City of Eagle Pass Spent Over $10,000 on Accommodations for Just 1 Management LLC
The 57 South Music Festival, aimed at celebrating the cultural vibrancy of Eagle Pass, is under the microscope as revelations about city expenditures surface. Documents show that Eagle Pass spent over $11,460 on accommodations for Just 1 Management LLC and their staff. This, coupled with the city’s hesitance to fully disclose pertinent information, has stirred considerable controversy.
Disclaimer: The City did not provide all the documentation we requested, the information we are collecting and publishing is based on what the city provided through the Texas Public Information Act Request.
Selection of Just 1 Management LLC
The decision to hire Just 1 Management LLC, a company without previous experience in large-scale events, has raised numerous questions. The City of Eagle Pass has not provided the scoring sheets used by three city employees to select Just 1 Management LLC, leading to doubts about the transparency and fairness of the hiring process. What factors led to the choice of an inexperienced company for such a high-profile event?
Gaps in Financial Reporting
Responding to a Texas Public Information Act request, the City of Eagle Pass disclosed the contract with Just 1 Management LLC, signed in March 2024, and an addendum from April 2024. However, they withheld the contracts between Just 1 Management LLC and the festival’s artists. The financial records released were poorly organized and incomplete, complicating efforts to track all related expenditures.
Breakdown of Accommodation Expenses
Among the documents released, three invoices detail the accommodation costs for Just 1 Management LLC and their staff:
- Invoice #000210: Dated March 11, 2024, for $5,550, covering festival-related accommodations.
- Invoice #000217: Dated March 22, 2024, for $2,400, also for festival accommodations.
- Invoice #000218: Dated March 22, 2024, for $2,400, similarly for accommodation expenses.
These invoices total $11,460. These were the only invoices released by the City. The contract called for more accommodations but the three invoices were the only information the city provided. The three invoices are for three separate airbnb locations.
Contractual Details
The contract outlined that the City of Eagle Pass would provide hotel accommodations for the management and staff of Just 1 Management LLC from March 4, 2024, to April 10, 2024. The addendum specified the city’s obligation to accommodate the artists performing at the festival, including 20 rooms for two nights, 15 rooms for one night, and two rooms for five nights.
Calls for Greater Transparency
The handling of the 57 South Music Festival has led to a public outcry for more transparency and accountability from city officials. Residents and local leaders demand the release of all relevant documents and a clear explanation of the decision-making process behind hiring Just 1 Management LLC. What is being hidden, and why?
The 57 South Music Festival, intended to be a hallmark event for Eagle Pass, has instead unveiled serious transparency and financial management issues within the city’s administration. Now with the public demanding clarity and accountability, the extent of the decisions and actions taken remains to be fully understood. The City of Eagle Pass must address these concerns to restore trust and prevent future controversies.
About The Author
