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Flower Mound council approves Republic Services contract amendment with new green‑waste pilot and rate adjustments
Summary
On May 4 the Flower Mound Town Council approved a second‑reading ordinance amending its solid‑waste agreement with Republic Services. The amendment institutes a twice‑annual green‑waste collection pilot, raises several rate components and moves the annual escalator to 5% beginning Oct. 1, 2027.
The Flower Mound Town Council on May 4 approved an amendment to the town’s solid‑waste franchise with Republic Services that includes a twice‑annual green‑waste collection pilot and several rate changes aimed at stabilizing future costs.
Michael Grama, the town’s customer relations manager, told council the existing contract (in effect since 2016) uses a base rate that has historically grown at 2.6% annually. The amendment proposes updating base and line‑item charges to reflect increased operating costs and to add a green‑waste program that would run one month each in spring and fall.
Jerry Harwell, a Republic Services representative, told the council the company has absorbed substantial cost increases in recent years—landfill fees, fuel and the ongoing replacement of aging carts—and that moving to the proposed structure avoids repeated large adjustments later. “Our costs have increased substantially,” Harwell said. “We’re trying to even the playing field so we don’t have to do that again.”
Under the amendment described to council: the current presented base rate of $14.72 would be adjusted (the presentation listed a proposed base and a resident‑facing line‑item of about $20.40 after franchise and billing fees), the senior discount would increase from $1.50 to $2.00, Republic’s annual capital contribution to the town’s customer‑relations work would rise from just under $101,000 to just under $106,000 (with a 5% escalator), and the annual contract escalator would move from 2.6% to 5% beginning Oct. 1, 2027. Republic also proposed updated sludge transportation and disposal rates.
Council members pressed for specifics about the size of the near‑term increase and for alternatives to reduce cost pressure. One council member noted the amendment represents a one‑time jump in some components (about a 27% increase in an example line item) but said the board appreciated the stability a predictable escalator provides for residents and businesses. Several council members also welcomed the green‑waste pilot as a way to divert yard waste from the landfill.
Anne Martin moved to approve the ordinance on second reading amending Ordinance 26‑16; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous roll call.
The ordinance text (Ordinance 26‑16, as amended) will be posted with the town’s official minutes and utility billing materials will be updated before the first bill reflecting the change. Town staff and Republic Services indicated they will run outreach and education (video, social posts, newsletter notices) before changes take effect and before the first green‑waste collection windows.
What’s next: the amendment passed on second reading; staff will finalize billing language and launch outreach ahead of the new service schedule and the index change set for Oct. 1, 2027.
