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Home ============ Teachers' Salaries ============ Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD Lawsuit ============== Taxpayers' Funds at Risk ============ Open Letter to AISD Taxpayers ============ September 8, 2025 Newsletter ============= Arlington City CouncilGrades ============= AISD Board Grades ================ September 1, 2025 Newsletter =========== August 25, 2025 Newsletter ============ August 18, 2025 Newsletter ============ August 11, 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 =========== 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 ==============

August 31, 2025 – Volume 8 Number 35

HIGHLIGHTS:

* City council approves the budget and tax rate with no more changes, no real discussions.

* City council also approved the Fort Worth Landfill zoning on South Dick Price Road.

* Have a safe Labor Day.

SCHEDULE:

Monday, September 1: Labor Day holiday.

Saturday, September 6: Bring It, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Proof of residency is required.

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

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

Thursday, September 11: September 11 Memorial Celebration, Town Center Park, 9:00 a.m.

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

Tuesday, September 23: EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, September 25: P&Z meeting, 6:00 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 city council met this past Wednesday, August 27, for a special budget meeting. The packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3657/files/agenda/10286 . The meeting may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgqs3v9ctsQ .

(4:15) Start of meeting. There were no speakers for public comment.

(7:20) Public hearings on budget and tax rate. There were no speakers.

(9:24) The consent agenda had one item, the approving of the Fort Worth Landfill zoning request for South Dick Price Road (information starts on .pdf page 6 of the above link for the packet). The public hearing for this item was at the August 19 meeting. This was approved, 4-0.

The four items for individual consideration:

(9:59) 1. Adopting the FY2026 Budget by a roll call vote (information starts on .pdf page 62 of the above link for the packet). This was approved, 4-0.

(15:10) 2. Ratification of the property tax increase (staff report) This was approved, 4-0.

(16:31) 3. Levying the municipal ad valorem tax by a roll call vote (information starts on .pdf page 70 of the above link for the packet). This was approved, 4-0

(18:46) 4. Police cruiser purchase and quote (information starts on .pdf page 70 of the above link for the packet). This was approved, 4-0

* * * * *

Leftovers:

The “Investigation”

At the July meeting, there was an update on the “investigation”.

[Commentary: Even while trying to be transparent this administration fails. My initial questions would include:

Why was there NOT a vote in open session approving the selected law firm?

How much is this investigation costing?

What items are being investigated?

Are they going to help write a needed ordinance/definition/charter wording?

What is the scope of this contract?

These issues were discussed on May 1^st. Why do we not know the answers? Other than knowing there is an ongoing investigation...

I did do a public information request for the contract. I did receive a copy of the contract signed by the city manager. So, if the contract stays under $25,000, he can execute the contract without the council's approval [However, on May 1, 2025, the city council approved a motion to “task the city attorney with finding us a law firm who could investigate this”, not with having the city manager approve a contract to do this. Any contracts approved by the city council are to be approved in open session.] The contract includes a bunch of different rates for different types of employees. Depending on how much work they do, they could hit the $25,000 level in the second month. The scope of work is defined as what is asked for in writing with no clue of what they have already agreed upon. I did put in a request for the invoices on August 18 but was told there were none.]

Last Week

Last week the Economic Development Corporation met on Tuesday, August 26, the city council met on Wednesday, August 27, and P&Z met on Thursday, August 28.

This Week

There are no meetings scheduled this coming week.

Public Hearings

none known.

EDC

The EDC (Economic Development Corporation) Board Tuesday, August 26. The packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3592/files/agenda/10285 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYV4-blOgbo (labeled August 19 but is the August 26 meeting).

(0:50) Start of the meeting.

(1:53) One public speaker. He gave an update on the Chamber.

The regular session items:

(7:44) 1. CP2 Consultant report (no report made available to the public).

(11:02) 2. Town Center Development discussion with Craig Hughes.

(21:44) 3. EDC financial reports.

The work session items included:

(24:38) 1. FY2026 Budget work session.

(28:58) 2. Consider land purchase of 811 W. Kennedale Parkway. They discussed this in executive session. They returned at 1:01:23. They allowed the city manager to enter into negotiations to purchase.

P&Z

P&Z met this past Thursday, August 28. The agenda packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3655/files/agenda/10284 . The meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfjL8cxLwkk .

(1:16) Start of meeting. The consent agenda had last month's minutes (minutes) and a site plan for 317 S. New Hope Road (site plan) [There are going to be fifteen 10,000 sq. ft. buildings constructed to support commercial flex opportunities]. The first two public hearings were replats:

1. PZ25-11 at 625 Grapevine Trail starting at .pdf page 10 of the above packet link. The owner wishes to plot the land into six pieces, each piece having an existing building.

2. PZ25-12 at 220 Spring Branch Lane starting at .pdf page 30 of the above packet link. It appears the owner wishes to divide into three lots each just under 0.3 acres.

(14:45) The third public hearing was to rezone 600 W. Kennedale Parkway from Urban Village (UV) to Commercial (C2) starting at .pdf page 40 of the above packet. The site plan included was for a series of multiple businesses within small buildings.

Everything on the agenda was approved.

Other News....

Kennedale Loses Opener

Kennedale lost its season opener at home to La Vega (Waco), 41-3. This Friday, they will be at home vs. Aubrey.

Bring It Event

Kennedale will be having a Bring It event this Saturday, September 6, from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. (or when full), at the Town Center Entrance off Corey A. Edwards. Kennedale residency will be required. Items accepted include: paint, paper, electronics, and mattresses.

November 4 Voting

There will be fewer voting locations for the November 4 election this year. Original plans were for 24 early voting locations and 214 election day locations. Thanks to the efforts of our precinct commission, Alisa Simmons, Kennedale's Dover Fellowship Hall was added as an early voting location. Final count: 33 early voting locations and 214 election day locations.

Articles by:

Kim Roberts of The Texas News can be read at: https://thetexan.news/elections/2025/tarrant-county-adopts-smaller-list-of-early-voting-and-election-day-polling-locations/article_412f84c7-c238-4b39-9506-4c7f673eb3f5.html?vgo_ee=hVa5PdigIbQ%2Ft0%2FxMzZ0bvgsod90ZMk0LsmvyTEaCZFhtTBMvsJt%3AZyNpQ4b%2Fi1mRyw1poQeXKJcxPTxYIwDv .

Pedro Malkomes and Taylor Sansom of UTA's Shorthorn can be read at: https://www.theshorthorn.com/news/city/tarrant-county-commissioners-court-cuts-over-100-voting-sites-for-november-election/article_ee8590e2-29c2-45da-ade5-e9d2c1de2867.html

Drew Shaw of the Fort Worth Report can be read at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/08/19/tarrant-county-commissioners-cut-100-plus-polling-sites-reduce-early-voting-locations/ .

KISD A-F Accountability Scores

In an article by Chris Moss of the Arlington Report/Fort Worth Report he reports on the A-F Accountability scores for the past two years, just released August 15. His report is for the KISD, AISD, and MISD and can be found at: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/08/15/heres-how-arlington-area-schools-fared-in-texas-a-f-ratings/ .

Library Closed

The physical library is closed through September 15 for shelving and furniture installation. The electronic library and Arlington and Mansfield libraries are available options.

The library is scheduled to open again on Tuesday, September 16. They also are planning a Grand Reopening on Saturday, September 20.

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 0.672500

9. Burleson 0.6627000

10. Grand Prairie 0.6600000

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