Mikel's Thoughts by Mike Virdell

By one estimation, Llano Memorial Hospital’s payroll approaches $8 Million dollars annually. By all accounts, the Hospital is making money, at a rate of about $100-150,00 per month. By all accounts, Llano Memorial Hospital will be moving to Marble Falls, leaving behind a shell of what it is today.
Why would a business that is doing well, and was built from scratch in a small town like Llano allow such a thing to happen? What is the motivation? If Llano Memorial were losing $100,000 per month, would that be enough reason to let it go?

The reasons are like all of the other problems in this town. Apathy and selfish greed. Lack of leadership can be placed on the backs of several. Our County…and the hospital still is a county hospital, has done nothing to stop this lose. While the City is not involved too much, you would thank that protest by the Mayor and Alderman would be so load we would have to insert earplugs. The possible loss over the first five years would be near 200 jobs. Protest? Oh, whispers…”what are we going to do” can be heard. But you hear no demands. You only hear of talks taking place between Llano Hospital Board members and other places that want our hospital more than we do.

If there were any leadership at the County level or the City level, you would hear demands that the current board members resign. Their best interest of Llano County are not at heart. This is about money. This is about egos. This has nothing to do with making Llano Memorial Hospital a stronger entity. If I were a county commissioner, and I am not, my opinion is that my appointees should resign. Board members are appointed by each commissioner. Thru the past two years, only a few voices can be heard protesting this stealing of our jobs and our hospital. Lack of leadership, again has created this situation. The few voices have not been listened to, or supported.

Can you believe that the Llano Chamber of Commerce has not taken a bold stand on this issue? Again, an organization with violations of its own charter…no elections in two years, and a board that takes no stands on anything, says nothing as jobs and loss of business are at stake. Leadership? None there.

And the City of Llano wants to hire an economic development person at $40,000 per year? Am I the only person so stupid as to think maybe the economic base is here, but we have no energy to keep even what we have? One councilperson knows how I feel about the filling of this position. He feels strongly about creating an atmosphere where this new person can attract small businesses of 5-10 people. Great. How many years until we catch up, when over 200 jobs go to Burnet County? The shell of a hospital left in Llano will slowly become the stepchild. Few dispute that a hospital in Marble Falls likely would do well. But for this group to do it off the backs of Llano County is without conscious.

This is about leadership in the City of Llano, and in the County. Short supply I am afraid in both.

Seems all the leadership is at the top of the Hospital Board, with egos fueling the idea of getting their names on granite cornerstones…in Burnet County.