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December 21, 2025 – Volume 8 Number 51

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The next edition of the Kennedale Observer will be January 4.

* City council delays Alta Landing Apartments public hearing and vote and approves $1,180,000 design contract for the Little School Road.

* P&Z meets Monday for three large scale zoning projects.

* Our analysis of the “Investigation Report” continues – Lack of Accountability/Afraid to Speak.

SCHEDULE:

Thursday, December 25: Merry Christmas.

Thursday, January 1: Happy New Year.

Tuesday, January 13: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 13: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Monday, January 19: MLK Holiday.

Tuesday, January 20: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 22: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 27: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

…..

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council met last week for their regular monthly meeting this past Tuesday, December 16. The agenda packet can be found at https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3573/files/agenda/10404 . All council members were present. The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ejVEGHADSw .

(6:26) Start of meeting. There were no speakers for public comment.

The public hearing for the Alta Landing Apartments information can be found starting on page 4 of the packet link above. The apartments, similar to last year, are requesting a planned development (PD) instead of the current multi-family (MF) [they do not conform with current MF standards today]. The public hearing and the vote were continued/postponed until the January 20 city council meeting.

The regular session included reports and announcements, two consent agenda items, and eight items for individual consideration.

(11:42) The reports and announcements included the financial reports (monthly report , capital staff report , capital adjustments).

(22:40) The consent agenda had two items, the November minutes and an Interlocal agreement (ILA) with the Fort Worth Transit Authority for 2026 (ILA , FY2025 ridership). Nothing was pulled or discussed, approved, 4-0.

(23:16) There are eight items for individual consideration.

1. The zoning for the Alta Landings Apartments public hearing (starting on page 74 of the packet link above). – Delayed until January 20.

(24:30) 2. Casting their ballot [of up to eight votes] for the Texas Coalition for Affordable Power (TCAP) Board [of 14 candidates] (the ballot). No action taken.

(31:33) 3. Kennedale Fire Department Contract to provide Fire and EMS services to Tarrant County ESD#1 (information starts at page 111 of the above packet link). Staff are still in negotiations trying to get a better deal. The item was tabled, 4-0.

(34:44) 4. Considered a Professional Services Agreement with Freese and Nichols for the Conceptual Design on the N. Little School Road Extension Project (Phase I). This is for $1,180,000 ($535,000 Basic Services Fee and $645,000 Special Services Fee). The Special Services Fee covers topographic survey, subsurface utility engineering, traffic analysis, geotechnical investigation, hydrology and hydraulic analysis, permitting, and design contingency. (information starts at page 131 of the above packet link) This was approved, 4-0.

(42:48) 5. Considered utility improvements under the Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with Arlington for $180,000 (information starts on page 157 of the above packet link). This was approved, 4-0.

(47:15) 6. Consider a $361,922 contract with Freese and Nichols regarding updates/repairs of the above ground water storage tank at 500 Gail Drive (information starts at page 167 of the above packet link). This was approved, 4-0.

(52:28) 7. Consider an update to Purchasing Policy Manual (information starts at page 187 of the above packet link). It was approved, 4-0.

(54:33) 8. Appointment to the Animals Service Committee (staff report). Staff's recommendation was to appoint a council member at this meeting and a citizen representative in January. Mr. Nevarez volunteered to be the city council representative and was approved, 4-0.

* * * * *

Leftovers:

The “Investigation” was listed on the executive session agenda for the October 21 meeting. Council Member Kobeck came out of executive session and made the motion to waive the attorney-client privilege and release the investigation report to the public. That motion was approved, 4-0. Unfortunately, I have not found it on the website. I had also made a public information request (PIR) for a copy and on Wednesday (November 5) I DID finally receive a copy.

WOW!!! There is enough there to keep coverage of this for months.

We have taken the .pdf Investigation Report and converted to text (far from 100% perfect) and tried to make improvements at: http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_13.html .

Lack of Accountability/Afraid to Speak

The Investigation Report starts with an Introduction section describing Bryant Griffith's, the author of the complaint being investigated. This introduction is on pages 1-3.

In the last paragraph of page 1 it states,

“According to Griffith, Griffith observed what he called a lack of accountability amongst public officials. Griffith claims he observed that people were afraid to speak up against these officials.”

Really???

In my [Richard Weber] opinion, as an observer of Kennedale public officials, my experience has been that Mr. Griffith has been the one public official within the last several years that has shown the least accountability.

As far “people were afraid to speak up against these officials,” I have not observed that at all. Mr. Griffith's good friend, Ms. Johnson, has, in the opinion of many, gone overboard doing just that.

* * * * *

Previous Analysis:

Results: The evidence does NOT confirm…

See the November 9, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Witch Hunt?

See the November 16, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Jeff Nevarez interview – Our Part I

See the November 16, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Jeff Nevarez interview – Our Part II

See the November 23, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Was the Investigation Hi-jacked by the city attorney and city manager?

See the November 30, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Pay to Play Scandal

See the December 7, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Wandell Investigation Files

See the December 14, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

# # # # # # # # # # # #

Last Week

The city council met last week for their regular monthly meeting.

This Week

This week P&Z will meet on Monday, December 22. They have several public hearings on their agenda.

Public Hearings

On Monday, December 22, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-20 to change the zoning from R-1 (large lot single-family residential) to a PD (planned development) at 4365 & 4431 Dick Price Road.

On Monday, December 22, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-21 to change the zoning from C-2 (general commercial) to I (Industrial) at 7205 Hudson Village Creek Road.

On Monday, December 22, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-22 to change the zoning from OT-4 to a PD (planned development) at 429 W. Kennedale Parkway.

On Tuesday, January 20, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ25-17 to change the zoning from MF (multi-family) to a planned development at 3100 Joplin Road.

???, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-15 at 836 Valley Lane for replats.

???, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-19 to change the zoning from C-1 (restricted commercial) to C-2 (general commercial) at 708 Corey A. Edwards.

# # # # # # # # # # # #

EDC

The next Economic Development Corporation (EDC) meeting should be on January 27.

P&Z

P&Z will meet this Monday, December 22. They have three zoning cases to be heard. The agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3685/files/agenda/10412 .

Public hearing #1 is for PZ CASE #25-20 to conduct a public hearing and consider a proposed zoning change from “R1” (large lot residential single-family) to a “PD” (planned development) at 4365 Dick Price Road [information starting on page 9 of the packet link above]. It looks like they are wishing to take the current sand/gravel quarry and convert to a mixed-use development with manufactured homes.

Public hearing #2 is for PZ CASE #25-21 to conduct a public hearing and consider a proposed zoning change from “C2” (commercial) to “I” (industrial) for 7205 Hudson Village Creek Road [information starting on page 63 of the packet link above]. This is a straight zoning case.

Public hearing #3 is for PZ CASE #25-22 to conduct a public hearing and consider a proposed zoning change from “OT-4” (old-town) to a “PD” (planned development) for 429 W Kennedale Parkway [information starting on page 78 of the packet link above]. They are requesting on behalf of the fencing company and more.

Other News....

City Requested Survey

The city is requesting residents fill out a survey regarding the direction of Kennedale. That survey can be found at: https://cityofkennedale.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=5308ca6f11d2fa835adf3d237&id=ee447c3108&e=2cfe933c92 .

TAD Rates

Tarrant Appraisal District has published the tax rates (October 2025) for the county. Kennedale has now dropped to the eighth highest municipality. [https://www.tad.org/content/rates/2025TaxRates.pdf ].

Top eleven of 41 (everyone else is < 0.65)