Update 3/21/2015-Even Brian Birdwell jumps to conclusions.

Update: 12/19/2014- I continue to believe the exact same thing as when I first wrote this (and, for those who have trouble understanding that a picture of a female with the post means a FEMALE WROTE THIS, I, *salon* wrote this, NOT anyone else) , using the editorial *we* format. I do NOT understand why the Somervell County Hospital District will not spend one minute of time requesting an Attorney General opinion about this. As readers know, I sent in a complaint regarding this in August 2013 to Sheriff Greg Doyle, which was discussed with County Attorney Andy Lucas.  Here is that complaint and here are the emails between me, Greg and Andy. I also wrote a letter to the editor of the Glen Rose Reporter on Sep 13, 2013 with my opinion which has NOT CHANGED. 

I believe is dereliction of duty not to make sure, especially when there are so many compelling reasons not to spend one nickel of tax payer money in a different, discrete hospital district that pays no taxes but enjoys the benefits of being in a private, gated community that is not a public facility, much less to Somervell County needy. Seems to me that the district is scared to find out that they might, gasp, be WRONG. The attorneys for the hospital sent Andy Lucas a reply on Sept 17, 2013 regarding whether spending tax money in Pecan is legal, but it's, at least in my book, a poor argument. (Incidentally, I found this out not because Andy Lucas or Greg Doyle or anyone else bothered to tell me but because I did my own open records request asking about it-you'll notice on the email exchange link, above, that the replies from Andy Lucas are in November, AFTER I ASKED GREG DOYLE AGAIN ABOUT THIS.). 

If I am wrong in this, I'm willing to say so on the basis of a Texas Attorney General opinion. So, Pony Up, Somervell County Hospital District board members and FIND OUT IF WHAT YOU"RE DOING IS LEGAL!!!!! (Here are a lot of posts Somervell County Salon has written about Pecan Plantation, most by me, salon.) 

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As we have repeatedly said, Pecan Family Medical Center is located inside private gated golf course community Pecan Plantation in Granbury, Hood County, TX. Although Hood County has its own hospital district for which residents pay ZERO taxes, Somervell County residents pay our taxes to support the clinic. We heard another story about someone turned away from Pecan Family Medical Center

I just learned the bitter truth that Somervell tax money is good enough for Pecan Plantation, but Somervell citizens aren’t good enough for Pecan Medical Clinic.

Recently, a friend called one night, riddle with arthritis pain and asked if I could take her the next day to Dr. Carpenter’s office in Pecan for a morning appointment.  All we had to say to the gatekeeper was we had an appointment with Dr. Carpenter and we were on our way.  I thought to myself that it must be 1 that anyone can go to our clinic in Pecan.

While the outside sign names the facility Pecan Medical Clinic, the receptionist confirmed it was Dr. Carpenter’s office.  My friend checked in and we sat to wait.  In a few minutes, she was called back to the receptionist and told that Dr. Carpenter only sees residents of Pecan.  With this my friend pointed to the large sign by the window and she replied, “but this sign says Glen Rose Medical”.   The receptionist confirmed we were at Glen Rose Medical Clinic, but this facility was just for residents of Pecan. 

I went to window to back up my friend and I asked why would they have scheduled an appointment if one cannot see a doctor.   My friend had even told them she lived in Glen Rose when she scheduled the appointment.    It was an error we were told and that we would have to go back to Glen Rose.    The receptionist was helpful and did call Glen Rose and scheduled a later appointment for my friend, who was in pain.

Leaving, my friend commented that she thought doctors were supposed to treat all people who came to them.  Yes, those were the days…….

IF Pecan Plantation was a public facility that was open to everyone, INCLUDING SOMERVELL COUNTY RESIDENTS, then we might feel differently about paying taxes for its support. Don't let the Somervell County Hospital District fool you into thinking that we don't support it. We do.

We'd like to hear your stories.

Update: 9/25/2014. I feel just the same way as I did when I wrote this last year. A couple of months ago I went over to Pecan Plantation, which I'd never been to before, on the spur of the moment on  a Saturday, just to see if I could get in. I couldn't.