~lI a9.1
Item # 2.5
~I
Disc~_ission of legal issues concerning mental and chemical
dependency commitments at Kerr•vile State Hospital. If issues
arise in discussion that may involve attorney/Client
relationship adjournment to Executive Session may be
necessary.
The County Clerk's office did talk to Cherokee Counties State
Hospital and they do alot of work but it is not the same work
that we do. Judge Stacy is not always available to sign the
papers for commitments, which causes emergency commitments.
There should be an attorney in on the probable cause
hearings.
Phil Neighbors - to not have a State Hospital would be an
injustice. Six precept of the County is employed by the
Kerrville State Hospital and we do have alot of out-paatients
that are served by our Kerrville State Hospital. The hospital
does have an economic impact. The needs are many. We hope
that you will support the fine people that are there and wish
to cooperate with Hospital and the needs of those patients.
Ren Low- I have been a resident of Ker^r County for a n~ambe.r
of years. You have heard all the problems of all involved.
I realize this is a delicate subject. I don't know what
Cherokee County does but I do wish you would consider
everything p~.at before you and I would encourage you that you
try to make this transaction as smooth as possible for• all
~- concerned.
Tony Hall - When we have problems in regular commitments this
causes problems far our emergency room. Doing emergency
commitments is a waste of time if the patient gets to the
State Hospital and they don't keep him. I would hope that we
could get this pr^oblem solved.
Dr. Mahendle - I am a neuroligist at the Kerrville State
Hospital. The problems have become greater. We have had.
around 600 hospital admittances within the past year. We are
expecting for this to double next year, if we can not work
out our problems. If we don't the patients will suffer and
it will effect the community.
Comm- we have .just been told we have doubled in size. We
don't have the expertise to make a decision. A committee may
be what we need to help us with the problems we ar^e having.
It is not our intention to harm the hospital in any way.
There will be a meeting on October 16, 1992, with all County
Judges, J.P.'s, County Cler^k and the State Hospital for
further- evolutions.
PRGE 764