Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter
October 26, 2025 – Volume 8 Number 43
HIGHLIGHTS:
* The city council unanimously approves the release of “investigation” report.
* Kennedale gets third win in district.
* Early Voting ends Friday.
* Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday, November 2.
SCHEDULE:
Sunday, October 26: Early Voting 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Monday, October 27: Early Voting continues, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Monday, October 27: Board of Appeals meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, October 28: Library Advisory Board meeting, 4:00 p.m. at the library.
Tuesday, October 28: EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 30: Trunk or Treat, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (rescheduled due to weather)
Friday, October 31: End of Early Voting, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 31: Halloween.
Sunday, November 2: End of Daylight Savings Time, 2:00 a.m. Fall back an hour.
Tuesday, November 4: Election Day, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11: Veterans Day
Tuesday, November 11: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 11: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 18: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 27: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.
…..
KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...
Your City Council
The city council met for its monthly meeting this past Tuesday, October 21. The agenda for the meeting may be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3661/files/agenda/10350 . That agenda included public comments, a proclamation, the regular session, and executive session. The packet may be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3661/files/agenda/10351 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlTBrGGP2Yc .
(4:34) Start of meeting.
(6:35) Public Comment. There was one speaker about the Cub Scouts’ Day Camp.
(13:30) The proclamation was for National Court Week (proclamation).
(17:59) The regular session included reports and announcements, consent agenda items, and five items for individual considerations.
The reports and announcements section included the financial reports (financials , 4th Quarter Investment Report). [MAJOR CHANGE: Not in the agenda were the updates from the council members, mayor, and city manager.]
(22:02) The consent agenda had three items, the September minutes, 2026 ERCOT membership renewal (guide), and Texas Coalition for Affordable Power (TCOP) (report). The consent agenda was approved, 4-0.
The five items for individual consideration:
(22:37) 1. Approval of Application for Participation in the Local Government Investment Cooperative (LOGIC) (presentation). This has to do with investment pools. It was approved, 3-0-1, with Glover abstaining.
(33:15) 2. Land Purchase at 811 W Kennedale Parkway (information starts on .pdf page 62 of the packet link listed above). This was approved, 4-0.
(36:07) 3. Consider a resolution to DENY Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC’s proposed increase in revenue and its proposed changes to rates (information starts on .pdf page 69 of the packet link listed above). Other cities have also voted to DENY the proposed increase. The denial was approved, 4-0.
They then switched the agenda order.
(38:50) 5. Storm Water Management Program (SWMP) Professional Services Agreement rates (information starts on .pdf page 78 of the packet link listed above). This was approved, 4-0.
(42:33) 4. Animal Control Services, City of Everman-Craig Spencer (no detailed information given). The city manager could NOT get a negotiated contract with Everman and made a request to go into executive session with legal questions/issues.
(43:50) The executive session agenda includes more on the investigation and board and commission appointments. They reconvened about 3:00:40. The first motion was to waive the attorney-client privilege and release the “investigation” initial report and terminate the investigation. That was approved, 4-0. Next, Mr. Nevarez resigned from the EDC Board. [Three current council members are on the board; one of which should have been removed a long time ago. The one removing himself is the only one of the three that actually owns a small business.] They then approved their board/committee appointments. Included in those appointments was the changing of the chair and vice-chair of P&Z. [why???]
[Commentary: I contacted Mr. Brown to see if he had requested the change. He had not, but being a “team” player, he was not interested in making a big deal of the decision. However, it certainly appears that some individuals, holding a grudge (?), took advantage of closed doors discussions to make a change.]
* * * * *
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.
[Commentary: I have been requesting the invoices from the law firm conducting the investigation. My public information requests (PIR) kept being answered by the city secretary that they did not have any invoices. Well as it turns out the city HAS been receiving invoices, addressed to the city attorney [department, but still part of the city] at the city hall address.
Surprise, surprise, the city attorney is blocking my access to these invoices, and I will need to go through the attorney general. I have received now/finally the sixth redacted summary/coversheets of invoices, now totaling $18,318.50.
If you remember back to the May 1 meeting, council approved having the city attorney recommend potential firms. Council members were expecting to define the scope of what was to be done. The council never “officially” got a voice in deciding which firm would conduct the investigation, nor in the scope of the investigation.
The city attorney has also blocked my PIR trying to get documents defining the scope. Again, I will need to attempt to go through the attorney general.]
Last Week
Last week there was the city council meeting. They met Tuesday, October 21 for their regular monthly meeting. They approved the release of the investigation report.
P&Z met last Thursday and approved the replat into two properties for the properties at Crestview, E. Kennedale Parkway, and Kennedale Sublett Road.
This Week
A Board of Appeals meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 27. That packet may be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3676/files/agenda/10355 . They will have a public hearing on waivers for setbacks at 600 W. Kennedale Parkway.
The Library Advisory Board will meet at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 28. Their agenda can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3679/files/agenda/10352 .
The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board will meet on Tuesday, October 28.
Public Hearings
On Monday, October 27 the Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing for BOA25-04. This is regarding rear and side setbacks at 600 W. Kennedale Parkway. [This is the property that the EDC is selling to a developer “buddy” at a greatly discounted price.]
???, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-15 at 836 Valley Lane for replats.
EDC
The next EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board meeting will be on Tuesday, October 28. The packet for meeting can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3594/files/agenda/10365 .
The agenda includes the swearing in of new board member Ryon Ray (appointed by the city council last week), a presentation from the CP2 consultant, financial update (reports), and updates from the director (including renovation of the Town Center update, 811 W Kennedale Parkway purchase update, Hometown Christmas update, and 600 W. Kennedale Parkway update).
P&Z
P & Z met on Thursday, October 23. The meeting packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3677/files/agenda/10347 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDzxTTH4UyI .
(3:08) Start of meeting.
(5:12) Public hearing for PZ25-16, replat for the properties at Crestview, E. Kennedale Parkway, and Kennedale Sublett Road. The replat is into two properties. City Manager Hull did the city’s presentation. It was approved.
Other News....
Another District Win
Kennedale got a third victory in district play; a home 48-21 win vs. Ranchview. This week there is a road game at Lake Worth.
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)
- Everman 1.0260800
- Sansom Park 0.8457840
- Blue Mound 0.8138000
- River Oaks 0.7439910
- Burleson 0.7218000
- White Settlement 0.7147780
- Forest Hill 0.7004660
- Kennedale 0.6961900
- Pelican Bay 0.6762930
- Fort Worth 0.6700000
- Grand Prairie 0.6600000
South New Hope Road Repairs
The repairs on South New Hope Road are expected to be finished by the end of January 2026.
November 4 Election
Voters will have their say on 17 constitutional amendments. Early voting has started and will end on Friday, October 31. Election Day is Tuesday, November 4.
Texas for Fiscal Responsibility staff has an article on the 17 amendments and whether they are pro- or anti- taxpayer: https://texastaxpayers.com/the-2025-proposed-amendments-to-the-texas-constitution/ .
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Mayor and City Council Emails:
Mayor – Brad Horton BHorton@cityofkennedale.com
Place-1 David Glover DGlover@cityofkennedale.com
Place-2 Thelma Kobeck TKobeck@cityofkennedale.com
Place-3 Kenneth Michels KMichels@cityofkennedale.com
Place-5 Jeff Nevarez JNevarez@cityofkennedale.com
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