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Residents press Rowlett council on park preservation, staffing turnover and permit disputes
Summary
During citizens input, residents urged the council to preserve Hereford and Pecan Grove parks, raised concerns about high staff turnover and internal controls, described a fatal scooter crash on State Highway 66, and requested enforcement or review of a permit at 6602 Warwick Drive.
A wide array of residents spoke during the citizens‑input portion of Tuesday’s Rowlett City Council meeting, pressing elected leaders on parks, permitting, staffing and public safety.
Several speakers urged the council to preserve Hereford Park and objected to plans that would place municipal buildings or expand development onto parkland. "Nearly 40% of the park would be lost," Rhonda Johnson said, asking for traffic studies and alternatives to using park land for a municipal complex.
Multiple residents raised workforce concerns. "We have serious employee retention problems under our city manager’s leadership," Allison Felderhoff said, urging a third‑party audit of departments to address recruitment and retention problems. Shelby Coleman cited an internal estimate that turnover costs could total roughly $26 million.
Public safety and infrastructure complaints included a family's appeal about the fatal 2023 scooter crash at a 4‑inch roadway displacement near the Home Depot entrance on State Highway 66. Tony Henshaw, reading for Courtney Jolson, said the family believes the 4‑inch joint displacement was a hazard and argued the city had or should have had notice of the defect.
Several speakers also raised concerns about a permit issued for an addition at 6602 Warwick Drive. Denise Eljuhi and Hassan Eljuhi alleged the permit was issued improperly, claimed life‑safety and drainage defects, and urged enforcement or permit revocation. "The city finding of no inverse pact under 77‑908 is factually incorrect and legally invalid," one speaker said; the council noted those complaints will be part of the public record and that staff will follow up.
Dan Hampt described an ACH fraud affecting his utility account that resulted in $3,397.99 in unauthorized withdrawals; he said the city reimbursed him but urged a forensic review of internal controls. Chief of Police or Detective Sosa was later referenced as investigating.
Councilmembers listened but did not act on any of these comments during citizens input; several said they would direct staff to follow up as appropriate and noted items could later appear on future agendas for further consideration.
