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October 25, 2026 –Volume 9 Number 43

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Action on low-income apartments delayed until next meeting.

* Kennedale now has the 12^th highest municipal tax rate in Tarrant County (improved from 8^th).

* Early voting continues through Friday, October 30.

SCHEDULE:

Monday, October 26: Early voting for the Mid-Term Elections continues, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

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

Friday, October 30: End of Early Voting for Mid-Term Elections.

Saturday, October 31: Halloween.

Sunday, November 1: End of Day Light Savings Time, fall back one hour, 2:00 a.m.

Tuesday, November 3: Mid-Term Elections Election Day, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 10: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 10: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day.

Wednesday, November 11: Kennedale Veterans Day event, 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, November 12: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 17: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, November 26: Thanksgiving.

Friday, November 27: City Holiday.

Saturday, November 28: Hometown Christmas 2:00 p.m.; 6:00 p.m. fireworks.

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council met on Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20. The Monday meeting was for boards and commissions issues and possible appointments. The Tuesday meeting was the regular monthly meeting including the continued public hearing on the low-income apartments zoning.

The agenda for Monday's board appointments meeting can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3950/files/agenda/10936 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0HZ4IOkobQ . All council members were present.

(8:47) Start of meeting.

(11:15) They went into executive session. They reconvened about 2:26:23. Appointments were approved, 5-0.

The agenda packet for Tuesday's regular monthly meeting can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3673/files/agenda/10956 . That agenda included a work session, presentations, public comments, a regular session, and an executive session. The meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkE0yDu71iQ . Council Member Glover was not present.

(21:37) Start of meeting.

There were six work session items.

(23:17) a. Strategic Planning. [Council Member Nevarez even made a comment about needing more affordable housing about 32:08.]

(53:39) b. Charter Committee. The council is NOT supplying direction, just review for needs.

(54:48) c. Chapter 4 – Buildings and Building Regulations (presentation , ordinance).

(1:02:34) d. Updates to the design manual (manual , ordinance).

(1:06:47) e. Arlington's Handi-tran cost share (Arlington's letter , Handi-tran flyer). [Commentary: I am not an expert on the subject, but based on what was said at Arlington open meetings, what was being presented to the council is not totally accurate.]

(1:19:59) f. Capital Lane Advisors proposal (letter). This is a paid lobbying group. There is a separate consideration item later in the agenda for this money.

(1:43:52) The presentations included World Polio Day and Native American Heritage Month. Nothing was said about the Back to School Bash.

(1:49:19) Public Comment. No one spoke.

(1:49:31) The public hearing was for zoning case PZ26-13 (low-income apartments). Information starts on .pdf page 281 of the agenda packet (link above). There was one citizen speaker. Then a motion was made to postpone action until next meeting. The council voted 2-2, with Griffith and Ray in opposition. The mayor broke the tie by voting to postpone action, making a 3-2 vote.

(1:56:32) The regular session included reports and announcements (financials), consent agenda (September minutes), and three items for separate consideration. The consent agenda was approved, 4-0.

(2:22:24) The three items for separate consideration. Council Member Griffith tried to postpone all the separation consideration items until next month, but there was no second to his motion. [Commentary: This certainly appeared to be a “sore loser” reaction to the vote earlier in the evening. Just one person's opinion, but there appears to be a “riff” growing between Griffith and some other members of the council.] a. Kennedale's vote for Texas Municipal League (TML) Board of Directors (ballot). Their selection was approved, 4-0.

(2:24:52) b. Freese and Nichols professional service agreement (PSA) for Mansfield Cardinal Road (agreement). It was approved, 4-0.

(2:29:12) c. action of Capital Lane Advisors (from the work session). There is no contract. They made a motion to postpone to a future meeting. It was approved, 4-0.

(2:32:51) In executive session there looks like some potential sale of Oak Crest property(ies). They reconvened about 2:49:39 and took no action on executive session items.

Leftovers:

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

Last week the city council met on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday they interviewed board applicants and made appointments. On Tuesday was the regular monthly meeting. Action on the proposed zoning for low-income apartments was postponed until the next meeting by a 3-2 vote with the mayor casting the final vote.

On Thursday P&Z met for their monthly meeting. The replat on 439 Mansfield Cardinal was postponed until next month. The final plat for PZ26-15 off New Hope Road was approved.

This Week

This week there is an Economic Development Corporation (EDC) meeting on Tuesday.

Public Hearings

On Thursday, November 12, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ26-14 to replat the town home community at 439 Mansfield Cardinal Road.

EDC

The next Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board meeting will be this Tuesday, October 27. The agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3784/files/agenda/10966 .

The agenda includes three reports and announcements items and three items for separate consideration.

The reports and announcements items:

a. Marketing and Strategic Plan update (presentation).

b. update on the financials (report).

c. Town Center update.

The items for separate consideration items (no detailed information given):

a. 201 W. Kennedale Parkway, Suite 111.

b. painting of the former YMCA building.

c. monument entry point signs.

The executive session has a discussion of potential sales of Oak Crest property(ies).

P&Z

P&Z met this past Thursday, October 22. The agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3926/files/agenda/10961 . There were two zoning cases on the agenda.

(0:30) Start of meeting.

(2:43) PZ26-14 is a replat at 439 Mansfield Cardinal Road. Information starts on pdf page 10 of the agenda packet link above. The applicant requested a postponement. Motion of approve was approved, 4-0.

(4:05) PZ26-15 is a final plat of 24.814 acres at a legal description of Jessie B. Renfro Survey. The approximate address is 317 S. New Hope Road. Information starts on pdf page 67 of the agenda packet link above. It is currently zoned industrial, which is what their plans are to build. The industrial park will have a private road off New Hope Road and backs up to the railroad tracks. It was approved, subject to fire marshal approval of exemptions, 5-0.

Other News....

KISD Scores Well

The state's ISDs accountability ratings came out, and Kennedale ISD did very well, improving to an overall grade of “B” [up from a “C”]. The accountability ratings can be found at: https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/cgi/sas/broker?_service=marykay&_program=perfrept.perfmast.sas&_debug=0&ccyy=2026&lev=D&id=220914&prgopt=reports/acct/summary.sas .

TAD Rates

Tarrant Appraisal District has published the tax rates (October 2026) for the county. Kennedale has now dropped to the twelfth highest municipality (from eighth). [https://www.tad.org/content/rates/2026TaxRates.pdf ]

Top 15 of 41 (everyone else is < 0.67)

1. Everman 1.0500000

2. Sansom Park 0.8724830

3. River Oaks 0.8189310

4. White Settlement 0.7622610

5. Lakeside 0.7500000

6. Burleson 0.7298000

7. Blue Mound 0.7234600

8. Fort Worth 0.7056500

9. Forest Hill 0.7045120

10. Pelican Bay 0.7038470

11. Crowley 0.6962600