The Clinton City Council turned down an agreement with USA Concerts and Events LLC. In the new proposal the City would retain operational control of the Tailgate N’ Tallboys music festival in 2026 and beyond.
Voting in favor of the new agreement were Councilmembers Pat Determan, Eartha Davis, and Gregg Obren. Voting against were Councilmembers Bill Schemers, Cody Seeley, Ron Mussmann, and Rhonda Kearns.
The contract proposed decision-making responsibilities given to the City with a budgeted festival cost determined by the City that would not exceed $2 million—reducing the budget by $1 million—and a $75,000 allotment set for the promoter based on ticket sales.
Kearns stated she believed plans were going in the right direction but wanted to forego holding the festival next year to have it rebranded.
Parks and Recreation Director Josh Eggers said, “Stopping and restarting with something brand new, I think, is going to be so hard to do,” he said. “It’s going to be almost impossible.”
