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Residents tell Rockwall council they were surprised by trash rate change
Summary
Three residents criticized recent changes to Rockwall's trash service during the Jan. 5 open forum, saying collections were reduced and fees sharply increased without adequate notice; council members said they hear the concerns but could not respond during open forum.
Three Rockwall residents used the council's open forum on Jan. 5 to press elected officials for answers after recent changes to the city's trash service.
"That's a 90% increase for half the service," said Anthony Morris, who said his monthly charge rose from $23 to $43 after the city moved to a different container and once‑a‑week pickup. Morris said he received no prior notice of the change and asked the council for an explanation and a commitment that such increases would be communicated in advance.
Kevin Folsom and Lisa Bame echoed complaints about lakeshore trash and the timing of the service change. Folsom described collecting trash from the lakeshore greenbelt and urged the city to provide access so volunteers could clean the area. Bame said the change was "thrown on us" between Dec. 1 and Jan. 1 and called for better communication and representation.
Mayor (speaker 1) thanked the speakers and said several council members had opposed the trash contract previously and were aware of the concerns, but he cautioned the council could not deliberate during the open forum under the Texas Open Meetings Act.
No formal action was taken at the meeting on Jan. 5; the mayor said the council is "working hard to figure out" the situation and acknowledged frustration among residents.
The council did not provide an on‑the‑record explanation during the open forum. Residents asked for a later, formal response explaining how the change occurred and assurances about future notice.
