Although it was really nice to see on this video that Ron Hankins managed to control himself and speak in a measured voice rather than an angry rant, it was a revelation to me to see that he apparently bears grudges from legitimate comments people made from years ago.  Clearly, as I've noted before, he sure has a thin skin about criticism, despite being a politician. The context of this video snip chop, from the December 17, 2015 Somervell County Hospital District board meeting, is about the Roger Marks Foundation. 

Who knows whom he believes disparaged the character of Dr Roger Marks or Jesse Pruitt, since he brought this up as a matter of gossip rather than proof.

Some years back, I wrote quite a bit, including a letter to the Glen Rose Reporter, about the Roger E Marks foundation. I, along with a number of other people in Somervell County, thought it was highly inappropriate for Mike Ford, who had just been elected as a county commissioner for Somervell County, and was also at that point the head of the Roger E Marks foundation, not to recuse himself from any votes that involved the hospital. I actually went to a Somervell County commissioners meeting at the time and made a public comment that I believed Ford should recuse himself (that was when Walter Maynard was still judge). Mike Ford also told me that the purpose of the Marks Foundation was to supply scholarships to high school students, but a brochure sent out to residents, as well as the filings themselves, showed that the money was given to raise funds for GRMC 

"The Marks Foundation is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation established in 2006 to raise funds to benefit Glen Rose Medical Center and Nursing Home..... permanently honor a loved one with a memorial or tribute gift by dedicating- a hospital or nursing home room, expansion of a department area, a vital medical installation, new therapeutic equipment.  ... Gifts in any amount are gratefully accepted for either the foundation's unrestricted fund or as you designate for a specific purpose.."

Somervell County residents will recall that Mike Ford, later in his term, before even a required IRS hearing was held, pushed to vote for loaning 14.4 million dollars of public money  to then-private Glen Rose Medical Foundation dba Glen Rose Medical Center. Remember that GRMF was supposed to pay BACK that public money loaned to them, but instead tried to make it a taxpayer problem (see the PDF on this link of the schedule of payments they were supposed to make). 

Jan 26 2009- Tax returns for various years

Feb 2 2009- Some Hospital District questions answered and some not. 

Feb 7 2009- Texas Franchise Report for 2007

Feb 7 2009 Purpose of the Roger Marks Foundation.

Feb 8 2009- Mike Ford had, in 2007, sent in a form to change the address of the Roger Marks foundation to his home address on 56 South. Marks in 2006 still listed as registered agent. 

Feb 21 2009- Purpose of Roger Marks Foundation from brochure I received in the mail.  

April 13, 2009- Conflict of interest including reference to a phone call I had with Ron Hankins with a followup letter from him to me. My questions at the time were not simply a conflict of interest re: Mike Ford but seeking to understand the relationship of Glen Rose Medical Foundation, a private non-profit to Somervell County and the taxpayer.

April 26, 2009- Registered agent changes from Mike Ford to Jesse Pruitt

May 7, 2009-Could Mike Ford simply decide for himself without filing paperwork to no longer be the executive director? Nope.

July 11, 2013- Dr Roger E Marks foundation shown as inactive on the Texas SOS website due to tax forfeiture 

Nov 7, 2014- Who pays for supporting private 501c3 Roger E Marks Foundation? 

Nov 18, 2014- Roger E Marks Foundation back to being legal on the Texas SOS site. Monica Sheldon shown as registered agent. 

Dec 8, 2014- List of scholarship winners over the years.  

Bringing this up to date, here's what the SOS website shows today, 12/18/2015

Monica Sheldon is the registered agent -does she even still work here or live in the state?

Dr Roger E Marks foundation created in 2006, signed by Mike Ford, executive director and initial registered agent. 

After, as noted above, the foundation went inactive in 2010, here was what the State of Texas told the principals to do in 2013 to reinstate it. This document signed and dated by Helen Kerwmin on 12/23/2013. The date in the document shows that the entity was forfeited on 5/21/2010. 

For some weird reason, the document is not updated to show Jesse Pruitt at all but people from some years back, so who really knows who the people are that are involved? 

Mr Hankins may not like it that taxpayers that live in Somervell County want to ask questions about operation of the hospital, which is now publicly funded, for which he has voted twice to raise taxes for, and has, in my opinion, generally acted as a rubber stamp for whatever Glen Rose Medical Center wants, without accountability. But, as I said in a letter I wrote to the editor of the Glen Rose Reporter  about his comments that people who run for office that don't do what he believes is right in HIS heart deserve to be sued "Wake Up, Ron Hankins, you live in America now". In a democracy, he can whine and rant, although his listeners can certainly demand proof rather than gossipy opinion.

The issue was and  is, first, the discrepancy between whether, as Mike Ford said, the Roger Marks Foundation exists for scholarships OR if it exists to support the hospital (ie, buying equipment, making up operating costs, etc),, and second, is there an accounting of exactly how and where the Marks Foundation money is spent. For example, if Glen Rose Medical Center cannot pay for operating costs without Dr Roger E Marks Foundation money, shouldn't every taxpayer be aware of that, including now the money is being spent? 

 Time has not changed my questions regarding this.