April 13, 2025 – Volume 8 Number 15

 

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Council meets Tuesday to celebrate the basketball team, discuss the external auditor's report, and consider new proposal regarding donations.

 

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, April 15: City Council meeting, 5:30pm.

Tuesday, April 15: Federal Income Tax deadline.

Friday, April 18: City offices closed for Good Friday.

Sunday, April 20: Easter.

Monday, April 21: Candidate Forum, Kennedale High School Media Center, 901 Wildcat Way, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 22: Start of Early Voting for Municipal and School Board Elections.

Tuesday, April 22: Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, April 24: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 26: Bark in the Park, 9:00 a.m.-noon.

Tuesday, April 29: End of Early Voting for Municipal and School Board Elections.

Saturday, May 3: Municipal and School Board Elections, 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

…..

Senior Tax Freeze

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

 

Kennedale Observer website:

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

 

Latest Kennedale Observer newsletter:

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

 

Kennedale Observer city council grades:

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

 

City Council Comparison (May2021-May2023 vs. May2019-May2021):

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_77.html

 

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council will meet for their regular monthly meeting this Tuesday, April 15. Their agenda includes public comment, presentations, regular session reports, consent agenda, individual consideration items, and an executive session. NOT on the agenda is a public hearing regarding the planned development for the old drag strip. The agenda can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3565/files/agenda/10049 . The full packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3565/files/agenda/10053 .

There are six presentations.

1. Recognition of the Kennedale Wildcats State Championship Basketball team.

2. An award for KKB.

3. Proclamation for April 2025.

4. Proclamation for May 2025.

5. Kennedale Public Works Annual Report (presentation).

6. Kennedale EDC Annual Report (presentation).

 

Regular session reports.

The financial reports start on .pdf page 60 of the packet link given above.

 

There are three consent agenda items (March 18 minutes (minutes), interlocal agreement with Fort Worth Transportation for Section 5310 administrative costs ( ILA , ridership ), amended March 7&8 minutes (minutes)).

 

There are four items for individual consideration.

1. Action item – approve the independent auditor's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for FY2024 (the presentation begins on .pdf page 95 of the packet link mentioned far above).

2. Action item – approve a budget amendment (staff report).

3. Action item – approve a policy regarding donations and public funds (staff report). [Commentary: Let's hope this is only a discussion item with no vote on Tuesday. There certainly seems to be several things that need to be addressed. Does it apply to the EDC, a separate business entity, with its three council members on that board? [commentary within a commentary: Now there is something that needs fixing, can be easily fixed, without all the drama.] How about the Chamber of Commerce and its board members? How about contributions to PACs that then donate to candidates? “applies to all forms of funding”, including petty cash? If an individual makes a contribution is this saying his business cannot receive (if it says that, I do not see it) contracts or funding? Would it be the owner only? What about minority and silent partners? Who is doing all the research? What about the manager of a chain business? Maybe it is just me, but this almost seems like a TGAA policy from the person that listed TGAA negatives as the most important issue facing the city?]

4. Action item - 380-Agreement with MM Hospitality (agreement draft). Basically, for a $3 million improvement the corporation will pretty much get that back with waived permit fees, five years of 25% property tax abatement, and seven years of hotel occupancy tax rebated (the last two years at 50% instead of 100%).

 

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Senior Tax Freeze

Back in June of 2023 the city council approved a senior tax freeze. The three-page ordinance can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3288/files/attachment/11739 . This would be applicable for the city portion of property taxes where properties have a homestead, and the owner is 65 or older. The KISD, the county, and Tarrant County College also have senior tax freezes.

Apparently, this did not happen for City of Kennedale residents. So, what happened or did not happen? The city manager [poorly] addressed the issue at the November 2024 council meeting. [The “official” stance of the city manager and city attorney and backed by the three incumbents running in this year's election, is that the tax freeze is happening, as planned.]

The city administration has done a MAJOR INJUSTICE to Kennedale seniors by a) writing an ordinance incorrectly and/or b) failing to explain how the ordinance was to start back in June 2023. For example, Fate, Texas, in Rockwall County, implemented a senior tax freeze (with the ordinance written correctly) in August 2023, two months after Kennedale, and their seniors saw a freeze on their October 2024 statements. The major difference between the two ordinances is the Kennedale ordinance states effective January 1, 2024, while the Fate ordinance states effective immediately.

The November 2024 city council meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFR_rKkFyg8&t=3116s . The discussion of the item begins at about 47:36.

Some quotes:

48:16 Mr. Hull: “Currently, the ordinance is written where it takes effect in 2024.” [Meaning IF the city attorney wrote the ordinance correctly it would have helped seniors with their October 2024 statements, but since he didn't, it won't.]

48:46 Mr. Hull: “The ordinance does not read for 2023 that was not even the intent...” [Not true. He wants you to go back to the June 2023 city council meeting but let us instead go back to the April 2023 Work Session on the subject. (See timeline below for April's council meeting information.) Mr. Hull states, “So ultimately, the tax [freeze] would not affect us until the 2025.” [2025 IS THE OCTOBER 2024 TAX STATEMENTS. These are the statements that DID see an increase, but back in April 2023, based on the city manager's own words, the tax freeze should have affected.]

49:15 Mr. Hull: “Even then [June 2023] it was indicated and confirmed the tax freeze takes place in 2024.” [Here's the problem. In basic English the expectations of “2024” meant the October 2024 Statements. There is no prerequisite for council members to be a lawyer, or in this case, a specialized tax lawyer. The expectation is the city attorney and/or the city manager would explain to the council members any fine points of the law that would make a difference on any subject. At NO point in April 2023 or June 2023, was anything stated to council members of the significance of a January 1, 2024 start date.]

49:36 Mr. Hull: “So with everything that is being said with reference to when we filed it, when we didn't file it, if we did, if we didn't is minute.” [NOT TRUE. If it had been filed in a timely fashion TAD could have pointed out the required changes to make it match Mr. Hull's April 2023 statement. When TAD did finally get it in November 2024, they made suggested changes on another part of the ordinance that needed modification. The city DID modify that other part of the ordinance and passed the modification a month later at the December 2024 meeting.]

50:05 Mr. Hull: “We have looked at the possibility, even as someone made a comment, about doing a reimbursement. Unfortunately, we cannot do that on the legal side. So even if the intent was to be in 2023, we can't do that by law.” [It is true the law does not allow a reimbursement for this reason. However, since they even looked into it, it pretty much tells you the intent was 2023, even though their official stance is significantly different.]

51:19 City Attorney: “If I could Mayor, just add one thing, it's not just the ordinance, Mr. City Manager, it's state law that governs. So, 2024 would have been the earliest the council could have done it anyway under state law. And it is state law that governs in this instance. So the ordinance adopted by the council was the earliest the freeze could be adopted.” [2024 is the earliest the current poorly written ordinance could be adopted, however, like Fate, Texas, in the State of Texas, where their ordinance was written two months later than Kennedale's ordinance, they were able to write an ordinance that said effective immediately (instead of January 1, 2024) and their seniors got their benefit on their October 2024 statements.]

 

Timeline.

April 2023 the city council discusses the item as a work session item. [That meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndf8BqnPjBw . The discussion on this item starts about 1:40:27. ]

1:44:59 Mr. Hull: “So ultimately, the tax [freeze] would not affect us until the 2025.” [2025 IS THE OCTOBER 2024 TAX STATEMENTS. These are the statements that DID see an increase, but back in April 2023, based on the city manager's own words, the tax freeze should have affected.]

minutes: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3017/files/agenda/8873

staff report: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3017/files/report/11354

June 2023 the city council approves the ordinance, 5-0. The June 20, 2023, meeting can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTm2LdTa_YI&t=303s . The discussion on this item starts about 2:43:35. At no point did anyone mention a delay in the implementation or that the effective January 1, 2024 meant there would be a delay in the implementation from the expectations of the April meeting. There were no statements/comments about this being different than the April 2023 meeting.

2:44:11 Finance Director Horton “[The tax freeze] does seem consistent with neighboring communities, having a tax freeze for senior citizens. Budget impact is minimal. I don't necessarily see a downside from a financial perspective. We will need to make up a little bit of funding, but from a personal standpoint, not a financial standpoint, I do feel the little bit of hardship we might have to face as a city versus the goodwill it will bring for the senior citizens, the correct would be to go with the freeze.”. [Yet the people that CLAIM to have “understood” the implementation delay, caring so little about the seniors, said or asked nothing regarding making a change to aid the seniors sooner. In my opinion, that certainly implies they DO NOT CARE about the seniors.]

2:45:05 Council Member Horton: “Is it my understanding that this won't take effect until 2024?”

2:45:11 Mayor Joplin: “January 1.” [then a comment by Mr. Nevarez]

2:45:42 Mayor Joplin: “And it does say on the last page that the ordinance will be in full force effective January 1, 2024.” [If you are one of the people, as the CLAIM is, who knows this is only loading the cap data, would this not have been a good time to speak up and explain the difference between “full force” and what the claim the law is? [and they claim the ordinance was clearly written...]]

minutes: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3019/files/agenda/9175

staff report (with NO mention of January 1, 2024 significance; NO mention of timeline being any different than discussed in April): https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3019/files/report/11786

Questions

1. So why did the status change from April 2023 and the city manager stating it would affect 2025 to the implementation being delayed? Why was nothing stated about this change before the vote at the June 2023 meeting informing the council (and the public) of the change?

2. Why did the city administration not produce an ordinance to match what was discussed at the April 2023 meeting, and did not tell them they were voting on something different?

3. Why was the effective date of January 1, 2024 used instead of “effective immediately”?

4. Why was the importance of the January 1 date not explained?

5. At the June meeting, after the finance director spoke about the minimal impact, why did not one of the people who “understood” the delayed implementation not ask or comment to implement earlier to help the seniors? Are these people so uncaring about Kennedale seniors?

6. At the June meeting, after the use of “full force” where the majority of the city council and the public thought what they were getting was as it was stated by the city manager in April 2023, why did not one of these who “understood” the delayed implementation not clearly point out that 2024 was only going to be a cap loading year?

7. What is so important and being concealed, that people appear to be willing to fall on this sword for it?

 

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May 3 Municipal Election

Early voting will be Tuesday, April 22 – Tuesday, April 29. Election Day is Saturday, May 3. Kennedale's voting location will be held at Dover Fellowship Hall at 208 Municipal Drive, instead of the Community Room at the Kennedale Public Library.

Ballot order:

Place 1 – Bobby Goff, Glover (i).

Place 3 – Ryon Ray, Amanda Hollins, Michels (i).

Place 5 – Nevarez (i), James Connor, Megan Burns (write-in).

I have given the candidates the opportunity to address the six top issues as I see them. Yet, many times I am asked for whom I would vote. So, if you do not wish to know, fine, just skip.

First, let's talk about TGAA (Texas Government Accountability Association). To the best of my knowledge TGAA has given no money to any candidates, this year or last year. Some candidates did hire a political consultant firm, run by someone with ties to TGAA, that evidently has had Texas Ethics violations in the past. So, there was money flowing that way, from candidates to the political consultant, but not in the other direction. To the best of my knowledge the candidates being tied to TGAA have received no money from TGAA and NO PAC (Political Action Committee) money. [So, what is the belief? TGAA owns their vote because they didn't pay the candidates, and the candidates paid a consultant? You have a better chance of convincing me of the tooth fairy, or that the administration is implementing the senior tax freeze as planned.]

Running as a group works when voters do not recognize their choices and now, if they vote for one candidate they do know, they might vote for all three candidates. Running as a group can backfire if one member of the group has negative issues, or as in this case they get tied to a negative item/issue.

On the other hand, one of the individuals pushing the anti-TGAA agenda, Bryant Griffith, did receive Arlington PAC money last year, from the power brokers in Arlington. His business (so it will NOT show up on any campaign reports) received an interest-free loan from the City of Arlington. [I do NOT know what influence, if any, the power brokers had on that.] He would be more of a concern to me than the candidates who have been tied to TGAA.

History has taught us to follow the money.

How to vote? The biggest one thing I would say is to select candidates that are NOT rubber-stampers. If something does not pass the smell test you need someone who is smart enough and has enough courage to ask more questions and possibly vote NO. You need to look for council members who will listen to you, your neighbors, and the businesses and place a priority on you over developers' desires.

If you look on the city's website (bottom of this page: https://cityofkennedale.com/108/Elections-Elecciones, they try to display the governance model as citizens being on top, electing a city council, who directs the city manager, etc. Well, if the situation has a majority of the city council who are rubber-stampers, the citizens are no longer in control.

So, yes, this is opinion based. I weighted the six questions, plus a seventh “our evaluation” category and scored within each 0 to 4 points, for a maximum of 100 points. My top issue would be the Senior Tax Freeze, or more importantly, the lack of. I still feel Kennedale seniors were dealt a major injustice.

 

 

candidate	Total
Place 1
P1-Bobby Goff	71
P1-David Glover	56
Place 3
P3-Ryon Ray	32
P3-Amanda Hollins	89
P3-Kenneth Michels	62
Place 5
P5-Jeff Nevarez	36
P5-James Connor	100
P5-Megan Burns	93
for more detailed information visit:
http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_51.html

 

 

Based upon the scoring, based on my opinion, the three highest scorers were James Connor, Megan Burns, and Amanda Hollins. If they were running for three different places that would make life really easy, but, of course, they are not. More detailed information can be found on the website at: http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_51.html .

 

Place 1: My choice is Bobby Goff

Bobby Goff

( http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_79.html )

Mr. Goff is a political newcomer. He scored higher on not being a rubber-stamper.

Glover (i)

( http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_47.html )

Mr. Glover, the incumbent, has a current Kennedale Observer grade of “D”. He scored a majority of his points on the Crestview Townhomes vote in February 2024, relatively early in his council career. If that vote was held today, I am not convinced he would vote the same.

 

Place 3: My choice is Amanda Hollins

Ryon Ray

( http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_50.html )

Mr. Ray is a political newcomer. He did not answer several of the questions. Past votes tell us how a person might vote on similar items in the future and therefore, are legitimate questions.

Amanda Hollins

( http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_21.html )

Ms. Hollins is a political newcomer. She scored very highly in the scoring system and potentially will make an excellent council person.

Michels (i)

( http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_80.html )

Mr. Michels, the incumbent, has a current Kennedale Observer grade of “C”. As a former employee, he has a lot of “Kennedale” knowledge. He voted in opposition to a rubber-stamp in November 2023 on the nuisance ordinance update.

 

Place 5: My choice is James Connor

Nevarez (i)

( http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_78.html )

Mr. Nevarez, the incumbent, has a current Kennedale Observer grade of “F”. He is a rubber-stamper.

James Connor

( http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_57.html )

Mr. Connor was on the city council from 2021-2023. During that time, he earned a Kennedale Observer grade of “A”. His opinions on the issues very much align with ours.

Megan Burns (write-in)

( http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_46.html )

Ms. Burns is a political newcomer. She scored very highly in the scoring system and though I did not select her, she potentially will make an excellent council person.

 

Last Week

On Tuesday there were to be a KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) (agenda) and a Parks Board (agenda) meeting. I do not believe either was held (last month both meetings did not have a quorum). There is a recording out there for the KKB meeting ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x07uCKIif44 ) but it only shows a “City of Kennedale” screen. I could find no recording of the parks board meeting.

On Thursday there were a Board of Appeals (BOA) meeting and a Building Board of Adjustments (BBA) meeting.

At the BOA meeting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soFIYHRkPHw) they held a public hearing on BOA25-03 allowing adjustments to the front set back at the fire station (100 Cloverlane). It was approved.

At the BBA meeting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdZUiQo1MQk&t=14s) they heard/discussed the progress of BBA25-01 at 6713 Lindale Road. They voted to declare the property substandard, issued an order to vacate, and either have it brought into compliance or demolish it within 60 days.

 

This Week

This week the city council meets on Tuesday evening.

 

Public Hearings

On Thursday, April 24, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-05 for a conditional use permit for a battery energy storage system at 509 S. New Hope Road.

 

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EDC

The next EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board meeting should be on Tuesday, April 22.

 

P&Z

P&Z will meet on Thursday, April 24.

 

# # # # # # # # # # # #

 

Other News....

Candidate Forum

There is to be a candidate forum on Monday, April 21 at the Kennedale High School Media Center. The event is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m.

 

Fire Department has Moved

The fire department has moved to their temporary location while their fire station is being rebuilt. They are now at 705A E. Kennedale Parkway.

 

TAD Rates

Tarrant Appraisal District has published the tax rates (October 2024) for the county. Kennedale is now the fifth highest municipality. [https://www.tad.org/content/rates/2024TaxRates.pdf ].

Top ten of 41 (everyone else is < 0.65)

1. Everman 1.0260800

2. Sansom Park 0.7796050

3. Forest Hill 0.7240940

4. Blue Mound 0.7220330

5. Kennedale 0.7061900

6. White Settlement 0.6798160

7. River Oaks 0.6758270

8. Fort Worth 0.6725000

9. Burleson 0.6627000

10. Grand Prairie 0.6600000

 

HELPFUL WEBSITES and CONTACTS

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

 

Senior Tax Freeze Missing

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

 

City Council Comparison (May 2021-May 2023 vs. May 2019-May 2021):

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_77.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-4 Chris Gary CGary1@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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