, -- or lack thereof. Sadly, are Garrett and Oatman the best the law enforcement and legal communities have to offer? Apparently, so.

Finally, life at the Llano Library is returning to normal, and the facility looks cosmetically sharp. Hopefully, the repairs have finally and permanently solved the leaking problem. ... Don't hold your breath... After all, we won't know for sure until a few years have passed.

Especially gratifying, however, to see so many children patronizing the library the day after re-opening. Love of learning, reading, books, and all our libraries have to offer, should indeed start early in life. High marks to the librarians and their dedicated helpers for all the effort required to re-open and maintain this valuable public asset and resource.

Clicking on the About button above the Table of Contents, the visitor count proudly stands in excess of 20,700. Non-profit and unfunded by the readership it serves due to greed, gut-wrenching fear, and the continuing intimidation of corrupt and abusive Llano County officials, this publication remains as always beholden to NO ONE.

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 1:11pm EDT