Mikel's Thoughts by Mike Virdell

The Llano Memorial Authority Board has been lying about the law. Surprise surprise. Months ago, one Hospital Board member told the Board they were breaking the law. But the Board ignored this commentary. Llano County Judge R.G. Floyd proclaimed that two of the Hospital Board members were attorneys, and they would never break the law! Documentation says otherwise.
It is in the first paragraph of the statue. A Hospital Authority cannot do business outside the jurisdiction it is in. That jurisdiction given to it by the State Legislature, says an authority can only work within that County. That is the law.
The City of Llano was awarded the “standing” they asked for in the law suite this past week against the Llano Memorial Hospital Authority Board, and the Llano County Commissioners. There was enough law to go forward. Taking money out of the County with malice and premeditation could become damaging for those involved.

This Board set out, and made every effort to hide the fact they were using your tax dollars to build a hospital in another County. They lied to you about the location. They lied to you about the indigent health care. They lied to you about the clinics making money. And I quote, “the clinics are the lifeline of the Hospital.” (R.G. Floyd). The clinics lost $328,123. according to the Hospital accountant, Michael Choat in 2005-06. The Hospital made up that loss. Your tax dollars going to prop up clinics in three other Counties.
In April, R.G. Floyd was on the local television station, saying the new facility had to be built, as the one in Llano was a losing old facility that had never made money. Judge Floyd, have you no shame. Llano Memorial Hospital has always done just fine, with two exceptions. In 1999, and now. Both instances when people were on the Board that had little vested interest in their own Counties. Llano Memorial was not the number one priority then, and it is not now.
Llano Memorial went from being a Top 100 Hospital in the Nation to one today that has been cited often by the State Health Department, and no longer is an accredited hospital in the State of Texas. Boy, this is one fine Board of Directors we have. I wonder where we can find some more like these people?
This Board should be held responsible for the money they have spent in pursuing a hospital in another County. Lawyers fees, extensive architecture plans, site planning and location fees, earnest money fees, and any other item paid for by Lake of the Hills, or came out of the account of Llano Bay. These people may have to pay up, and then face the consequences of their actions. We are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is your tax money they spent. These people had no right to it. It came out of operations of Llano Memorial Hospital. And remember this. These people planned this. There was no small mis-understanding here. This was not an oversight. The Authority Boards’ own attorney, Kevin Reed, advised that they get a ruling from the Attorney Generals Office before they went forward with this action. (The advice was ignored) This letter was read in open court last Friday. This was no mistake. They set up operations so it would appear they were not breaking the law.

Hospital Chairman Adams was on the radio proclaiming victory minutes after the call by Judge Jordan. He is quoted in the River Tribune that everything for the new Hospital in Burnet County can go forward. Onward Oh! This man has no shame. How would you like to sit on a Board with Adams and trust him to do and say the truthful things? Things that would someday reflect on your integrity?
The Hospital Board is flush with fools. I no longer want them to resign. I want them all stay to have their day in court. Damm the lawsuit that now can go forward. To heck with what District Judge Jordan had to say. Yet, as I predicted 6 weeks ago, we had a miracle on the horizon. The interceding of good over evil. The law over man. Health care in Llano County over development for Burnet County. This is what the law suite has been about. If you have missed this point, and you continue to believe people where lies are just a way of doing business, then you and I will never agree on anything.

But stranger to me, is why supposedly good people would allow other people to compromise their integrity. A few of these Board members could have spoken up. Opportunities to stand up and be counted were numerous. I guess I trusted good people would eventually do the right things. In this case, I was very wrong.
Many of you have asked, “What happens next?” The law suite goes forward. The Commissioners and the Authority Board will be asking for “dismissal”. This will not happen. But, if I were in a charitable mood, I would make this offer. “You will be dropped from the lawsuit if: 1. You resign 2. You sign a public document that says you will never take an appointment in Llano County, nor ever run for public office…ever 3. You apologize to the people of Llano County.

None of the above parties will do this. But if all goes well, Judge Jordan may get the opportunity to implement the above. Plus, there could be significant personal liability involved in the transfer and spending of Llano County Memorials’ funds.