The Llano Ledger


Newsletter Text V9

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.

********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