[{"_1":2,"_121":-5,"_122":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6747135,"mediaKeyId","5489732-e172cb68cccea1d659648296b273b68b","parentId",5489732,"title","Balch Springs amends Frontier Waste contract to zone bulk pickups, cap bulk at 8 yards and strengthen apartment enforcement","audioSeconds",1100,"startMs",5088000,"endMs",6188000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489732-e172cb68cccea1d659648296b273b68b&start=5088&end=6188","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489732-e172cb68cccea1d659648296b273b68b/thumbnail_5088000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6747135/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Balch-Springs-amends-Frontier-Waste-contract-to-zone-bulk-pickups-cap-bulk-at-8-yards-and-strengthen-apartment-enforcement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747135-30ad83f11b7c165641c95aa911c17730/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500931&Signature=X~Le7vThYzb4sFCc8JfanePSyZGuTk-TtiyIHZB3ErMCer3xNqYMzzsU0kUhKapQDewKvAOo7QLAOF~ysTbPXJCyUJBHx6hh8TuCrqbmGtBMWJ7mB0BZNpaRngDPvQAeXueevxH6QmtL2gyIRYjQN7-agXfrVejhh2QeS0McXcyseypGO7AgMxukFCiTEuwGzANwsK7q1XRqGBQRxcJYJbsCwdzAGqjeMRgTUaB~OzKRthmyUCKJVgwZielb80xexCXmjF~WQPpOhjyFyKy21PRCyLEsF2mXMwn88VKbdgfZ1wd6siNWr0a8iM95~YkKyMdCAKAoBxPHPlOzIVyYlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Balch Springs","date","2025-07-28T00:00:00Z","article","The Balch Springs City Council on July 28 approved an amendment to the city’s trash service contract with Frontier Waste covering fiscal years 2025–2028. The amendment, presented by Greg, Frontier’s area vice president, changes collection operations to reduce recurring bulk accumulation and to hold property owners more accountable for overloaded enclosures.

Key elements of the amendment presented and approved by council include:

- Zoned monthly bulk collection: the city will be split into four bulk zones; each zone will receive bulk pickup on one designated week per month instead of the city‑wide weekly bulk schedule. Frontier said the zone map and a web lookup tool will let residents confirm their bulk week.

- Bulk cap of 8 cubic yards: staff and Frontier proposed reducing the weekly bulk allowance to 8 yards and photographing before/after conditions; items exceeding the cap would be noted for enforcement.

- Apartment/enclosure enforcement: Frontier will document overloaded containers with photos and the contractor may assess an overage charge (presentation cited a $50 example) to encourage proper service levels or contracted increases by property managers.

- Recycling contamination and second cart option: to reduce contamination fines at the recycling facility, Frontier proposed offering a second cart as a trash cart for residents who do not want to recycle, and an app with guidance on what is and is not recyclable.

- No rate increase this contract year: Frontier told council it was not requesting a customer rate increase this year and offered to invest in equipment, including automated trucks (Greg cited a typical automated truck cost near $493,000) to improve service and reduce unsafe manual handling.

Council discussion touched on parked bins blocking streets, the needs of elderly residents who may have difficulty placing carts, and apartment move‑out volumes that can temporarily increase debris. Multiple council members supported the amendment as a means to improve cleanliness and accountability. The recorded vote was unanimous in favor.

The motion to amend the contract passed on a unanimous roll call. Staff will work with Frontier on zone maps, public notification, and coordination with code enforcement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Balch Springs - City Council","oneSentenceSummary","The Balch Springs City Council approved on July 28 an amendment to its trash contract with Frontier Waste to move bulk collection to zoned monthly pickups, limit bulk to 8 cubic yards, and impose stronger enforcement for overloaded apartment enclosures.","taxTitle","Balch Springs, Dallas County, Texas","taxId",69448,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6747140,"Balch Springs updates residents on street, signal and utility projects; $1.15M in general‑fund street work largely spent",348,937000,1285000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489732-e172cb68cccea1d659648296b273b68b&start=937&end=1285","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489732-e172cb68cccea1d659648296b273b68b/thumbnail_937000.jpg","/articles/6747140/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Balch-Springs-updates-residents-on-street-signal-and-utility-projects-115M-in-generalfund-street-work-largely-spent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747140-aad2fad0715dc83207160a65d50df446/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500931&Signature=fLMl25c3M~YCoIo1QnvWXc6lQFNwhPdDTb2uKGBF~2qsdEvVN~P0n-I1hHb9mM7PiKW5yQ0ZIQ-HVotXocfTnmuhS9XKsAdxbW66HZfP7uauF7UlJGwOhHMEVN3p4oS~eCljJNQ7Dcn55EEufi55JLZJLZr9pmKfVYzDKTClHtuITr0SX7hSvVcKxx-EcLA2lzmJFwFYGQ3K6vHwobiApot9SKTrdUg9pj3jwGOYEsDeSxIWBZfus4q-bLfsq3xozbNGUq3YGGtDlqYjFxR-jf20jA30l2rPDrfbSj249zTINr0z4GY5nIQk4VnXNBCzqT8mf2B2kbVhwy6RQMT~1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff updated the council July 28 on street maintenance and utility projects completed and in progress.

Public works staff said the city allocated roughly $1,150,000 from the general fund for street maintenance and related repairs this year and that about $121,840 remained in that account after recent work. Staff showed before‑and‑after photos of concrete and asphalt repairs at multiple addresses and said crews prioritized the worst areas first. The packet presented to council includes detailed purchase orders and project listings.

Staff also reported a July 23 bid opening for a $3,000,000 street maintenance contract; the bid results were lower than the engineering estimate and staff said construction is slated to start in September 2025 and that the award will be presented to council at its August meeting on 08/25/2025. Council previously identified two bond projects as priorities for capital funding: Beltline Spring Oaks from Pioneer to Beltline (presented at about $4.8 million) and Shepherd Lane from Elam to the recreation center (presented at about $7.6 million). The CDBG‑funded Green Valley Street project is roughly 80% complete and staff anticipated contractor work finishing near Sept. 1.

Traffic signal improvements funded through HSIP were described as active or bid: BeltLine/Canyon Ridge (signal under construction), Pioneer/Mackenzie (designed and bid out), Hickory Tree (designed and bid) and Shepherd/Elam (conduit and pedestals in place; awaiting pole work). Staff said they are coordinating with consultants Nichols & Jackson and county and utility partners including Encore to finish pole replacements and corner‑clip agreements.

On utilities, staff noted an Echo Lake sewer force main repair completed in‑house that would have cost an estimated $30,000 to contract out, a Haze Lane manhole and an ongoing I‑20 retention pond cleanup. The city recently purchased a stormwater CCTV camera to televise pipes and reduce outside contractor costs, staff said.

No council action was required for the presentation; staff said project lists and photos will be posted on the city website for public review.","City staff told the Balch Springs City Council on July 28 that about $1.15 million in general‑fund street repairs are nearly complete and that several major projects and traffic‑signal upgrades are moving into construction in the fall.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6747130,"City inspectors report common code violations at apartment complexes; 2,269 units inspected so far",51,6214000,6265000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489732-e172cb68cccea1d659648296b273b68b&start=6214&end=6265","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489732-e172cb68cccea1d659648296b273b68b/thumbnail_6214000.jpg","/articles/6747130/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/City-inspectors-report-common-code-violations-at-apartment-complexes-2269-units-inspected-so-far","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747130-c17389693ee62889654399181eb9b73b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500931&Signature=MX0tgn~eD1Q51wv~DNcTLf8Hokmc~Q3b7mrhhydCZJyLIh5YxsGWWu64KfzOraMfUnMiaP42NWnKzarmWYl~ueDDX2hXx00y2QZy6bR8vDhYR78j-WeVTVqbbZkIEka7rjDzSch5Uny5c49jS2MtJSCmynExj67L4sAf6BP4A52hMNnsg4pVCXvSE1QMroUJXI02I5g62~aOLRt~0kuzq8K-lDoIkNyuSHYH4KGC4a0bU2WxNgfaywZMfldjOwGX4QrFMnU-x5hlazVA8CLqSoOoRB69fax3sbyEZjekfx93glH~lnxKxLuOvlIG9k104ZDFkoZoGy7NXi-rL0zVEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff updated the council July 28 on the city’s multifamily inspection program and common code violations found during unit inspections.

The program, adopted by ordinance in 2023, covers rental residential properties. Staff told council there are 19 apartment complexes within city limits, totaling a little over 3,000 units. Since the program began, inspectors have completed initial inspections at 14 complexes and 2,269 units; five complexes with about 799 units remain to be inspected. Reinspections typically occur within three months of an initial inspection.

Inspectors described frequent violations: blocked means of egress in bedrooms (for example, furniture or bunk beds obstructing windows), pest infestations and evidence of rodents and roaches, electrical issues (broken outlet covers, improper grounding and missing GFCI protection), plumbing defects (leaks, missing traps), inoperable or removed smoke detectors and other interior condition defects. Staff noted elevator outages at some complexes and said the city is relying on an interpretation of “appurtenance” in the minimum standards to require timely repair of elevators.

Staff emphasized that many responsibilities — tenant screening, parking enforcement, package delivery policies, towing and security — fall to property management rather than to the city. The apartment inspection fee is $10 per unit per year and fund revenues are used to cover inspection costs.

Council and staff discussed complaint pathways and the distinction between issues police respond to (disturbing the peace, parking violations in public areas) versus code/enforcement matters that property managers must address. Staff said residents at tax‑credit properties may also file complaints directly with the state agency that monitors tax‑credit compliance; staff had obtained the complaint link and said they will circulate it to council.","City inspectors told the Balch Springs City Council that 14 of 19 apartment complexes and 2,269 units have been inspected under the multifamily inspection program adopted in 2023.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6747145,"Balch Springs Council approves new employee health and benefits plan for FY2026",1735,3028000,4763000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489732-e172cb68cccea1d659648296b273b68b&start=3028&end=4763","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5489732-e172cb68cccea1d659648296b273b68b/thumbnail_3028000.jpg","/articles/6747145/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Balch-Springs-Council-approves-new-employee-health-and-benefits-plan-for-FY2026","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747145-297686a9f2a80e2dc8b3d924abdf392d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500931&Signature=OJqrfT1j3OiT1nh~~-xgNRDVgLutrYGCEaNognxwtRui~j0Eax4YGZ4ipiZgeuSrIhZFcyklbQmrwYnjjn9exoXHW2kjOarxGG1j7P-I~smrI2FG8nO5UscsW17NFofXrCJj6FvrYLXMr7q01QsLTZFtsnEFx75PoURl7fkzf7a5HoZaSjSYJBd~KxVNyhBP6x~i5N2tORcT7SxRTfm9JrhJuWKGq7zJ~R5q8okELMok263MD-E72wehHPZOY0T5t1JmnirDZB7qDqqiYdICCRqsPeNBJv8buAPMiTCJ~zFgKJtI-tJztIVePsP6I3OXlVh-C1DUacVDKgmhGJfaBA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Balch Springs City Council approved a new employee health and ancillary benefits package for fiscal year 2026 during its July 28 meeting. The motion, moved and seconded during the meeting, passed on a unanimous roll call.

Staff presented results of a comprehensive request for proposals and recommended switching primary medical coverage from the city’s existing plan to UnitedHealthcare, moving dental and vision (and several life products) to MetLife and consolidating voluntary accident, critical‑illness and hospital‑indemnity products under Guardian. Staff also recommended Norton for identity protection and LegalEase for legal services. Gallagher, the city’s benefits broker, ran the RFP and will provide one‑on‑one benefit counseling to every employee during enrollment.

The staff presentation said UnitedHealthcare returned a lower projected renewal than Blue Cross Blue Shield (the incumbent) in the city’s modeling. To limit the city’s budget impact, staff recommended shifting the medical renewal increases to employees while preserving the city’s existing contribution levels. Under the recommended cost model, example monthly increases to employee payroll deductions were presented for several tiers (employee only, employee+spouse, employee+children and family) and staff said some employees could see net decreases in total out‑of‑pocket when reduced costs for dental, vision and voluntary products were included. Gallagher will provide mandatory enrollment counseling to help employees choose the plan that fits their needs.

Council members asked about network continuity and customer service. One council member expressed a preference for keeping Blue Cross Blue Shield because of perceived ease of access for members; staff responded that UnitedHealthcare’s network would cover roughly 99.2% of current employee providers based on the city’s analysis.

The council’s recorded vote was: Hill — Yes; Mayor Pro Tem Garcia — Yes; Gabriel — Yes; Patino — Yes; Miles — Yes; Salal — Yes. The council did not attach additional conditions to staff’s recommendation at the time of the vote.

Staff sources: benefits presentation (RFP results), quoted renewal comparisons and employee example provided during the July 28 council meeting.","The City Council voted unanimously July 28 to adopt a new benefits package for fiscal year 2026 after staff presented an RFP analysis that recommended changing medical and ancillary vendors and shifting some cost increases to employees. Council required one‑on‑one enrollment counseling for every employee.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":103,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":106,"_51":117,"_53":118,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":119,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":120,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6747126,"Votes at a glance: Balch Springs City Council, July 28, 2025",5150,8178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5489732-e172cb68cccea1d659648296b273b68b&start=3028&end=8178","/articles/6747126/Balch-Springs/Dallas-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Balch-Springs-City-Council-July-28-2025","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6747126-380435a324d46b9833e5cf5de2f6a6a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770500931&Signature=dLGU4hznxQa-m3uubzzLJ2z8Cz598uHDv7uSX-f9J7eN9og23hzHd5Bkn~RdqtCbFErscXPS4CopZxlp50b4m9T-s9jBbaJ2aNpgIRs66tX8EIaFj-w6embAJXKdm8a3WG4Fd2PKTKIKNV3CpsmSvOXm5zY3FFh2Ou1vaWECK34TWemTLZ5cGcKYSlyJ7XsBlNfcCHGFSXj9b9svPk17d7PA78XzxtCSjUZxsPnNP70D3sz3RXfilW-MwdDhB4SFtjPe0vTMdUcrcC4Ce1FDNsbk~Oi~jFvpO9EOLtYHjtkJsQAWtJ3hQMP~sWP-UPfKHEinLaCA8MNWOsa1wPP-3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Balch Springs City Council recorded the following formal actions during the July 28 meeting:

- Consent agenda (items a–f): Approved by single motion and unanimous roll call (Hill, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Gabriel, Patino, Miles, Salal — all yes).

- Appointment: Natasha King appointed to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion made, seconded and approved by unanimous roll call (Hill, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Gabriel, Patino, Miles, Salal — all yes).

- Employee benefits (Item 3): Council approved staff’s recommended FY2026 employee health and ancillary benefits package (vendor changes and cost‑sharing model) by unanimous roll call (Hill, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Gabriel, Patino, Miles, Salal — all yes). Gallagher will provide mandatory benefit counseling and staff will proceed with vendor transitions.

- Frontier Waste contract amendment (Item 4): Council approved an amendment to the city’s trash contract to implement zoned monthly bulk pickups, an 8‑yard bulk cap, apartment overage enforcement and other operational changes. The recorded vote was unanimous (Hill, Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, Gabriel, Patino, Miles, Salal — all yes).

- Executive session: Council recessed for executive session under Texas Government Code Chapter 551 and reconvened in open session; no action was taken on executive‑session matters.

These items were approved during the meeting on July 28, 2025. For full details on motions, staff reports and supporting documents, see the meeting packet and staff follow‑ups.","Council recorded unanimous votes on the consent agenda, an appointment to the Planning & Zoning Commission, approval of the FY2026 employee benefits package and an amendment to the Frontier Waste contract. No actions were reported from the executive session.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Balch Springs amends Frontier Waste contract to zone bulk pickups, cap bulk at 8 yards and strengthen apartment enforcement

Balch Springs updates residents on street, signal and utility projects; $1.15M in general‑fund street work largely spent

City inspectors report common code violations at apartment complexes; 2,269 units inspected so far

Balch Springs Council approves new employee health and benefits plan for FY2026

Votes at a glance: Balch Springs City Council, July 28, 2025