[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6039012,"mediaKeyId","3802578-f815e354c96f1338e72816e95035e0bf","parentId",3802578,"title","Audit finds material weaknesses in Eagle Pass finances; council accepts audit and asks staff for corrective plan","audioSeconds",2542,"startMs",2798000,"endMs",5340000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3802578-f815e354c96f1338e72816e95035e0bf&start=2798&end=5340","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3802578-f815e354c96f1338e72816e95035e0bf/thumbnail_2798000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6039012/Eagle-Pass/Maverick-County/Texas/Audit-finds-material-weaknesses-in-Eagle-Pass-finances-council-accepts-audit-and-asks-staff-for-corrective-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039012-04189ca2536d3a066bd7326980fe6ff2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164571&Signature=mqpOd3HiP20YcKvKw-tVbwkePl2VMIqB83W5-taUN8C8erBmj7w0q5tJQvhwRy3tW4tUkwTuQYLRpr2p7NfbKW1cbc9HfpK7sbyra4nvXwoYVLpESKThZxjsTDm-PslKkZr5oiTp-KTx1Y91z2FCc2crvbbuyEMgHE0GydhSqTGu7uLgh01QXRnu8UQa5fU7Kj~iDOGp-SbT0bpatDds87trhttz5So2UGk6dFSYD4P79GJHWso10E-jQ6p05wX~QIu1XhxkoAkET7JumjRh42Bmdtl~OXDVRz~dSmwfuvLa29~Q-Ae9zjZ88t01L8QgSk8Mfy~d1dETp8-2qxYj~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Eagle Pass Texas","date","2025-03-05T17:49:51Z","article","The City of Eagle Pass received a clean (unmodified) opinion on its audited financial statements for the year ended Sept. 30, 2023, but auditors identified multiple material weaknesses and control deficiencies that the council heard about at its March 4, 2025 meeting.

Milo Martinez of Martinez Rosario & Company LLP told the council the financial statements fairly present the city’s financial position, but the audit uncovered nine material weaknesses in internal controls, delayed bank reconciliations, limitations in the accounting software (unsupported modules), misposted transactions that required numerous audit adjustments, and insufficient monitoring of the city’s self-insured employee health plan. \"The good thing is you have an unmodified or a clean opinion,\" Martinez said, but he also reported that auditors required many audit adjustments to reach that result.

Auditors flagged the self-insurance program as a major control point: the city moved to a self-funded health plan in October 2020 and staff and auditors said the program needs a formal, regular analysis and closer monitoring of incurred-but-not-reported claims. Martinez said the city recorded a significant liability adjustment of roughly $1.5–$1.6 million during the audit review and recommended monthly or quarterly monitoring, periodic reporting to council and a formal plan to analyze program performance.

Other findings included construction-in-progress accounting that had not been updated timely for multiple bond-financed projects, lack of timely bank reconciliations (auditors prefer reconciling within 30 days), deficiencies in accounts-payable controls and user-security settings in the accounting system, and missing documentation for compliance with the Texas Public Funds Investment Act (quarterly reports and training documentation).

City staff committed to corrective steps. \"We're gonna devise a plan to get all these findings corrected as soon as possible,\" said Felix (city staff), who told council staff would prepare a corrective action plan. Finance leadership and the city manager said they will present an action plan for each finding and implement a new financial-management software expected to address several system limitations.

Council accepted and approved the audit as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Davis moved to accept the audit and Councilman Garcia seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Ending: Auditors offered to support additional follow-up work and recommended routine monthly closings, stronger reconciliations and formalized monitoring of the self-insurance program; staff said it will return with a corrective-action plan and an updated timeline to address the auditor’s recommendations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting March 4, 2025. City Hall Council Chambers","oneSentenceSummary","An independent audit of the City of Eagle Pass’ fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2023 produced a clean opinion on the city’s financial statements but identified multiple material weaknesses in internal controls and accounting procedures.","taxTitle","Eagle Pass, Maverick County, Texas","taxId",69559,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6039017,"Eagle Pass council updates building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-fee schedules; all measures approved unanimously",649,369000,1018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3802578-f815e354c96f1338e72816e95035e0bf&start=369&end=1018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3802578-f815e354c96f1338e72816e95035e0bf/thumbnail_369000.jpg","/articles/6039017/Eagle-Pass/Maverick-County/Texas/Eagle-Pass-council-updates-building-mechanical-electrical-plumbing-and-fire-fee-schedules-all-measures-approved-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039017-0b6983623bdab3fea952df430936ab15/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164571&Signature=cRrH5eZOSZoDr9ohBK03kQwydvl7s8fa-utI3mVr0VKuWcjAIu7S7I-1aYqPZwsmbOtxaOe-djw7p9fbbWIS8W5fS2AWGIeYJmz7D4ZJ33n6itt8hSsWbvYN5AwEjsOorkH6pxDWlI-p38n3jS1ZwpfkAmTYOqsbPVdUeIZhfhd3DddWRA-FI~ijqKBp415Kwp00rYHqgRfP-257VDdpmaYzu4rt99kESJAgRl9kOGN1nplj-~q-KTTQfyIj6G0hxp3XFi8nBfsgFKDxEM63iv3wW1MytOMfotW-gu0z2BnCFlhqNpHZYxA-MX6OOforW02lB1bk-cArD6TgFlYwqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Eagle Pass City Council unanimously approved a package of fee and ordinance updates on March 4, 2025, changing building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-inspection fee schedules and adopting related administrative language.

The measures — presented by city staff — revise fee tables and formats to standardize valuations, adopt updated plan-review fees, change residential valuation methodology, and establish or raise several base permit and reinspection fees. Council also approved a new fire department fee schedule and mitigation billing framework intended to recover costs for large incidents.

City staff said the changes are intended to make fees more transparent, reflect the International Code Council valuation tables for construction valuation, and better cover departmental costs after long periods without updates. \"The base permit fee ... we're basically just making a flat 30,\" city staff member Placido Madera said while describing formatting and rate changes. He also told council the city is two code cycles behind and that staff plans to recommend adoption of the 2024 International Codes in a future action.

Votes at a glance
- Ordinance amending Chapter 8, Article 2, Section 8-18 (building permit fees): approved (motion by Mayor Pro Tem Davis; second Councilman Diaz; vote: unanimous).
- Ordinance amending Chapter 8, Article 9, Section 8-53 and Chapter 8, Article 2, Section 8-16 (mechanical permit fees): approved (motion by Councilman Diaz; second Councilman Garcia; vote: unanimous).
- Ordinance amending Chapter 12, Article 5, Section 12-116 (electrical permit and inspection fees): approved (motion by Councilman Garcia; second Mayor Pro Tem Davis; vote: unanimous). The ordinance included an amendment to add a $100 solar permit fee.
- Ordinance amending Chapter 13, Sections 13-14 and 13-15 (fire services fee schedule and mitigation fees): approved with stipulation (motion by Mayor Pro Tem Davis; second Councilman Garcia; vote: unanimous).
- Ordinance amending Chapter 21, Article 1 (plumbing permit and inspection fees) and adding Section 21-4 (new plumbing items): approved (motion by Councilman Diaz; second Councilman Garcia; vote: unanimous).

Council discussion focused on fairness and operational impacts: members raised concerns about reinspections and inspector consistency; staff told council that two inspectors had recently resigned and that training and consistency measures were underway. Madera said comparisons to neighboring cities (Del Rio, Laredo, McAllen) showed Eagle Pass remains generally in the same range even after some increases.

The ordinances include standard severability and publication language and declare effective dates in their texts. Council approved the consent agenda (items 1–11) at the start of the meeting before taking up the fee ordinances.

Ending: Staff said they would return with additional related items — including a future recommendation to adopt updated International Codes and a potential irrigation-permit proposal — and continue working on inspector training and permit-process checklists.","The Eagle Pass City Council approved a package of ordinances updating permit and inspection fees across several departments and adopted a fire-fee schedule that includes mitigation billing policy. Council approved each item unanimously during its March 4, 2025 meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6039002,"Eagle Pass resident asks council to create accessibility advisory council for events",195,123000,318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3802578-f815e354c96f1338e72816e95035e0bf&start=123&end=318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3802578-f815e354c96f1338e72816e95035e0bf/thumbnail_123000.jpg","/articles/6039002/Eagle-Pass/Maverick-County/Texas/Eagle-Pass-resident-asks-council-to-create-accessibility-advisory-council-for-events","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039002-41b776b6b277865bcd3439948b958d5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164571&Signature=MokiTe0ZxVJWc3Fw4NykhTjiqR7-dXRRn0ZPDfZ58NOon2O8GmfdK0OIRRZ61rB3YRLU4Dud4UTIr8OuuEdDD0mUCHrcGdaICFl8dutJ3V0dE6xW3JDn4u2K-1rMHFk1WY5NumwmSiicI0wXxSGOMKi8m~-oSPhiPi3cVg35vI4XbSJY3yzQazUcsbSvcO2Kothwm~bGOU7UxRWQQYXj~VnypuqruRHch3NuGkThBOqix4gXoWqDstiFYnE11hwYjv9BmD8VCx68E0cRek-TzPlUGfmW1Rg5C0f3bhavF85qAKoHtY3~rdG5rKqOG3s8gtzWutQXpRFLBv6x0cDkqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the citizens communications portion of the City Council meeting on March 4, 2025, Daniel Regalado, who identified himself as a navigator with STAC (South Texas Advocacy Center), urged the city to create an \"Events for Everyone\" advisory council to improve accessibility at local events and public buildings.

Regalado described the project as \"aim[s] to make the community here in Eagle Pass more accessible and inclusive for individuals with disabilities,\" and asked council to help establish an advisory council and resource guide for event planners. He gave examples of accommodations he wants the city to encourage, such as ramps, sensory-friendly spaces, and clear communications, and said he would pursue training and advocacy to raise awareness.

The mayor said the city would accept petitions and take the request seriously. Council members and staff offered to take copies of the materials and receive contact details for follow-up.

Ending: Staff indicated they will consider Mr. Regalado’s petition and follow up; no formal action was taken during the meeting, and the request will be routed to the appropriate department for consideration.","Daniel Regalado, a navigator with South Texas Advocacy Center, urged the City of Eagle Pass to establish an advisory council to make public events more accessible for people with disabilities.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6039007,"Eagle Pass adopts fire-fee schedule and targets insurance billing for large incidents; implementation delayed pending policy and software",636,1558000,2194000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3802578-f815e354c96f1338e72816e95035e0bf&start=1558&end=2194","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3802578-f815e354c96f1338e72816e95035e0bf/thumbnail_1558000.jpg","/articles/6039007/Eagle-Pass/Maverick-County/Texas/Eagle-Pass-adopts-fire-fee-schedule-and-targets-insurance-billing-for-large-incidents-implementation-delayed-pending-policy-and-software","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6039007-edea6b59f6d49713cd076ad7323cfe1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771164571&Signature=DG7acznpuwOk1hF0cxbla4USHO3H2bqwjJOGtPGl6Tm6UMd3o2Ms-Oplrv1fO5jfEC0~vgW~-a5jVh~rAb~SgXcKKKtgVDiwE2ejuoyOH5siGsUdEtG-aLg7OpqUev33HgdIL26ADD4uafJ3MphaMRii0U0VlG23kdOhFav-St-6oQl-VUfUdCDxDZm3AHTIhIUctxTgQ4-ekV6HRTSn7u3p3AwiYxbIYC45jZtSlENLIs8Y9~8MvH13G-8PlbrRMzlcBLSQ~V66l51kfQ5YaZW7cvlYQsAGTXZemNa9faHGIPl4JKWIwhKvEIpwtlBlrQSfnldG9yjs6XqxOMVOMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Eagle Pass adopted a new fire department fee schedule and mitigation rates on March 4, 2025, and approved directing billings primarily to responsible insurers for major incidents, but implementation will be postponed until the city has policy training and billing software in place.

Fire Department leadership presented the schedule and said billing would be used selectively for large incidents — for example, multivehicle or tractor-trailer fires that require multiple apparatus and take several hours to resolve. \"The intent on fire response billing such as building fires will be directed at properties located outside the city limits, mostly incidents which are 3 hours or more that require several assets,\" the fire chief said. The chief told council that the department is working with a billing company, Emergicon, which represents about 200 departments; the vendor would handle claims filing and follow-up and is expected to charge a contingency fee of about 15% of amounts collected.

Chief’s presentation also described a table of fire-inspection and permit fees (initial inspections, reinspections and square-foot–based fees for compliance inspections). Staff and council emphasized that the proposal would focus on insured parties and insurance reimbursement, and the city does not intend to pursue uninsured residents for mitigation billing. \"We're not gonna charge people that don't have any insurance,\" the chief said.

Council approved the ordinance establishing the fire-fee schedule and mitigation rates with a stipulation (motion by Mayor Pro Tem Davis; second Councilman Garcia; unanimous vote). Staff and the city attorney said the ordinance would be on paper but that actual billing would not commence until training, policy adoption and software implementation are complete. The chief said EmergiCon will prepare claims and that the vendor expects to take a fee (disclosed by the chief as approximately 15% of what is collected).

Ending: The city will prepare implementation steps and training, and the chief and staff will return to council with details of the contract with the billing vendor and an operational policy that limits billing to appropriate incidents.","Council approved a fire department fee schedule and mitigation billing policy that will target insurance companies for large incidents; billing will not begin until policy training and software implementation are complete and the city contracts with a billing vendor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Audit finds material weaknesses in Eagle Pass finances; council accepts audit and asks staff for corrective plan

Eagle Pass council updates building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fire-fee schedules; all measures approved unanimously

Eagle Pass resident asks council to create accessibility advisory council for events

Eagle Pass adopts fire-fee schedule and targets insurance billing for large incidents; implementation delayed pending policy and software