The city of Allen’s monthly bill for solid waste and recycling services is set to increase.

Allen City Council approved a rate adjustment with Community Waste Disposal that will increase the city’s monthly payment for residential service by 2.98% at its May 12 meeting.

A closer look: The city’s current contract with CWD extends through May 31, 2029, and allows for one annual rate adjustment up to 5% per year, per city documents. The 2.98% increase is based on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index, city documents state.

“These additional charges will mean about $130,000 additional that we’ll have to pay CWD in the next year,” Director of Community Services Steve Massey said.

Also of note: Commercial businesses will also see a rate increase. Commercial businesses will see a 2.98% increase from CWD for waste collection and because the city pays the North Texas Municipal Water District for commercial waste disposal, customers will see an additional 5.3% increase, per city documents.

Interested in roadwork updates impacting Allen residents? Here are updates on various upcoming and ongoing construction projects in the city of Allen.

1. US 75 Green Ribbon project: The work will add enhancements to landscaping, erosion control, irrigation and new decorative rock to key intersections along the US 75 corridor, including Stacy Road, McDermott Drive and Bethany Drive.

2. Street and alley repairs: The annual project includes the replacement of deteriorated street and alley pavement and upgrades to accessible ramps in various locations throughout Allen in an effort to enhance accessibility and extend the lifespan of the roadway network.

3. Highway Safety Improvement Program: Updates include modernized traffic signals, upgraded equipment, increased capacity and enhanced pedestrian features.

After dozens of Texas primary races ended without a clear winner in March, candidates for those seats will face off in an overtime round, known as a runoff election, this month. Texans can vote early in the runoff election from May 18-22, with election day May 26.

How it works: State law requires that primary candidates receive more than 50% of the votes cast to advance to a general election.

In the May 26 runoff election, Republican and Democratic voters will choose who they want to represent them in statewide offices, legislative and Congressional seats, the State Board of Education and county-level positions. The winner of each runoff race will appear on the ballot in November.

On the ballot: The statewide Republican runoff races include:

• U.S. Senate: John Cornyn and Ken Paxton
• Texas attorney general: Mayes Middleton and Chip Roy
• Texas railroad commissioner: Jim Wright and Bo French

• Texas attorney general: Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski
• Texas lieutenant governor: Vikki Goodwin and Marcos Vélez

On May 26, Republican voters will choose their nominee for the Texas Railroad Commission in a runoff election between former Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French and incumbent Jim Wright.

The overview: The Republican railroad commission race is one of several statewide contests that advanced to May runoffs after no candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the March 3 primary election.

Wright and French were the two highest-performing candidates in the five-way primary race, with Wright receiving 32.1% of the vote and French collecting 31.7%.

The winner of the May 26 overtime round will face state Rep. John Rosenthal, D-Houston, in the November midterm election. Third-party candidates may also appear on the November ballot.

Did you know? The railroad commission regulates Texas’ oil and gas industry, while the state's railroads are under the control of the Texas Department of Transportation and the federal government. The agency has three commissioners elected to staggered six-year terms.

At the polls: Texans can vote early from May 18-22, with runoff election day May 26.