What a week! I’m finally able to sit down and sift through everything, though I still haven’t had the chance to finish watching the video from Monday night’s city council meeting. While I do have thoughts (not that anyone asked) about the DETCOG building that’s up for sale, that’ll have to wait for another post later today.

During the city council meeting on Monday, when item #14 came up, Councilwoman Angel McCroskey made a motion to postpone releasing the attorney’s opinion. She proposed delaying the release “until the council could meet in executive session to discuss the communication with our city attorney, Billy Morian, and to implement any recommendations that Mr. Garza had made.” She explained, “This is not just a simple memorandum; this is an opinion from an attorney that we hired.” She added, “I feel we need a separate meeting with executive session to be advised by our city attorney (Mr. Morian) and to vote for appointments and possible removal of board members.”

Councilwoman McCroskey also revealed that after receiving the opinion, she spoke with Mr. Morian and requested an immediate meeting to discuss it, but no such meeting was called. During the council meeting, after Ms. McCroskey brought this up, the mayor directly asked Mr. Morian if he was okay with everything. It was at that moment that Mr. Morian stated his opinion, emphasizing that “the council does need to convene in a closed group session and discuss what actions need to be taken.” This exchange suggests that Mr. Morian’s stance might not have been voiced publicly if Ms. McCroskey hadn’t raised the issue.

Ms. McCroskey also made it clear she was eager to focus on getting JEDCO back on track once these important details were resolved, underscoring the need to move quickly and thoughtfully on this matter.

Yesterday, a Special Called Meeting was announced for Monday, April 21, at 3:30 p.m.

What’s more interesting is that, while the attorney’s opinion hasn’t yet been released (and is privileged for now), it seems some folks may already have an idea of what it contains — or they simply don’t care.

JEDCO has posted an agenda on their website for a meeting scheduled for April 22, including updates on “Gated Rentals” and “Wade Nguyen’s Son Asian Bistro proposal.”

Gated Rentals — while it’s unclear whether JEDCO ever directly addressed questions about this company, there was public interest — and concern — expressed on Facebook. Some residents didn’t just question how the project aligned with community needs; they raised concerns about the company itself, its structure, and its ability to deliver on its promises.

Despite these concerns, JEDCO proceeded with offering $365,000 in taxpayer-funded incentives to support infrastructure development for the project. Considering the significant financial commitment, this raises serious questions: What steps did JEDCO take to vet Gated Rentals?

In a small town like Jasper, where information travels quickly, it’s hard to believe community concerns went unnoticed. When a project raises red flags among residents, it’s critical for local organizations to take those concerns seriously. Without a transparent and thorough evaluation process, it’s difficult to trust that taxpayer money is being invested wisely.

The inclusion of Wade Nguyen’s proposal on JEDCO’s agenda is also worth noting. In an email obtained through a public records request, councilmember Lequin Hilderbrand, who also serves on the JEDCO board, relayed Nguyen’s request for an urgent meeting. Nguyen reportedly expressed a preference for meeting privately with Hilderbrand and the city manager, rather than involving others.

This raises serious concerns about transparency and governance. As both an elected official and a JEDCO board member, Mr. Hilderbrand’s dual role warrants scrutiny. While he may have been accommodating Nguyen’s request, the nature of the correspondence and the suggestion of a private meeting give the impression of underhanded dealings that bypass public accountability.

What’s more troubling is that these actions appear to reflect “business as usual” for Mr. Hilderbrand, even as the legality of JEDCO itself is under question. This raises broader concerns about whether the organization’s operations are being conducted in good faith or if decisions are being made without regard for the ongoing scrutiny and the community’s trust.

Monday’s Special Called Meeting will address reappointment and removal of JEDCO board members. This raises the question: Are we witnessing proactive governance, or a last-ditch attempt to shore up the “good ole boys” network before changes take effect?

As Jasper navigates these pressing challenges, transparency and accountability must remain at the forefront.

The community deserves clear answers about how decisions are made and who stands to benefit — whether it’s Gated Rentals, Wade Nguyen, or the JEDCO board itself. This isn’t just about individual projects or meetings; it’s about ensuring that Jasper’s future reflects the values and needs of its residents.

See comments for details.