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Residents tell Rowlett council proposed switch to 2-cubic-yard bulk limit would not cover leaf and storm debris
Summary
Two residents told the Rowlett City Council during public comment that a proposed change to once-weekly pickup with a 2-cubic-yard monthly limit would be inadequate for homes with large, mature trees and could impose unfair costs.
Two residents during the Rowlett City Council citizen-input period on May 5 urged council members to reconsider a proposed change to bulky-waste pickup limits, saying a 2-cubic-yard cap per pickup would not cover the seasonal volume from large, mature trees and storm debris.
Pat Karakostas, a Rowlett resident, said she attended the April 8 work session and left “blood boiling” because she felt concerns were postponed. Karakostas told the council the company Republic previously proposed returning with options and that on May 6 the council would see a proposal to return to once-weekly pickup while reducing the per-pickup limit from 8 cubic yards to 2 cubic yards.
“The big reason that 2 cubic yards does not address the issue is because of those trees,” Karakostas said, describing yards on her street as having 20 to 40 mature trees and estimating that a single yard can produce “30 to 60 bags of leaves” during seasonal leaf drop. She said the physical layout of her street prevents blowing leaves into the street or relying on neighbors to collect them.
Tim Karakostas, also a Rowlett resident speaking after Pat, said multiple homes on their block currently exceed a 2-cubic-yard limit and that storm-damaged limbs would create even larger volumes. “If I were to go out front and just do a little bit of trimming on my trees … I’d easily see 2 cubic yards,” he said, adding that storage space for bagged debris is limited for many residents.
Residents asked council to consider seasonal exceptions or lower additional-pickup fees; Pat Karakostas described the proposed $12-per-cubic-yard additional-pickup fee as “exorbitant.” Both speakers requested council consider options for the spring leafing period and late fall leaf drop rather than a strict 2-cubic-yard cap year-round.
City staff and council did not take action during the public-comment period; the speakers identified the topic as a discussion item on the council’s May 6 agenda. The council’s work session did not include a formal vote on the solid-waste contract or pickup limits during the May 5 meeting.
Ending: Public comments will accompany council consideration when the agenda item appears; no formal council action was taken during the May 5 work session.
