ROWLETT, TX – The Rowlett City Council convened on May 20, 2025, for a pivotal meeting marked by significant discussions regarding community initiatives, financial updates, and the removal of Councilmember Debra Shinder.
Call to Order and Proclamations
The Council recognized several important observances for May, including:
- Jewish American Heritage Month: A proclamation was presented to honor the contributions of Jewish Americans to the nation.
- National Public Works Week: The Council acknowledged the vital work of public works employees who maintain the infrastructure of Rowlett.
- Small Business Appreciation Month: Local businesses were celebrated for their role in fostering community economic growth.
Additionally, the Council presented awards to the winners of the Arts and Humanities Commission’s Annual Young Artist Contest.
Citizen Input and Traffic Concerns
During the citizens’ input segment, several residents voiced their concerns, particularly regarding traffic issues at the intersection of Liberty Grove and Dalrock. Joe McDermott pointed out the challenges posed by development in the area, noting that temporary road closures have led to increased traffic on his street, which dead ends at his house. He reported that drivers are using his driveway to turn around, causing problems for larger vehicles, and because it used to be a regular through street, it leads to larger vehicles and even buses being trapped at that end.
McDermott urged the city to improve signage and update maps to prevent confusion, suggesting clearer indications that access to the Hinton landfill is restricted.
Dan Houpt echoed these concerns, mentioning incidents involving semi-trucks that have rolled over boulders in the area. He called for better signage and requested that the City of Garland also acknowledge the traffic issues stemming from their operations at the landfill.
Alison Houpt shared that she successfully worked with Google Maps to temporarily block the problematic route, but because she is a resident and not a representative of the City of Rowlett, the map issue pops back up and persists. She noted numerous police reports related to unclear access and suggested that the city reach out to mapping services like Waze to ensure they take the city’s recommendations seriously.
Key Agenda Items
Several notable items were discussed during the meeting:
- Tree Removal Permit: The Council considered a request for a Tree Removal Permit for property development. The approval will enable further development while ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
- Zoning Ordinance Amendment: A public hearing was conducted regarding the adoption of an ordinance to amend the Zoning Ordinance, introducing regulations for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This reflects the city’s proactive approach to integrating innovative technologies while ensuring public safety.
Councilmember Removal
The meeting took a serious turn when the Council addressed the matter of Councilmember Debra Shinder’s removal. Following her absence from recent meetings due to health issues after her mayoral campaign, Shinder requested the Council to invoke Section 3.09(2) of the Rowlett City Charter, which allows for removal due to nonattendance. It was the understanding of the council that they would be in violation of the charter if they did not vote to remove the member.
Schupp motioned to remove Shinder and declare a vacancy in place 6, and it was seconded by Bowers. The Council unanimously voted to remove Shinder, acknowledging her previous contributions. “Deb is a friend of mine, but I don’t like doing this at all,” said Councilmember Britton. “I don’t like using the charter in this manner.”
Mayor Winget closed the discussion by saying, “I appreciate all of the work she has put in over the past few years. I actually reached out to our City Attorney earlier today to find out if there was any way that I could abstain from this vote because I really did not want to make a vote here. And she informed me that there was not, which was really frustrating.”
For additional information about the meeting and future agenda items, residents are encouraged to visit the City of Rowlett’s official website. To watch Rowlett City Council online, visit rowletttx.gov.
