The Llano Ledger
Newsletter Text V9
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********Continuation of September 13, 1999 Edition**********
Despite the harassment incident involving one of the "Good Old Boys", a
positive fresh start was made with the Sheriff last Thursday.
Hopefully, it will continue. The readers as well as the citizens of
Llano County all benefit from honest, open, unabusive government. -- So
do our officials. Eventually, at least some of them will finally
understand this. Debate in a supposedly "free" republic is often
pointed and heated. Our officials have to be challenged, poked, prodded
every step of the way, -- or the abuses and corruption will only
continue. This is indeed the function of _The Llano Ledger and why this
publication was created.
Tim Chorney, Publisher (Scroll down for earlier edition.)
*********************September 7, 1999**********************
Before addressing the main thrust of this week's edition, two
announcements need to be made and briefly discussed. Protect Lake Area
Needs (PLAN) will host a forum 7:00PM, Wednesday, September 8, 1999, at
St. Charles Catholic Church in Kingsland. Llano County Commissioner
Duane Steuven is scheduled to make a presentation discussing County
plans and needs for a new law enforcement center. The full announcement
can be found in Information And Services.
The Llano Independent School District (LISD) will hold a public
meeting 5PM, September 13, 1999 in the Board Room, O'Henry Building,
200 E. Lampasas St. in Llano. A proposed tax increase from $1.57/$100
evaluation (last year) to $1.6572/$100 evaluation (proposed) will be
discussed. While Maintenance and Operations will remain at $1.47/$100
evaluation, the Interest and Sinking Fund proposed tax rate is nearly
double last year's. Our illustrious School Board members are also
taking full advantage of the skyrocketing increase in property
appraisals to further shaft the taxpayers as well. Aren't we lucky?
As mentioned in last week's edition, our illustrious Chief
Appraiser Gary Eldridge, his cronies in the Appraisal District, as well
as his predecessors are directly responsible for this ongoing fiasco
and egregious injustice. Like our County Judge and the Commissioners'
Court, LISD officials are taking full advantage of outrageous
overappraisals to further shaft besieged taxpayers. Our self-serving
bureaucratic leeches will apparently never be satisfied with what's
already looted from the taxpayers. Sadly, the current School Board is
no better than its recent predecessors.
Now, on to the thrust of this week's edition: As publisher of _The
Llano Ledger, it has been brought to my attention undue improper
pressure has apparently been brought to bear on the Llano Chamber of
Commerce by the Mayor and City Council to accept a proposed merger with
the Hill Country Wildlife Museum (HCWM). Not surprisingly, the level of
stonewalling encountered remains steep as this investigation continues.
The following letter from James Babcock to Chamber Board members will
be presented first. Further information and commentary will follow.
************************************************************
The Hill Country Wildlife Museum
P.O. Box 787
Llano, Tx. 78643
August 3, 1999
Board of Directors
Llano Chamber of Commerce
Llano, Texas 78643
Re: Potential partial merger between the Hill Country Wildlife Museum and Llano Chamber of Commerce
Dear Board Members:
As you are probably aware, obtaining the Campbell Collection for Llano
was a Chamber project. The use of a separate non-profit 501(c)(3)
corporation was chosen to facilitate the solicitation of contributions
and protect the Chamber from risk of potential unknown liability,
inasmuch as no one had experience with the formation of a museum. Since
the recently announced resignation of the Museum's administrator,
informal discussions between some of you and several of the Museum
directors suggests that there is now a window of opportunity to
capitalize on certain efficiencies and benefits to the Museum, Chamber
and Llano community that could result from the Chamber's reinvolvement
with the Campbell Collection and use of the Museum's space on the
square.
I have been asked for discussion purposes to provide you with
information about the Museum and an outline of how a "merger" might be
structured. The rights to the Collection and the lease of the Museum
premises are presently held by the Llano Museum of Natural History,
Inc., d/b/a the Hill Country Wildlife Museum (the "Corporation"). I
envision a contractual agreement between the Chamber and the
Corporation that would include the following provisions.
1. The Corporation would assign to the Chamber all of its rights to
the Collection under the agreement between the Corporation, LCRA and
the Estate of Charles Campbell, and the Chamber would agree to assume
all obligations provided in such agreement. (Copies will be provided.)
2. The Corporation would assign all of its interest in the Museum
premises, including all leasehold improvements, and the Chamber would
agree to assume all obligations under the lease.
3. The Corporation would assign to the Chamber all of its furniture,
fixtures, equipment, right to the name "Hill Country Wildlife Museum",
good will, phones, insurance policy, security equipment, and the
balance of this year's Hotel/Motel Tax Grant from the City of Llano.
4. The Chamber would agree to a) operate the Museum with Chamber
employees at least six days a week, Monday through Saturday; b)
maintain and preserve the Collection for the benefit of the Llano
community; and c) honor the outstanding Museum membership benefits.
5. Upon the effective date of the transaction, the Corporation will
deliver to the Chamber the cash balance in its operating account at
Llano National Bank.
6. The Corporation will use its best efforts to have the Museum's
former administrator train Chamber staff on matters concerning the
Museum and the Collection and be available for consultation.
7. Both parties will undertake to obtain from the City of Llano,
its agreement that a) the balance of this year's Hotel/Motel Tax Grant
will be paid to the Chamber, and b) a like amount will be paid to the
Chamber next fiscal year for operation of the Museum.
8. The "Rhino Roar" fundraiser should be continued. This year it
raised $6,800 for the Museum. The Corporation will work with the
Chamber personnel to organize the function.
9. The Corporation will accept donations made to the Museum and in
turn, pay them over to the Chamber. Because of the Corporation's
501(c)(3) status, donors may be more comfortable making contributions
to it.
Financially, the transaction should provide net revenues to the
Chamber. During the twelve months that the Museum has been open, it has
attracted approximately 5,000 visitors, paying an estimated $6,500 in
admission fees. The Museum's Hotel/Motel Tax Grant is $6,500. The Rhino
Roar should generate $7,000. The Museum should have approximately
$10,000 in its operating account when the transaction closes.
Increased expenses attributable to the transaction for the Chamber
would include a) rent of $13,200 per year until 2000, then $12,000 per
year; b) utilities $4,000 per year; c) security $300 per year; and d)
insurance of $1,500 per year (paid through 9/2000). Existing Chamber
staff should be able to collect admission fees while conducting Chamber
business without incurring additional staff cost. If you relocate and
rent your existing building, there will not be duplicate utility costs
and the Chamber would have additional revenue from the rental of that
building.
Because of the pressing need to replace the Museum administrator, we
need to move quickly if this transaction is to be accomplished at this
time. Hiring a new Museum administrator would require a commitment to
continued employment and make the transaction more difficult to
accomplish.
We are available to meet with you to discuss the above in more detail at your convenience.
Very truly yours,
James E. Babcock, President
Llano Museum of Natural History, Inc.
************************************************************
Interestingly, Chamber Executive Director Regina Eldridge has
ignored repeated messages requesting information. This is not
particularly surprising since her husband, the Chief Appraiser, has
been previously targeted twice in _The Ledger, mentioned briefly
several additional times, and will again be fully featured in the
future. Regardless, the Chamber is the Chamber. The Appraisal District
is the Appraisal District. Both are separate issues and presumably
unrelated. I certainly intend to keep them separate. As Executive
Director, will she? After all, it is her job as Chamber spokesperson to
provide public information.
While the Chamber is indeed a private organization, the people do
have a right to know if undue improper pressure has been applied by
government officials. My only interest in this is to determine and
expose the truth, whatever that may be. While Ms. Eldridge has
apparently refused to communicate for personal reasons, it is in the
best interest of the Chamber and its members for the Executive Director
to fully and promptly answer questions regarding the proposed merger.
While I certainly don't enjoy the employment of aggressive tactics and
understand her reluctance, my readers as well as the citizens of Llano
County come first and are entitled to answers. If the Chief Appraiser
is indeed not exerting any undue influence on Chamber members through
Ms. Eldridge's appointment as Executive Director, she should have no
reasonable objection to communicating with me.
Despite Ms. Eldridge's stonewalling, credible sources are strongly
alleging Mayor Terry Hutto and members of the City Council have brought
undue improper pressure on the Chamber to accept the proposed merger
with HCWM. Not all Council members, however, support this effort. One,
in fact, is apparently strongly opposed.
The Chamber building was built and paid for years ago by donations from
members as well as other citizens. It is located on City property. Rent
is $1 per year. If forced to move to HCWM facilities, Chamber rent
would jump to $1100 per month. In addition, a credible source has
indicated operating the HCWM six days per week would place an undue
burden on Chamber staff members who already have more than enough to
do.
From the substance of Mr. Babcock's letter, however, as well as
information provided by reliable sources, it appears HCWM officials are
trying to dump the Museum and its responsibilities on the Chamber. --
To date, no evidence of financial impropriety has been found. What is
of concern is the alleged improper pressure brought to bear by the
Mayor and Council members.
It has been strongly alleged by several credible sources the City
Council is threatening the cut-off of hotel/motel grant funds to the
Chamber if the Chamber Board doesn't quickly approve the merger. If
true, this would at the very least be a serious ethical breach and
highly abusive.
It has also been brought to my attention a prominent City official
allegedly sits on the HCWM Board. I have not been able to confirm this
yet since non-profit corporations are not required to file a list of
board members with the Texas Secretary of State. The digging, however,
will continue. If indeed true, this allegation would add a serious new
dimension to the issue.
As expected, the stonewalling has been magnificently staunch to date.
This investigation is only beginning and far from complete. It is my
hope, however, what has been reported so far will encourage others to
step forward with additional information. I will indeed protect your
identity.
Amusing how everyone clams up after the excrement finally hits the fan,
isn't it? ... What indeed is there to worry about? After all, our
illustrious District Attorney Sam Oatman is not likely to show any
interest. Sadly, two jail-rapes were conveniently ignored by Mr.
Oatman. More pointedly, readers are also reminded this official
pre-emptively dismissed a jail-rape indictment returned by the Llano
County Grand Jury against a prisoner trusty, -- apparently to protect
the Sheriff and his cronies.
Not surprisingly, Oatman has also ignored the Gestapo-like tactics
employed by the Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET). Worse yet, NET has
the well-earned reputation of being "dirty". Mason and McCulloch
Counties grew wise to it. Not so here. In fact, Llano County recently
looted the taxpayers $1500 to make a "donation" when former
Co-Commander Brent Nichols "came a knocking", -- hat in hand. More
pointedly, reliable courthouse sources have asserted NET has lost cases
when Nichols in effect pleaded the Fifth while on the stand. Although
Nichols has been demoted for "administrative" reasons, why wasn't he
criminally investigated by Oatman and his cronies?
The DA even conveniently ignored the quiet resignation, under
questionable circumstances, of his former victims' assistance
coordinator. County Attorney Cheryll Mabray, partially responsible for
discovering the employee's questionable conduct, also chose to look the
other way. Why? Interesting, isn't it?
Yet, both these illustrious officials are well aware of area law
enforcement's continuing egregious ignorance of civil, constitutional,
and even property rights. Warrantless searches of innocent citizens and
their property continues. ... Llano City officials need not worry,
however. After all, our prosecutors will protect them. -- They all
"take care of their own", don't they? Sadly, the "Good Old Boy" system
is alive and well in Llano County. ... Adolph and Benito would have
been proud, and must indeed be smiling from their fiery perches.
P.S.: Due to a catastrophic loss of data, this edition had to be
posted in sections. Proof-reading will continue and any additional
errors corrected. Sorry.
Tim Chorney, Publisher.
Tim Chorney, Publisher
P.O. Box 997
Buchanan Dam Tx. 78609
llanoledger@mailcity.com
Page Updated Tue Oct 9, 2001 1:38pm EDT