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 ============== July 20, 2026 Newsletter ============= Arlington City CouncilGrades ============= AISD Board Grades ================ July 13, 2026 Newsletter ============ July 6, 2026 Newsletter =========== June 29, 2026 Newsletter ============ June 22, 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 ============ Tom Ware, District 4 ============= Brittney Garcia-Dumas, 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 ================== Brian Johnson, Kennedale Mayor ============= David Glover, Kennedale Place 1 ============= Bryant Griffith, Kennedale Place 2 ================ Ken Michels, Kennedale Place 3 ========== Ryon Ray, Kennedale Place 4 ============= Jeff Nevarez, Kennedale Place 5 =============== Kennedale EDC MMA contract information ==============



 

July 19, 2026 – Volume 9 Number 29

HIGHLIGHTS:

* City Council's Tuesday meeting moved to Monday, July 27.

* Low-income townhomes on P&Z agenda (this Thursday).

* KKB and Parks Board met last week; BOA did not.

* Low-income apartments coming to the KISD.

 

 

SCHEDULE:

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

Monday, July 27: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 28: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

July xx: Opening of newly remodeled fire station.

Tuesday, August 4: City Council Budget meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 11: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, August 11: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, August 18: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

 

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The July monthly city council meeting has been rescheduled from Tuesday, July 21 to Monday, July 27. The agenda should be posted this week.

 

# # # # # # # # # # #

 

Leftovers:

The “Investigation” was listed on the executive session agenda for the October 21, 2025 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

The Keep Kennedale Beautiful (KKB) met on Tuesday (agenda). A recording of the meeting was not available.

The Parks Board met Tuesday (agenda). The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Er0eAuezU .

The Board of Adjustments did not meet; lack of a quorum (agenda , public hearing item). The lack of a meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-jH-BYt8BE .

This Week

P&Z meets on Thursday for their regular monthly meeting.

 

Public Hearings

On Thursday, July 23, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ26-13, a planned development for townhomes along 509 Corry A Edwards to 506 North Road.

On Monday, July 27, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-04, amending the sign ordinance.

On Monday, July 27, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-09, amending Article 29 of the Unified Development Code (UDC). This appears to modify the P&Z, regarding number of members, requirements for quorum, and whatever else.

On Monday, July 27, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-10, amending Article 3 of the Unified Development Code (UDC). This appears to modify many of the standards for townhomes.

On ???, the Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on BOA26-03 regarding a special exemption at 404 E. Kennedale Parkway.

 

EDC

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

 

P&Z

The next P&Z meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, July 23. The agenda should be posted Monday. It should include a public hearing for low-income townhomes at 509 Corry A Edwards and connecting to North Road.

 

Other News....

Low-income Townhomes on P&Z agenda

A public hearing for low-income townhomes (PZ26-13) is scheduled to be on P&Z's agenda for this Thursday, July 23. The addresses according to the public notice are 509 Corry A Edwards and 506 North Road [I believe the properties running along the north of Daleview Drive residences then out to North Road.]

 

Commentary – Questions Low-Income Housing?

Two questions for you:

1. Does additional low-income housing make the KISD better, worse, or cause no difference?

2. Does additional low-income housing make the City of Kennedale better, worse, or cause no difference?

Update on the last two weeks of commentaries: I did receive my open records request back from the city with NO Documents. I had asked for recent changes to the EDC and Community Garden agreement. So what does that mean? It would seem to suggest there is NO signed sealed agreement change. There may or may not have been an understanding of an agreement pending an approval [, but not a signed sealed document...]. It might also mean the city is trying to be transparent; we will need to see what the EDC agenda has in it. Now if we could just get council members who say they are going to answer questions to actually answer questions...

I have filed some additional open records requests to make an attempt to learn what might really be going on.

 

KISD Low-Income Apartments

On June 23 the Arlington City Council reconsidered and now has approved low-income apartments along U.S. Highway 287 (approximate address 6700 and others). There should be a second reading of the ordinance on August 4. These apartments will be in the KISD. Lance Murray of the Arlington Report has an article after the item passed P&Z at: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/05/22/affordable-housing-pre-k-development-clears-arlington-zoning-hurdle/ .

 

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

 

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.

 

Kennedale Observer website:

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

 

Latest Kennedale Observer newsletter:

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

 

The “Investigation” Report

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_13.html

 

 

Senior Tax Freeze Missing

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

 

Hammack Creek Apartments Disaster

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_14.html

 

1083 Bowman Springs:

http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_45.html

 

Open Meetings Act Violations???

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

 

The Bridge:

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

The City of Kennedale website: www.cityofkennedale.com

Mayor and City Council Emails:

Mayor – Brian Johnson BJohnson@cityofkennedale.com

Place-1 David Glover DGlover@cityofkennedale.com

Place-2 Bryant Griffith BGriffith@cityofkennedale.com

Place-3 Kenneth Michels KMichels@cityofkennedale.com

Place-4 Ryon Ray RRay@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

 

To be added to/deleted from our list, please

e-mail: KennedaleObserver@yahoo.com