Insider Reveals Additional Payment of $231,000 to Just 1 Management LLC for 57 South Music Festival

New developments in the controversy surrounding the 57 South Music Festival in Eagle Pass have emerged. An insider directly involved with the festival provided Maverick Times News with previously undisclosed documents. These documents reveal an additional $231,000 payment to Just 1 Management LLC, further escalating concerns about the financial management and transparency of the event.

RELATED: City of Eagle Pass Paid Over $941,292 to Just 1 Management LLC Prior to Signing Contract

Additional Payments Discovered

The newly uncovered check request, dated before the official signing of the contract in March 2024, amounts to $231,000. Adding this to the previously reported $941,292 brings the total payments to Just 1 Management LLC to $1,172,292. These payments were made without a formal contract in place, significantly exceeding initial figures released by the City of Eagle Pass.

Details of the New Check Request

The check request lists $210,000 for talent fee deposits and $21,000 for management fees. Notably, the management fee is set at 10%, higher than the 6% stipulated in the contract signed in March 2024. This discrepancy raises additional concerns about the financial oversight and management of the festival’s funds.

RELATED: City of Eagle Pass Spent Over $10,000 on Accommodations for Just 1 Management LLC

Unanswered Questions and Ongoing Investigations

The revelation of these additional payments intensifies scrutiny on the City of Eagle Pass and Just 1 Management LLC. The over $1 million given to the company without a contract underscores the need for transparency and accountability. Key questions remain: Why were these payments made without a signed contract? Who approved the higher management fee and why? Are there more undisclosed payments?

Adding to the controversy, Finance Director Jesse Rodriguez, who signed off on all purchase orders as the head of finance, was mysteriously let go from the city months before the event kicked off. Typically, the finance director and the city manager are the approvers of payments of this amount.

RELATED: Controversy Surrounds Award of 57 South Music Festival Contract to Just 1 Management LLC

Calls for Transparency and Accountability

The community’s demand for transparency and accountability is growing louder. Residents and local officials are urging the city administration to fully disclose all related documents and explain the decision-making process that led to the hiring of Just 1 Management LLC. The 57 South Music Festival, initially intended to be a major cultural event for Eagle Pass, has instead highlighted serious issues regarding transparency and financial management within the city administration.

RELATED: Committee Connected to 57 South Music Festival Surfaces Following Financial Shortfalls

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