Eagle Pass City Council Approves Forensic Internal Audit of 57 South Music Festival Expenses
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council unanimously approved to hire an independent forensic auditor to conduct an internal audit investigation regarding the monies and expenses spent by the City for the 57 South Music Festival at its regular meeting held on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
The City Council’s action arises after unconfirmed reports allege that the City of Eagle Pass has spent millions of dollars on developing, managing, promoting, and organizing the upcoming South 57 Music Festival, scheduled to be held during April 5-7, 2024 at the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagle Pass, Texas.
City Councilwoman Monica J. Cruz made the motion to approve Agenda Item No. 21 of the April 2nd meeting regarding the hiring and conducting of a forensic internal audit concerning the administration of monies and expenses for the South 57 Music Festival, including the bid process, check disbursement, contracts between the City of Eagle Pass and the promoters and music artists as well as contracts between the promoter and the music artists including those music artists being used for the event and those who were cancelled during the process. Councilman Mario E. Garcia seconded the motion, and the City Council unanimously approved Cruz’s motion concerning Agenda Item No. 21.
The Eagle Pass City Council action comes three days before the start of the South 57 Music Festival at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino on April 5, 2024.
Originally, the South 57 Music Festival was scheduled to be held at the City of Eagle Pass public park, Shelby Park, but due to Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s unilateral action to take over exclusive control and possession of Shelby Park on January 10, 2024 for his controversial $10.5 billion taxpayer-funded Operation Lone Star, the City had to scramble and find a new venue for the three days music festival. Fortunately for the City of Eagle Pass, the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino accepted to host and sponsor the fledgling South 57 Music Festival at its location on such short notice instead of cancelling altogether the music festival.
At the April 2, 2024 City Council meeting, Eagle Pass Business Journal Publisher Ricardo E. Calderon addressed City Council during the Citizens Communication part of the agenda to advise them that the local newspaper had requested on January 29, 2024 via a Texas Public Information Act request certain public records from the City concerning the South 57 Music Festival expenses and operations, but the City Administration has not produced the public records requested and is delaying production of the public documents.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal has requested the City of Eagle Pass produce its public records concerning its contract with the promoter hired to manage the South 57 Music Festival, music artists, budget for the music festival, expenses and monies spent on the music festival, advertising and marketing contracts for the music festival, advanced ticket sales, correspondence between the City and Governor Greg Abbott, Texas Military Department, and Texas Department of Public Safety regarding the South 57 Music Festival, and other records.
Eagle Pass citizen and community volunteer Amerika Garcia-Grewal addressed the City Council during Citizens Communication on the urgent need for the City Council to take action on the worsening conditions in the community attributable to Operation Lone Star, but also commented that she concurred the City Administration fails to provide and produce public records requested by the public.
Local music promoter Tony Rodriguez also addressed the City Council through Citizens Communication and advised the Council that the City had advanced monies to the promoters and music artists of the South 57 Music Festival.
The Eagle Pass City Council also approved unanimously Agenda No. 22 calling for an Attorney General Opinion regarding the selection of the event promoters through procurement as well as two other issues related to the South 57 Music Festival which were not specified in Open Session of the meeting. Once again, Councilwoman Cruz made the motion and after being seconded, the City Council approved the agenda item to seek an Attorney General Opinion.
Eagle Pass taxpayers stand to lose potentially millions of dollars if the South 57 Music Festival flops at the box office with low attendance and ticket sales. Taxpayers demand accountability of their public funds from the City Council and City Administration regarding the South 57 Music Festival as well as all City matters.
The Eagle Pass City Council is composed of Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr., Mayor Pro-Tem William “Billy” Davis, and Councilmembers Monica J. Cruz, Elias Diaz, and Mario E. Garcia.
