Prior to that 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 ============== December 15, 2025 Newsletter ============= Arlington City CouncilGrades ============= AISD Board Grades ================ December 8, 2025 Newsletter ============ December 1, 2025 Newsletter ============ November 24, 2025 Newsletter =========== November 17, 2025 Newsletter ============ ================ Jim Ross, Mayor ============= Mauricio Galante, District1 ============= Raul Gonzalez, District2 ============= Nikkie Hunter, District3 ============= Andrew Piel, District4 ============= Rebecca Boxall, District5 ============= Long Pham, District6 ============= Bowie Hogg, District7 ============== Barbara Odom-Wesley, District8 ============= Sarah McMurrough, AISDPlace1 ============= Melody Fowler, AISDPlace2 ============= 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 ============== Kennedale City CouncilGrades ========== Texas Open Meetings Act Violations??? ============== The Bridge ============== Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter ============ Prior to That Newsletter ================ Brad Horton, Kennedale Mayor ============ David Glover, Kennedale Place 1 ============= Thelma Kobeck, Kennedale Place 2 =========== Ken Michels, Kennedale Place 3 ==============P3 Chris Gary, Kennedale Place 4 =========== Jeff Nevarez, Kennedale Place 5 ============ Kennedale City Council Compare ========== 1083 Bowman Springs Road Kennedale ============ What to Know About the Texas Raceway Project ================ Kennedale EDC MMA contract information ==============

December 7, 2025 – Volume 8 Number 49

HIGHLIGHTS:

* Our analysis of the “Investigation Report” continues – pay for play scandal.

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, December 9: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 9: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, December 16: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Monday, December 22: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 23: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, December 25: Christmas.

…..

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council did not meet last week. Their next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, December 16.

* * * * *

Leftovers:

The “Investigation” was listed on the executive session agenda for the October 21 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. Unfortunately, I have not found it on the website. I had also made a public information request (PIR) for a copy and on Wednesday (November 5) I DID finally receive a copy.

WOW!!! There is enough there to keep coverage of this for months.

We have taken the .pdf Investigation Report and converted to text (far from 100% perfect) and tried to make improvements at: http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_13.html .

Pay to Play Scandal

From the Investigation Report (the Darrell Hull interview is covered on pages 15-16), The third paragraph starts with:

“Mr. Hull reported Griffith made a $1,000 donation to Mayor Joplin's back-to-school bash before his appointment.”

So, the pay to play scandal has raised its ugly head again. Getting accurate information from the city has been very difficult. My understanding is the city, when first questioned about this check, said it was received on July 12, 2023. Later on, that changed to July 18, 2023. Mr. Griffith was appointed to the council seat at a specially called meeting of July 13, 2023, with Mayor Joplin breaking the 2-2 tie. [Minutes for that meeting may be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3212/files/agenda/9185 .]

So, it is clearly reported by Mr. Hull, a person who should know, that the check was received prior to the appointment.

The city had NO business cashing checks for the event/organization, that the city attorney would later describe as a non-city event even though the city was collecting/cashing checks for it.

[Note: In my non-lawyer’s opinion this check information is just circumstantial evidence that does NOT prove a pay to play offense.]

* * * * *

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.

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

Last Week

There were no meetings scheduled last week.

This Week

This week the Keep Kennedale Beautiful (KKB) and the Park Board are scheduled to meet on Tuesday. At the time of this writing (Saturday) there were no agendas posted on the city's website for either meeting.

Public Hearings

On Tuesday, December 16, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ25-17 to change the zoning from MF (multi-family) to a planned development at 3100 Joplin Road.

On Monday, December 22, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-19 to change the zoning from C-1 (restricted commercial) to C-2 (general commercial) at 708 Corey A. Edwards.

On Monday, December 22, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-20 to change the zoning from R-1 (large lot single-family residential) to a PD (planned development) at 4365 & 4431 Dick Price Road.

On Monday, December 22, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-21 to change the zoning from C-2 (general commercial) to I (Industrial) at 7205 Hudson Village Creek Road.

On Monday, December 22, P&Z will hold a public hearing on PZ25-22 to change the zoning from OT-4 to a PD (planned development) at 429 W. Kennedale Parkway.

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

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

EDC

The next Economic Development Corporation (EDC) meeting should be on December 23.

P&Z

The next P&Z meeting was rescheduled from Thursday, December 18 to Monday, December 22. They have four zoning cases to be heard.

Other News....

Reeves Lane Closure

On Wednesday, December 10, Reeves Lane is expected to be closed before the 90-degree turn onto Hilltop for the pouring of concrete for the fire station remodel.

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