Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter

Home ============ Teachers' Salaries ============ potential AISD employee child care benefit ============ Taxpayers' Funds at Risk ============ Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers ============ Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD Lawsuit ============== May 11, 2026 Newsletter ============= Arlington City CouncilGrades ============= AISD Board Grades ================ May 4, 2026 Newsletter ============ April 27, 2026 Newsletter ============ April 20, 2026 Newsletter ============ April 13, 2026 Newsletter =========== June Runoff Election ================ Jason Shelton, Candidate District 8 ============= Melody Fowler, Candidate District 8 current AISD-Place2 ================= Jim Ross, Mayor ============= Mauricio Galante, District1 ============= Raul Gonzalez, District2 ============= Nikkie Hunter, District3 ============ Andrew Piel, District4 ============= Tom Ware, Candidate District 4 ============= Rebecca Boxall, District5 ============ Brittney Garcia-Dumas, Candidate District 5 ============= Long Pham, District6 ============= Bowie Hogg, District7 ============== Barbara Odom-Wesley, District8 ============= Sarah McMurrough, AISDPlace1 ============= Larry Mike, AISDPlace3 ============= David Wilbanks, AISDPlace4 ========== Justin Chapa, AISDPlace5 ============= Brooklyn Richardson, AISDPlace6 ============= Leanne Haynes, AISDPlace7 ============= Fact Sheet - November 8, 2022 Election ============ ++++++++++++ ============= Kennedale Observer Homepage =========== Investigation Report =============== Kennedale Senior Tax Freeze ============== Hammack Creek Apartments Disaster ============ 1083 Bowman Springs Road Kennedale ============ Kennedale City CouncilGrades ========== Texas Open Meetings Act Violations??? ============== The Bridge ============== Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter ============ Prior to That Newsletter ================== Brad Horton, Kennedale Mayor ============ Brian Johnson, Candidate for Kennedale Mayor ============= David Glover, Kennedale Place 1 ============= Thelma Kobeck, Kennedale Place 2 ================ Bryant Griffith, Candidate for Kennedale Place 2 ================ Ken Michels, Kennedale Place 3 ============= Ryon Ray, Candidate for Kennedale Place 4 ============= Jeff Nevarez, Kennedale Place 5 ============ Kennedale City Council Compare ========== Kennedale EDC MMA contract information ==============

May 10, 2026 – Volume 9 Number 19

HIGHLIGHTS:

* The city council meets to canvass the election results on Wednesday.

* EDC Board meets Monday.

SCHEDULE:

Sunday, May 10: Mothers' Day.

Monday, May 11: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 12: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 12: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 13: Special City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 16: Kidfish, 8:00 a.m. - noon.

Monday, May 18: Primaries Runoff Early Voting Begins.

Tuesday, May 19: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Monday, May 22: Primaries Runoff Early Voting Ends.

Monday, May 25: Memorial Day Holiday.

Tuesday, May 26: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 26: Primaries Runoff Election Day, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 28: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, May 13. This is for canvassing the election results and swearing in of new council members.

The next regular meeting of the city council will be Tuesday, May 19.

# # # # # # # # # # #

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.

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

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.

Lack of Accountability/Afraid to Speak

See the December 21, 2025, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Griffith vs. Hull – “The Threat”

See the January 4, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Chamber Vote

See the January 11, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Hiring Austin Degenhart

See the January 18, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

City Manager has Favorites?

See the January 25, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

Our Commentary

See the February 1, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

“No Shame” Griffith

See the February 15, 2026, Kennedale Observer for more details.

# # # # # # # # # # #

Last Week

There were no meetings last week.

This Week

The city council meets Wednesday to canvass the election results.

The EDC Board meets on Monday.

KKB (agenda) and the Parks Board (agenda) meet on Tuesday evening.

Public Hearings

On May 28, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ26-04, amending the sign ordinance. This will go before the city council on June 16.

On May 28, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ26-05, a replat of 5400 High Ridge Road. This will go before the city council on June 16.

On May 28, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ26-06, a replat of 600 W. Kennedale Parkway. This will go before the city council on June 16. [The Kennedale EDC owns the land and is selling it to the developer for a greatly reduced price, $25,000.]

On ???, the city council will hold a public hearing for ordinance #795 to prohibit the exposure of children to illegal drugs.

On ???, the city council will hold a public hearing for ordinance #796 for adopting speed limits on certain roadways.

EDC

The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board will meet this Monday, May 11. The agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3828/files/agenda/10551 .

The reports and announcements section has the monthly financials (financials), the EDC Annual Report (presentation) and Town Center development update (no presentation available).

There are six individual items for separate consideration.

1. Pavlik and Associates Strategic Action Plan and Market Analysis contract (contract).

2. Policy review and requirements for applicable real estate acquisitions.

3. Environmental Site Accessment.

4. Cost responsibility.

5. Independent property appraisal.

6. 9-11 Memorial (25^th anniversary).

P&Z

The Thursday, April 23 meeting was canceled for lack of a quorum planning to attend. The agenda can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3745/files/agenda/10528 . The staff report for the amendment for the sign ordinance can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3745/files/report/16186 . This meeting has now been moved to Thursday, May 28, at 6:00pm. Additional public hearings will also be heard.

Other News....

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)

1. Everman 1.0260800

2. Sansom Park 0.8457840

3. Blue Mound 0.8138000

4. River Oaks 0.7439910

5. Burleson 0.7218000

6. White Settlement 0.7147780

7. Forest Hill 0.7004660

8. Kennedale 0.6961900

9. Pelican Bay 0.6762930

10. Fort Worth 0.6700000

11. Grand Prairie 0.6600000