Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter

 

January 18, 2026 – Volume 9 Number 3

HIGHLIGHTS:

* City council to meet on Tuesday for three major public hearings.

* Filing for the May Election has started. Three people have filed so far.

* Our analysis of the “Investigation Report” continues – Hiring Austin Degenhart.

 

SCHEDULE:

Monday, January 19: MLK Holiday.

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

Tuesday, January 20: Filing for municipal councils and ISD boards continue.

Canceled - Thursday, January 22: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 27: Library Advisory Board meeting, 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, January 27: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 5: Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Hearing 5:30pm.

Tuesday, February 10: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday, February 10: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.

Friday, February 13: Filing for municipal councils and ISD boards [with name on the ballot ends].

Saturday, February 14: Valentine’s Day.

Monday, February 16: President’s Day.

 

…..

  

KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...

Your City Council

The city council did not meet last week. Their next scheduled city council meeting is this Tuesday, January 20. The agenda includes four public hearings. The agenda packet can be found at:  https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3664/files/agenda/10426  . [very large, just short of 500 pages]

The agenda includes four public hearings (one of which will be moved to February), a regular session, and an executive session.

The four public hearings are for:

1. PZ Case 25-17, 3100 Joplin Road, change the zoning from MF (Multi-Family) to a PD (planned development). The 287 Alta Landing Apartments are applying for a PD to become compliant in zoning. There is opposition and I believe a super-majority will be necessary to approve. [Information starts on .pdf page 5 of the above packet link.] [Commentary: This situation is a “mess” created by former city manager G.Campbell, former director M.Daley, and a council of J.Altom, C.Pugh, S.Lee, and C.Wandel. Current city manager, D.Hull also may have played a part by issuing the CO while certain issues were not compliant to building codes.]

2. PZ Case 25-20, 4365 Dick Price Road, change the zoning from R1 (residential-large lot) to a PD (planned development). [Information starts on .pdf page 44 of the above packet link.] This is moved to February 17. [Commentary: The information for the case is in the packet even though it is being moved to February. This looks to be a rather important case regarding the future of Kennedale.]

3. PZ Case 25-21, 7205 Hudson Village Creek Road, straight zoning change from C-2 (general commercial) to I (industrial). [Information starts on .pdf page 115 of the above packet link.]

4. PZ Case 25-22, 429 W. Kennedale Parkway, change the zoning from OT4 (OldTown4) to a PD (planned development). [Information starts on .pdf page 136 of the above packet link.] Something that came out at the P&Z meeting was that the areas of the PD not being used would NEED to come before P&Z and the council before they could be used for a certain activity.

 

The regular session includes:

Reports and Announcements includes reporting on TxDOT bump outs (report), monthly financials (report), and quarterly investment (report).

Consent Agenda:

1. Calling for the May 2 General Election for Mayor, Place 2, and Place 4 (resolution 642).

2. Approving the December 16 minutes (minutes).

Five items for individual consideration:

1-4. Ordinances for the four public hearings. (The second will be considered next month. The other information is the information for the public hearing for each item.)

5. Fort Worth Contract regarding Dick Price Road renovations (interlocal agreement).

 

The executive session includes:

deliberation regarding purchase of land.

consultation with counsel on the YMCA contract update.

 

* * * * *

 

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.

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  .

 

Hiring Austin Degenhart

The Investigation Report has a Bryant Griffith interview section on pages 5-15. The pages split between pages 14 and 15 and contain:

“Mr. Griffith reported Mayor Horton attempted to violate a City Charter rule against hiring someone within two-years after the person served as an elected official. Specifically, Griffith alleged that at some time after Mayor Horton took office as the mayor, Mayor Horton started discussing hiring Austin Degenhart, former councilman, to serve as a consultant for the City. However, the City never hired Degenhart.”

The Investigation Report also has a Darrell Hull interview section on pages 15-16. The last paragraph on page 16 contains:

“Mr. Hull had lunch with Mayor Horton and Austin Degenhart, a former councilman. Mr. Hull reported Mayor Horton and Degenhart were close friends and that Mayor Horton wanted to hire Degenhart as a consultant for the City considering Degenhart's project management experience. Mr. Hull informed Mayor Horton and Degenhart there was no exception to the rule against hiring a former councilmember within two years of being in office. The City never hired Degenhart.”

This was addressed at the May 1 council meeting. The May 1 city council meeting may be viewed at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rtKoyQ1LXU . The Griffith complaint discussion starts at about 1:32:05. About 1:42:43 they discuss the hiring of Austin Degenhart.

The Investigation Report has a Summary and analysis of allegations section on pages 23-30. On page 30 it deals with Allegation #12: Mayor Horton attempted to violate the City Charter by hiring a former councilman as a consultant and states:

“12. Allegation #12: Mayor Horton attempted to violate the City Charter by hiring a former councilman as a consultant.

        Mr. a Griffith alleged Mayor Horton discussed hiring former councilman Degenhart as consultant for the City. Section 3.05 of the City Charter states, "[n]o former member of the City Council shall hold any compensated appointed City office or employment with the City for a period of two years after the expiration of the term of office." According to Mayor Horton and Hull, Mayor Horton and Hull had lunch with Degenhart to discuss the possibility of Degenhart working for the City. However, Hull reported there was no exception to Section 3.5 of the City Charter. Councilman Nevarez reported Councilman Nevarez believes an attempt to hire Degenhart is a violation of the City Charter.

        Because the City did not actually hire Degenhart, no one violated the City Charter. This allegation is unfounded.”

 Why is Mr. Griffith wasting time and money on such allegations?

 

* * * * *

 

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.

 

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Last Week

There were no meetings last week.

 

This Week

There is a city council meeting scheduled for Tuesday this week (their normal monthly meeting on the third Tuesday of the month).

The regular P&Z meeting (the fourth Thursday of the month) has been canceled.

 

Public Hearings

On Tuesday, January 20, 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 Tuesday, January 20, the city council 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 Tuesday, January 20, the city council 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.

On Thursday, February 5, there will be the second Hazard Mitigation Plan public hearing.

On Tuesday, February 17, the city council 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.

 

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EDC

The next Economic Development Corporation (EDC) meeting should be on January 27.

 

P&Z

P&Z will probably meet again on Thursday, February 26.

 

Other News....

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

State Costs

Illegal Aliens Cost Texas Hospitals More Than $1 Billion in 2025 (from the January 15, 2026, Texas Minute newsletter)

• According to new data obtained from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the state's hospitals incurred more than $1 billion in health care costs related to illegal aliens during fiscal year 2025.      
• Statewide totals show there were 313,742 hospital visits from illegal aliens. Emergency department visits accounted for roughly $230 million, while total inpatient care exceeded $820 million, underscoring that long-term hospitalizations, not emergency treatment alone, are driving much of the cost.   
• Although hospitals are required under federal law to deliver the care, unpaid medical costs are ultimately passed along to Texans. Taxpayers absorb the burden through higher insurance rates, public hospital funding, and state health programs.

Brandon Walten’s article in the Texas Scorecard at:  https://texasscorecard.com/state/illegal-aliens-cost-texas-hospitals-over-1-billion-in-2025/ .

 

HELPFUL WEBSITES and CONTACTS

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Kennedale Observer website:

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

 

Latest Kennedale Observer newsletter:

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

 

The “Investigation” Report

http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_13.html

 

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

 

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Kennedale Observer website:

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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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