[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,75,86],{"_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",6551972,"mediaKeyId","5322168-7c0e7cd1b987241462c392c17866da5d","parentId",5322168,"title","Rockwall resident tells council neighbor property conditions lowered her home value and pose health hazard","audioSeconds",344,"startMs",677000,"endMs",1021000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322168-7c0e7cd1b987241462c392c17866da5d&start=677&end=1021","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322168-7c0e7cd1b987241462c392c17866da5d/thumbnail_677000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6551972/Rockwall-City/Rockwall-County/Texas/Rockwall-resident-tells-council-neighbor-property-conditions-lowered-her-home-value-and-pose-health-hazard","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551972-e0392b0a247120b5f35cd4fde6906719/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172605&Signature=OQeVh6DmI78gHHPAVp1JTF8mDh2ZX6wNemivDLY2Nvi4wHtxXzhlaN85qMDXFPpWpqVAm9CM7DBbzRqL6Y8l2N8FguOTpQF76uY3ZuwacwNEheSkt7EvrERlq7vrxSnSMTfJ79-tswUGC1QBbfs1z7GRWZmw9pVMhL5SaM08AsOmVHEpVmuZmuC26HmkHtWaRstJ3NPKS7oaI158ti7OioBlSebrEwrtzTQP3Ls71Zl2nFnZto381ItTEEQG3af6JNQOqS-x9VDF8Kg~1ubjat~9WRM9ozm1geWjDU2LKTQwQAMa6wV2m7ac6y8atRHZxKzAXoYR2KaMuywb3rV9EA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rockwall","date","2025-07-07T00:00:00Z","article","At the City of Rockwall’s July 7 meeting, resident Nancy Dangston told the council that a neighboring property at 2790 Beacon Hill has been a persistent health and safety concern for years and that the city’s failure to resolve the condition has lowered her property’s market value.

Dangston described multiple problems at the adjacent house, including an inoperable HVAC system since February 2022, persistent trash and a full-size refrigerator in the yard, overgrown vines she identified as poison ivy, dead trees and rodent problems. She said the property has produced odors and mold that have caused her to carry an EpiPen due to allergic reaction.

Dangston said she and neighbors have contacted Code Enforcement “since 02/2019” and that a July 31, 2023 police welfare check documented the home was heavily cluttered. She told the council she believed the condition creates a fire risk if occupants were to use a heater. Dangston said the city’s valuation of her house was reduced by $27,000 because of the nearby property.

Council response and limits of open forum
Mayor Tim McCallum acknowledged the resident’s concerns but noted that open forum is for public comment only and that council members are generally not permitted to discuss non-agendized items during the meeting. A staff member asked whether the house was occupied; Dangston replied it has been intermittently occupied during the past two years and that a family member attempted cleanup for a period.

Nut graf: The city did not take action during open forum; Dangston’s remarks record a longstanding neighbor dispute involving alleged code violations, public-health concerns and an asserted drop in assessed property value. Council members indicated they could not discuss or act on the matter during the open forum portion of the meeting.

What the meeting record shows
Dangston asked for help and described ongoing pest and mold exposure and a police welfare check in mid-2023. City staff did not state during the public meeting whether an active code-enforcement case exists or what remedies are available; no code-enforcement action was announced in the meeting record.

Ending
Dangston ended her comments saying she loves Rockwall and wants to remain but does not feel safe. The council closed public forum without taking action; residents seeking remedy for property conditions should contact the city’s code-enforcement office for case-specific follow-up.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rockwall - City Council - Jul 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Rockwall resident told the council she believes a neighboring property’s long-term neglect has caused a $27,000 devaluation of her home and poses health and safety risks; council said it could not discuss the matter in open forum.","taxTitle","Rockwall City, Rockwall County, Texas","taxId",54915,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551977,"Votes at a glance: Rockwall council approves multiple special-use permits, parking restriction, road work and committee appointments",0,2775000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322168-7c0e7cd1b987241462c392c17866da5d&start=2775&end=2775","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322168-7c0e7cd1b987241462c392c17866da5d/thumbnail_2775000.jpg","/articles/6551977/Rockwall-City/Rockwall-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Rockwall-council-approves-multiple-special-use-permits-parking-restriction-road-work-and-committee-appointments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551977-1e7700080d3813da78045323c0d0fcc5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172605&Signature=GpgAFIDwvHoRSFx6iNOtz4ZEA~Gqnp87o6yQGPdu~jmIUnDVf1uE1xggAKqyhB96HXQ1RZfRBHlClp1fUUrxS3dTe2e5ARcCDqVQK8sZ7TRrVpcLmNtpO-~0skrBQqC6lyA6vJE3hn3ZtfjeUm2Mmpw2vkuRZ8mQlNaQgvC-MEXzbI99XXD75LdOAPIbOW~Vd8OUqJmOPMOJhXOvIqTC~g~lsUK5G47l8EqoFebnBvcWRLr0AnLZjY~Me2HtzJLN0yUUWqCcI4vT9ypLg00PV6x2NJAEOQaQ3bS~zni2M7ZtnSxK0epv6EQ-O8jk7kCHn0kEp~nEwtHYnp7MQf2r8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rockwall City Council on July 7 approved a slate of zoning and administrative items, adopted a parking restriction near Rockwall High School and confirmed committee appointments. Most measures passed unanimously with little extended debate.

Key votes
- Multiple special-use permits and plan amendments (consent agenda): The council read several ordinances amending the Unified Development Code (UDC) to grant specific-use permits for uses including an outdoor commercial amusement/recreation structure exceeding 60 feet (a golf driving range), a wholesale showroom facility on a 1.222-acre parcel, a detached garage on a 0.7702-acre parcel, a house of worship and building exceeding 25,000 square feet on a 7.052-acre parcel, and an amendment to Plan Development District PD-37 affecting approximately 7.1 acres. Penalties for violations were set in the ordinances at amounts not to exceed $2,000 per offense. The ordinances were adopted as read and passed unanimously.

- Zoning: Breezy Hill (Z-2025-23) — The council approved ordinance Z-2025-23 to grant a specific-use permit for two detached covered porches on a 1.653-acre parcel identified as Lot 9, Block A, Breezy Hill, Phase 9. The measure passed unanimously.

- Parking restriction on Kyle Drive — The council approved an ordinance amending municipal code section 26-505 to prohibit parking on the west side of Kyle Drive from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. while Rockwall High School is in session (from Yellowjacket Lane to the I-30 service road). The vote was unanimous. The ordinance establishes a penalty not to exceed $200 per offense. Councilmembers framed the restriction as a compromise to improve sight-lines for buses and pedestrian safety while still allowing parking on the east side to accommodate residents and athletes arriving during dark hours.

- Item 10 (street/asphalt replacements) — Council approved the consent-item funding for street/asphalt replacements after discussion of recent failures on Laughlin Road and the trade-offs between microsurfacing and full-depth replacement. Staff explained microsurfacing is a shorter-term “band-aid” treatment; full-depth replacement or concrete would cost substantially more (staff estimated roughly $800,000–$900,000 for full replacement of the road discussed). The council approved the item unanimously.

- Appointments — Doug Roth was appointed to begin a term on the Planning & Zoning Commission effective Aug. 1. The council also appointed a seven-member comprehensive planning committee (Dale Cherry, Jim White, Johnny Lyons, Grant English, Bob Lacker, John Hohenschult, Leslie Wilson) and named two alternates (Greg Hallan and Kevin Fowler). Votes were unanimous.

Nut graf: The meeting’s consent-item omnibus included multiple land-use approvals and code amendments that were read into the record and adopted with minimal debate. Separate, shorter discussions focused on pedestrian and bus-sight safety on Kyle Drive and the longer-term costs of roadway treatment choices.

Background and discussion highlights
The zoning and SUP items were read at length into the record as required by ordinance-adoption procedures; each ordinance included a description of the parcel and a provision for penalties. Council members did not request substantive changes to the ordinances during the meeting.

On Kyle Drive, councilmembers described outreach with Rockwall High School staff, the principal and residents, and framed the west-side parking ban during school hours as a compromise to preserve parking for Mission Apartments residents and athletes who arrive before dawn. The ordinance will prohibit west-side parking between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. when school is in session, while leaving east-side parking permitted.

On road work, council members and public commenters pointed to recent microsurfacing failures on Laughlin Road. City staff said microsurfacing is a short-term treatment and that full-depth replacement or concrete would be more durable but costlier. Staff provided a map and schedule of capital improvement projects and street/ alley replacements for the fiscal year.

Ending
Most actions at the July 7 meeting were routine land-use approvals and appointments. The council did deliberate on a parking restriction intended to improve school-area safety and discussed trade-offs for road maintenance strategies before approving the related consent-item funding.

","At its July 7 meeting the Rockwall City Council approved multiple zoning special-use permits (SUPs) and plan amendments, adopted a parking restriction near Rockwall High School, authorized funding/approval for a street/asphalt item, and made several appointments to planning and comprehensive-plan advisory bodies.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6551981,"Rockwall council authorizes mayor to sign water MOU with Heath pending dismissal of lawsuit",176,1264000,1440000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322168-7c0e7cd1b987241462c392c17866da5d&start=1264&end=1440","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322168-7c0e7cd1b987241462c392c17866da5d/thumbnail_1264000.jpg","/articles/6551981/Rockwall-City/Rockwall-County/Texas/Rockwall-council-authorizes-mayor-to-sign-water-MOU-with-Heath-pending-dismissal-of-lawsuit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6551981-8c3a7d9803b4460ec2b887fcf3d50f45/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172605&Signature=YVSBrU-CeFaU~vAK0bHf1dFuw67JGdDvXM7mG2zXavKteXJABj8-yCUkaNPQgZp7Qu0kE7wE5JOcrGg-FDW4qwvKvlhzRtkR6ZsJyxHcZh3COTNgkQsy-02IVhz2E6E2bk-Lj~Q9lAm1bKjKzkwJnIlRCNHXFBgaWbReWRVELhi3~umoobdkwdIhKFtw~mpj3fweHcqT9WyuE2j8qvdAcvuoTCmSMtmKXP182yrPHads~gmwSSIQP7rpqsJLUs5SDI5ugRm-X9qJDJvlQAXYH7CgaXx5ylYA~3XrqcekFPl70KYrBgfR7ZIwHredJROqHsVY6CNKjEL3VNP8YmMabQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Rockwall City Council voted unanimously July 7 to allow the mayor to execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the City of Heath and to authorize the city manager to negotiate a water purchase agreement contingent on the dismissal of Heath’s appeal in related litigation.

The motion, made by Mayor Pro Tem Mower and seconded by Councilmember Lewis, directs the mayor to sign the MOU “upon the dismissal of Heath’s appeal of the North Texas Municipal Water District lawsuit” and authorizes staff to negotiate a purchase agreement based on the MOU’s terms. Mayor Tim McCallum said he and Heath’s mayor had worked with staff to resolve the long-running dispute.

The councilmember who moved the measure framed the action as a step toward partnership with Heath. The motion passed unanimously with no recorded opposing votes or abstentions.

Nut graf: The MOU and the follow-up purchase agreement are procedural but consequential steps toward a water-supply partnership between Rockwall and Heath. Both the MOU and a negotiated purchase agreement depend on resolution of ongoing litigation involving the North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD), and the council’s action ties Rockwall’s next steps to the legal outcome.

Council discussion and context
Councilmembers did not debate alternative contract terms in the public meeting; instead they noted staff and elected leaders had negotiated preliminary terms while the litigation was active. Mayor McCallum said resolving the dispute would “close this down,” referencing a lawsuit that stretches back multiple mayoral terms.

The motion as approved authorizes two separate but linked steps: (1) mayoral execution of a memorandum of understanding with Heath once Heath’s pending appeal is dismissed, and (2) the city manager’s negotiation of a water purchase agreement grounded in the MOU’s terms. The council did not publish the MOU text during the meeting and no vote tally by individual councilmember names was recorded on the public audio for this item.

Legal background cited in meeting
Council members referenced the ongoing litigation between the City of Heath, the North Texas Municipal Water District, and the City of Rockwall during earlier executive-session notices; the meeting record also cited Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code as the authority for the executive-session discussions.

What happens next
Because the council tied the mayor’s authority to execute the MOU to dismissal of Heath’s appeal, the practical next step is either (a) dismissal of that appeal, which would allow the mayor to sign the MOU and staff to begin negotiating a purchase agreement, or (b) continued litigation, which would keep the status quo in place. The council did not set additional public deadlines or schedule a follow-up vote in the meeting minutes.

Quotes
“...this lawsuit dates back to Kevin Fowler, who was the mayor two mayors ago now. So I’m glad to have this solved and we’re gonna move forward with a partnership with the City of Heath,” Mayor Tim McCallum said before the unanimous vote.

Ending
The council’s action provides a clear conditional path for Rockwall to pursue a formal water purchase relationship with Heath, but the arrangement depends on the outcome of ongoing litigation involving the North Texas Municipal Water District.

","The Rockwall City Council unanimously authorized the mayor to execute a memorandum of understanding with the City of Heath and directed the city manager to negotiate a water purchase agreement if Heath’s appeal of a lawsuit is dismissed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rockwall resident tells council neighbor property conditions lowered her home value and pose health hazard

Votes at a glance: Rockwall council approves multiple special-use permits, parking restriction, road work and committee appointments

Rockwall council authorizes mayor to sign water MOU with Heath pending dismissal of lawsuit