Mikel's Thoughts by Mike Virdell

The frustration of finding leaders in our community could send someone to the bar pretty quick. But the solutions to making Llano into a small town that is successful and vibrant and spunky is not reinventing the wheel. It is bringing Llano back to the days when it was that way.

Back to the days when a small handful of local people felt that a hospital would make Llano a nicer place to live. A safer place to live.

Back to the days when a handful of people, local people decided not to wait on the LCRA, or a state agency, and went upstream above the City of Llano, and built a dam for water storage and flood control.

Back in the days when a small group of Chamber of Commerce people took tourist and snowbirds serious, and without help from the City, or red wrigglers intruders with no vested interest, built over 300 RV hookups inside the Robinson City Park. Borrowed the money. Why? Because they believed in Llano. And they believed in their own passion.

Back when Mayors were the bosses, and decisions were made. Backroom pockets of secret dealings were not of the order. When the mayor said this is what we are going to do, most in the community asked what could they do?
Leadership is not a school, or a stick the finger in the wind trait. It is passion. It is saying why can’t we do this, rather than “why do this.”

Leadership is not going willy-nilly without a plan. It is a bringing together of many plans. That is why over 30 years ago, or 50 years ago, things in Llano were accomplished.

You can see a few spots of leadership in this day and time. The leadership of Terry Hutto as Mayor rewarded Llano with the Badu Park project. Fought as hard as he could, the present Mayor Pinckney was not able to stop that project.
On the positive side, Llano business people recently met one night and organized to “question” the present day bridge renovations. In less than 10 days, the State of Texas changed the plan and the entire schedule. The Transportation Department was eager to accommodate. They responded because less than 10 business people in Llano were concerned, about two things. The safety of Llano, and trying to keep Llano vibrant.

City Councilwoman Cheryl Crabtree told one person that the school district got the changes done. Pardon the correction Cheryl, but please call Llano ISD Superintendent Dennis Hill. He will tell you that the people that support this town in every way, the business people got the changes. So as not to inconvience you and I as we cross the bridge today.

More humor from Cheryl. Do we not find it ironical that Cheryl never mentioned that she and the City Council never made one phone call to the state about the safety factors, and the inconvience to Llano citizens in regard to the bridge renovations? And she knew about the 30-minute delays planned all day long for 8 months. Leadership?

In the late 1950s’, I do not think Dan Hoerster, or Garland Dansby, or Henry Hoerster had many thoughts when planning for a hospital in Llano, about trying first to steal the one form Fredericksburg or even the one in Burnet. No, these men, with many others since gone, showed leadership, knew they had the backing of friends and foe alike, and set forth with a plan. Names like Swenson, and Dalchau, Derrick, Rogers, Landon, Ravada, Watkins and Ross Bauman. Their hearts were in the right place. They knew this was best for Llano.

One thing all of these men had was passion. Sometimes known as leadership.
You can have the same. You can help Llano today. Call your County ommissioner. Call a City Council person. Or, better yet, vote in May and vote in November for changes that reflect your passion. Llano does not need to go out and find something new to invent and bring to this community.

The beauty, and the people of Llano need one missing ingredient that has been misplaced. Llano…. needs some passion. Passion to keep our hospital. Passion to build a low water crossing. Passion to have someday, a four-lane bridge. Passion to have Llano bringing in enough sales tax dollars to improve our golf course, and improve our RV facilities.

But number one in our passion today should be…to build an expo/convention center. There may not be a Dansby or a Hoerster, or a Rogers of yesteryear in our midst. But we could strive to serve them proud.