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Resident presses Bandera council on garbage 'sludge' fee and apparent markup in contract with hauler
Summary
A resident told the council the city is applying a markup to sludge‑removal charges and municipal pickup locations despite language in the Republic contract indicating some municipal locations are serviced at no cost to the city. She said her bill for two totes was $38.76 instead of the $29.01 base rate and urged council to reexamine billing.
Tammy Morrow told the City of Bandera council she had questioned the municipal garbage rate and a related sludge fee and said the billing appeared deceptive. "The garbage rate is deceptive and so was the explanation," Morrow said. She said the city negotiates a contract with Republic for service and that the city treasurer’s list of municipal pickup locations appeared to show some locations are serviced at no cost to the city under the contract.
Morrow said her household’s expected base charge for two totes should have been $29.01, but her bill was $38.76 — about a 34% markup — and that single‑tote bills had increased by about 39%. She said some residents do not subscribe to household garbage yet still pay sludge fees via the city calculation and urged the council to reexamine the basis for the sludge billing. She said she might take the issue to the Public Utility Commission or the Attorney General if the council would not address it.
City council members acknowledged the concern and said staff would review contract language and billing practices. The transcript records the complaint and the council directed staff to follow up; no formal motion addressing the contract or fees was made during the meeting.
Clarifying detail: Morrow cited a base rate of $29.01 for two totes and a charged amount of $38.76 (approx. 34% higher); she also said single‑tote increases were approximately 39%.
