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Residents decry trash rate increase and urge city action on lakeshore cleanup
Summary
Residents used the open forum to press the Rockwall City Council for answers after a trash-service change that a resident said doubled his bill, and to call for clearer notice and access for lakeshore cleanups. Council acknowledged the concerns but offered no formal relief during the meeting.
Several residents raised sharply worded concerns in Rockwall City’s Jan. 5 open forum about recent changes to trash service and local lakeshore maintenance.
Anthony Morris, who identified himself as living on Glen Avenue, told the council he paid $23 a month for a level of trash service in 2025 but that his service changed in 2026 so he had to rent additional cans and now pays $43 a month. “That’s a 90% increase for half the service,” Morris said, and asked for an explanation and a commitment that residents would be notified before future utility-rate changes.
Lisa Bame of Plumber Avenue said the change was imposed around Dec. 1–Jan. 1 while many residents were on holiday and urged the council to better represent and notify citizens when service and billing changes occur.
Kevin Folsom raised a separate but related concern about lakeshore maintenance, describing the lakeshore greenbelt as full of trash and overgrowth and asking whether the public can be alerted to agenda items or receive better access for volunteer cleanups. Folsom cited the municipal code provisions he said require property owners to control weeds and brush within 150 feet of property lines and urged modest trail access to allow cleanup efforts.
Mayor (identified in the transcript as speaker 2) said council members cannot deliberate during the open forum but acknowledged that the council had discussed communication improvements related to the trash contract and that some members had opposed the contract when it passed in April 2025. The mayor said the city attorney and staff are aware of the complaints and that the council is working to address the situation, but he did not announce any immediate policy changes at the meeting.
Next steps: The council did not take formal action during the open forum. Residents requested further explanation and formal follow-up, and the council indicated staff and legal counsel are reviewing the concerns.
