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September 20, 2026 –Volume 9 Number 38

HIGHLIGHTS:

* City manager asks for a CONTINUANCE on low-income apartments.

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, September 22: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 24: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m. (probably cancelled)

Saturday, September 26: Butterfly Garden Party, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Saturday, October 3: Public Safety Open House, [the new] Fire Station, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 8: Board of Adjustments (BOA) meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 13: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, October 13: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, October 20: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 22: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council met last Tuesday, September 15. The agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3672/files/agenda/10903 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMi_ABn90cQ .

The agenda included a work session, presentations, public comment, a public hearing, a regular session, and an executive session.

(18:57) Start of the meeting. All council members were present.

The work session included prioritizing street maintenance, charter committee, and strategic planning (parks, comprehensive plan, land use plan, and capital improvements).

(20:41) Prioritizing street maintenance.

(34:50) Charter committee [Commentary: The last time they formed a charter committee, Council Members Griffith, Michels, and Nevarez decided to make changes to what the citizens/charter committee decided.] Evidently Mr. Nevarez takes offense to the above commentary. About 38:40 he states, “Mr. Mayor, I know just to kind of rebuttal the Observer's comments last Sunday, you know when we did it last time, it was a specific reason. We needed clarification and clean up something and that's why we did it this way.” … [he praises his selection but is about to bash the committee for doing the opposite] ... “... but I just wanted to clarify that from the Sunday comments, which I took personal about, is yeah, we told them what to do, but they came back and did the exact opposite and suggestions and we did vote for it and approve it and that's what the committee is there for. We gave them direction and they came back and give us the truth.”

[Commentary: ??? In late 2023/early 2024 they formed a committee chaired by K. Michels that met for clarifying procedures (holding elections) for vacant positions on the council. They wanted it to be put on the May 2024 ballot. I do not know what was specifically requested/stated that was “opposite” of what they wanted, but K. Michels oversaw the committee to get whatever their desire was. Then when the wording of the charter amendment by the citizens/committee was brought to the council to put on the ballot, the three above-mentioned council members changed it. That meeting was February 8, 2024, and can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q44YaaaNpCA . That discussion started about 23:01 and [the approval] 2:34:54.

If you are going to change the citizen/committee wording to what you wanted anyway, why go through the process of having a citizen committee??? They could have just put whatever wording on the ballot without a citizen committee. The purpose of having a committee is so you can give the appearance that this is what the citizens wanted. The purpose of putting K. Michels in charge was to assure you got what you wanted. They again are talking about putting K. Michels in charge of this new committee. We do not understand why Mr. Nevarez “personally” takes exception to our reporting of facts.]

(43:40) Strategic planning (parks, comprehensive plan, land use plan, and capital improvements).

(1:19:02) Regular session begins.

(1:42:09) There were no public comment speakers.

(1:42:21) The public hearing was for PZ26-13, the low-income apartments (advertised as townhomes) at 509 Corey A Edwards and 506 North Road. [Information starts on .pdf page 20 of the above packet link] The city manager stated they are requesting a continuance [tuntil October 20] because they are collecting more information to make a “better” decision. There were two speakers in opposition [as others will wait until October].

(1:50:22) The regular session included reports and announcements (financials), consent agenda (Aug 18 minutes), and items for individual consideration.

The three individual consideration items were (they considered #3 first):

(2:07:50) 3. Discuss Wastewater IFCIP [Information starts on .pdf page 93 of the above packet link]. Timeline has the project construction from May 2027 through May 2028. It was approved, 5-0.

(2:14:47) 1. Interlocal agreement between the city and Tarrant County regarding street overlay projects (staff report). It was approved, 5-0.

(2:17:22) 2. Interlocal agreement between the city and Tarrant County regarding the Eden Road Bridge Project (staff report). It was approved, 5-0.

(2:20:42) In executive session they were to discuss personnel issues (boards and commissions, city manager, and city secretary). They reconvened about 3:39:14 and approved Tina Cox, the current Interim City Secretary, as City Secretary, 5-0.

[Commentary: The city manager asked for and received a continuance on the low-income apartments zoning case. He gave no indication of what “new” information is being gathered regarding the case. The whole thing is rather confusing and lacks transparency. If the plan changes significantly, they should send it back to P&Z, which would require a public notice, and that has not happened yet. If the plan is not changing, what would be such critical new information?]

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 for its regular monthly meeting.

This Week

This week the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) will meet on Tuesday for their regular monthly meeting.

Thursday would normally be the regular P&Z meeting, but they may or may not have anything on their agenda.

Public Hearings

On Thursday, October 8, the Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing on BOA26-03 regarding a special exemption at 404 E. Kennedale Parkway.

On Tuesday, October 20, the city council will continue a public hearing on PZ26-13, a planned development for apartments (being referred to as townhomes).

EDC

The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board will meet on Tuesday, September 22. The agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3783/files/agenda/10919 .

The agenda includes seven reports and announcements, one consent agenda item (August minutes), and one individual consideration item.

The seven reports and announcements:

1. Pavlik and Associates marketing and strategic plans update.

2. Trunk or Treat Presentation.

3. Hometown Christmas Celebration.

4. Financial reports (report).

5. Town Center development update.

6. October 15 EDC meet and great.

7. Texas Municipal League economic development conference (flyer).

The item for individual consideration is the relocation of the Veteran's Memorial.

P&Z

P&Z might meet on Thursday, September 24. An agenda has not been posted as of the time of this writing.

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 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