Residents urge city action on utility bills, neighborhood safety and senior services during public comment

At the Red Oak City Council meeting opening the 2026 calendar, several residents used the public comment period to raise household-level concerns and community requests.

Bobby Mason, who said he and his husband have lived in Red Oak for 40 years, described unusually high sewer/water charges and recurring late fees tied to Social Security payment timing. Mason said he is conservative with water use and reported using roughly 4,100 gallons in the most recent billing period versus about 4,800 gallons a year earlier; he asked the city to review billing and cap calculations for senior residents.

A resident of 139 Mabry Lane (Brookwood Meadows) requested signage to mark a small city-owned strip of land along Baxter as Red Oak property, saying the open area near a pond has become a magnet for fireworks, ATVs, racing, trash and what she described as suspected drug activity. The resident said police patrols respond when possible but the activity happens quickly and suggested signage as a deterrent.

Denise Williams (759 Mulberry Court) told council the reconfiguration of Coyote Ridge and new access has increased speeding on Hickory Creek and Aspen Court, repeatedly damaging a light pole by her driveway and creating a hazard for children. She asked the city to consider traffic-calming measures; councilmembers noted previous use of speed bumps, radar trailers and increased patrols and asked staff to re-evaluate options in that location.

Pastor Samuel Hodges asked the council to pursue a dedicated senior services center with Monday–Friday programming. Staff and council noted the city owns the Lions Club building (207 West Red Oak) and currently offers senior activities there twice a week; they invited the resident to work with staff to expand services if demand supports additional days.

Council thanked residents for bringing these issues forward and directed staff to follow up: staff offered to review individual billing records with the resident who provided bills, to consider signage and increased patrols for the Baxter area, to review traffic-calming options at Hickory Creek/Aspen Court, and to evaluate senior-services capacity in coordination with parks staff.