Mikel's Thoughts by Mike Virdell

Llano Memorial Hospital may not be going to Marble Falls. Despite a wonderful campaign blitz by the newly hired publicity company by the Llano Memorial Hospital Board, “things are not as they appear”. By the hiring of a very high profile and expensive PR company, would you wonder what is wrong with this picture?

Llano Memorial’s Board has put out false information in regards to the Austin Statesman’s article in the paper last week. The City of Marble Falls has not “signed on” to this project. If I were connected to the City of Marble Falls, I might just ask the following:

#1. Have we read our own study? I presume the City Council of Marble Falls recognizes that there are monumental risk involved in building an $80 million dollar hospital with connections to $850 million more in infrastructure, apartments, offices, and retail spaces. Risk? Very big risk.

#2. Llano Memorial Hospital Board Chairman Don Adams talks about a non-recourse loan. (A loan that should it fail, will not have consequences to anyone other than the loss to the lender). The lender might be the U.S. Government. Do I really trust people that have such disregard to loans that might not be paid back?

#3. There are no commitments for $10-20 million in in-frastructure. (Sewer and water). It is a smoke a mirrors game being played now by the point persons, Sam Martin, Hoerster, and Adams. Do I really trust people that spend large sums of money on plat plans and architectural lay outs when “our best guess” and “anticipate” represent hard cold facts?

#4. The City of Marble Falls may now be wondering why Llano Memorial had to hire a very expensive public relations company to explain and convince Llano County (You) why this is such a great idea. Lies over the last six months to Llano County citizens are documented. I would wonder what lies they may have told people that are not Llano County residents.

#5. The City of Marble Falls might be thinking over their multiple options. They have one of the best emergency room hospitals in Central Texas, owned by Llano County resident, Dr. Michael Dickey.

Marble Falls will soon have one of the best clinics with Seton right in the middle of town. Seton has committed to rehabbing the old Allied Bank building, with a donation from The Highland Lakes Health Fund Board of $1,400,000 to greatly upgrade health services in Marble Falls. Marble Falls, like Burnet has independent doctors in their city, not tied to the Hoerster Professional Associates group. Independent doctors in private practice in Marble Falls and they can get hospital privileges from Seton in Burnet.

#6. Marble Falls must continue to play with everyone in the room. But a firm commitment by the Marble Falls City Council to Llano Memorial’s (“our best guess” per Hoerster) pie in the sky dreams would be the death pill. Marble Falls has very intelligent people in their city government. If Llano wants to build $80 million in buildings near their City, they obviously will not object. But do they really have an interest in hurting Seton? When you have the New York Yankees playing on your home field, you do not go five miles down the road to watch Llano’s version of softball. When serious health care is an issue with your family, you will try your level very best to take your love ones to Seton, or M.D. Anderson, or Scott & White. You will not go to Lake of the Hills (Llano).
And if I were in Marble Falls, I would be wondering this. What if this were reversed? Would the City of Marble Falls be standing still while another County was wooing our medical facilities out of our town? “ I’ve read where the Hospital Board in Llano did no studies on the economic impact upon their own community.” Should we really be trusting these people? Not one taxing entity in Llano County…not the County, or the school district, or the City of Llano, or even one service organization has passed a statement or proclamation in support of the Hospital in Burnet County. How trustworthy is this group of Hoerster, Adams and Martin when they have such disdain and arrogance toward their own community?

The law suite by the City of Llano should prevail. The Llano County Commissioners have forced this litigation due to their refusal to accept any responsibility in the actions of their appointees. There has been ample time for these Commissioners to act. But now, laws have been broken. Serious laws. The City of Llano had no choice but to stop this unlawful removing of public funds and to hold Hospital Directors responsible.

Our issue is now serious. Your help is still needed. One Llano County Commissioner has started to tell people that “no one has said a word to him” about the actions of the Hospital. After the dust settles, I’ll bet he had wished someone had. Please do not believe the PR firm hired with public funds to sway your opinion. Please be one more voice that is heard. But when you call, make your concern clear. These men are paid to represent you. They are paid to maintain Llano County’s tax base. This should be about Llano County health care.

Please call the following elected officials. Let them know your stand. Not my Stand. Yours. You can be part of the solution with just a few minutes of your time. The City of Llano does not have the money to hire a publicity firm. They must rely on you.