Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter
October 12, 2025 – Volume 8 Number 41
HIGHLIGHTS:
* TAD publishes 2025 tax rates; Kennedale improves from 5th highest to 8th 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)
- 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 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
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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].
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