Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter

 October 12, 2025 – Volume 8 Number 41

HIGHLIGHTS:

* TAD publishes 2025 tax rates; Kennedale improves from 5^th highest to 8^th highest.

* Kennedale starts district play with a big win.

 

SCHEDULE:

Monday, October 13: Columbus Day. Banks and Post Office are closed.

Tuesday, October 14: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 14: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Monday, October 20: Start of Early Voting, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 21: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 22: Board of Appeals meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 23: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 25: Trunk or Treat, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 28: EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

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.

…..

 

Senior Tax Freeze

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_10.html

 

Texas Open Meetings Act Violations???

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_9.html

 

The Bridge:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_12.html

 

City Council Grades:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_26.html

 

Kennedale Observer website:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/index_3.html

 

Latest Kennedale Observer newsletter:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_44.html

 

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The next city council monthly meeting will be on Tuesday, October 21.

 

* * * * *

 

Leftovers:

The “Investigation” was listed on the executive session agenda for the September 16 meeting, but nothing was stated in open session.

[Commentary: The lack of transparency continues. I have been requesting the invoices from the law firm conducting the investigation. My public information requests (PIR) keep 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 five redacted summary/cover-sheets of invoices totaling $9663.50. I have also asked for summary/cover-sheets of any invoices later than the ones received, but it appears the city attorney's office is going to take the full ten business days allowed to take any action on that request.

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

There were no meetings last week. The Board of Appeals meeting last Thursday was canceled. That meeting is now scheduled for Wednesday, October 22.

 

This Week

This week there are Keep Kennedale Beautiful (KKB) (packet) and Parks Board (no agenda posted – probably no meeting) meetings scheduled for Tuesday, October 14.

 

Public Hearings

On Wednesday, October 22, 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.]

On Thursday, October 23, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-15 at 836 Valley Lane for replats.

On Thursday, October 23, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-16 at Crestview, E. Kennedale Parkway, and Kennedale Sublett Road for replats.

 

EDC

The next EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board meeting should be on Tuesday, October 28.

 

P&Z

The next P & Z meeting should be on Thursday, October 23.

 

Other News....

District Play Starts

Kennedale opened district play with a blowout victory at Castleberry 55-7. This week they travel to Life Waxahachie for another district game.

 

TAD Rates

Tarrant Appraisal District has published the tax rates (October 2025) for the county. Kennedale is now 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

 

South New Hope Road Repairs

The repairs on South New Hope Road are expected to start on Monday, October 20. They are hoping to finish by the end of January 2026.

 

November 4 Election

Voters will have their say on 17 constitutional amendments. Early voting starts Monday, October 20 and ends 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/  .

 

Local Government Games

The staff of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) has written this article of how local governments claim tax cuts, while greatly increasing spending:  https://texastaxpayers.com/the-games-local-governments-play/ .

 

HELPFUL WEBSITES and CONTACTS

Would you like to be added to our mailing list? Please send an e-mail to:   KennedaleObserver@yahoo.com requesting to be added to our mailing list.

 

Also, please feel free to share this newsletter  with your friends.

 

Senior Tax Freeze Missing

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_10.html

 

Texas Open Meetings Act Violations???

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_9.html

 

The Bridge:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_12.html

 

Texas Open Meetings Act Violations???

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_9.html

 

Kennedale Observer: KennedaleObserver@yahoo.com

 

The Kennedale Observer can be found on Facebook as KennedaleObserver.

 

Kennedale Observer website:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/index_3.html

 

Latest Kennedale Observer newsletter:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_44.html

 

City Council Grades:

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_26.html

 

Old Texas Raceway property project:

http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/whats_new.html

 

The City of Kennedale website: www.cityofkennedale.com

 

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

 

Recordings of City Council meetings can be viewed at:

[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4a2pjrnxZ5XrbsXcoLOP4Q?view_as=subscriber].

 

To apply for appointed positions:

https://www.cityofkennedale.com/boardapp

 

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