Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter
March 15, 2026 – Volume 9 Number 11
HIGHLIGHTS:
* City council to meet on Tuesday; the $3 million sports complex on the agenda.
* May 2 Election has three contested races:
Ballot Order:
Mayor – Brian Johnson
Mayor – Thelma Kobeck
Place 2 – James Connor
Place 2 – Bryant Griffith
Place 4 – Ryon Ray
Place 4 – Melissa Barrow
Question 3 responses are in this newsletter.
SCHEDULE:
Tuesday, March 17: City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17: St. Patrick's Day.
Tuesday, March 24: EDC Board meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 26: P&Z meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Friday, April 3: Good Friday, City Offices closed.
Sunday, April 5: Easter.
Tuesday, April 14: KKB (Keep Kennedale Beautiful) meeting, 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 14: Parks Board meeting, 6:30 p.m.
KNOW WHAT YOUR CITY IS UP TO...
Your City Council
The city council did not meet last week. The March regular meeting is scheduled for this Tuesday, March 17. There seem to be two public hearings on that agenda. The packet can be found at: https://kennedaletx.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3666/files/agenda/10499 .
The agenda includes seven presentations, two public hearings, a regular session, and an executive session.
The seven presentations include:
swearing in of two police officers.
Proclamation for Women's History Month (proclamation).
Texas Coalition for Affordable Prices (TCAP) (presentation).
2025 Kennedale Fire Annual Report (report) [Note: there was a large decline in activity.].
2025 Library, Senior Center, and Communications Annual Report (report).
2025 Municipal Court Annual Report (report).
2025 Finance/IT Annual Report (report).
The two public hearings include:
proposed Community Development Block Grant improvements to build ADA compliant sidewalks along West Third Street (no presentation available).
consider PZ26-01 to change OT-4 zoning to C-2 at 444 E. Kennedale Parkway (information starts on .pdf page 82 of the packet link above).
The regular session includes reports and announcements (financials), consent agenda (Feb 17 minutes, 2025 racial profiling report, starts on .pdf page 126 of the packet link above, water cut-off ordinance from 5 days late to 30 days, starts on .pdf page 201 of the packet link above), and five items for individual consideration.
The five items for individual consideration:
1. Contracting the Kennedale Fire Department with Tarrant County regarding emergency service district (contract).
2. Speed Fab Crete proposed Kennedale Sports Complex (report). The total is 2,314,112 plus several additional alternatives which could total $2,945,868.
3. Proposed ordinance for the 444 E. Kennedale Parkway zoning case [public hearing earlier] (ordinance).
4. Paying to be part of ATMOS Steering Committee to negotiate a lower rate than being proposed (starts on .pdf page 245 of the packet link above).
5. Briar Court sewer project (bids). The low bid was $689,948.50.
The executive session includes potential land purchase and potential use of EDC land at 811 W. Kennedale Parkway.
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.
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 .
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.
Candidate Question 3: Back in June of 2023 the city council approved a senior tax freeze. Details of some of the issues can be seen at: http://arlspectator.mysite.com/blank_10.html . What is your opinion of the actions of:
a) the city attorney?
b) the city manager?
c) the June 2023 City Council?
Why do you hold these opinions (what supports your viewpoint)?
Ballot Order:
Mayor – Brian Johnson – Did not respond.
Mayor – Thelma Kobeck –
The ordinance in question reads, in part:
“…Effective with tax year 2024, the total amount of ad valorem taxes imposed on the
residence homestead of a person who is disabled or (65) years of age or older shall not
be increased while it remains the residence homestead of that person…”
This is an ordinance that was approved in June 2023. Most people hearing or reading the ordinance would logically assume that the wording “Effective with tax year 2024” would mean that the freeze would occur with the 2024 tax statements.
Apparently, though, there were several breakdowns to this occurring.
The city attorney could have ensured that a more detailed, more specific ordinance was written and that documents that went forward to TAD (Tarrant Appraisal District) could have been more specific in terms of exactly WHEN the tax freeze took effect.
The city manager also could have ensured that the ordinance was specific regarding the effective tax year and date of the senior tax freeze. Also, the documentation that went forward to TAD does not seem to have been submitted in a timely manner, which further compounded the issue of when the tax freeze took effect. Along with this, it seems that city staff, including the city manager, did not follow up with TAD to ensure that documentation submitted was actually approved.
The June 2023 city council might not have been expected to know the finer legal points of writing the ordinance, but when concerns arose later regarding when the senior tax freeze was SUPPOSED to take effect, the members of city council who were also on city council in June 2023 certainly did not question the apparent double-speak by the city attorney and the city manager regarding the effective date of the senior tax freeze.
In my opinion, a series of events occurred that delayed the senior tax freeze from going into effect. The ordinance was poorly written to lack specificity, it was not submitted in a timely manner to TAD and after submission no one from the city followed up to ensure that everything was moving forward for the tax freeze to be implemented. When questions and concerns arose about the obvious delay, both the city attorney and the city manager seem to have scurried to cover their tracks by insisting that the intention for the tax freeze was to use 2024 as the cap year, not the implementation year, and the sitting members of city council who were on council in June 2023 backed them up. All in all, there was less concern about relieving the senior citizen taxpayers of Kennedale and more concern about looking good for “freezing seniors’ taxes” and then covering themselves when it was discovered that they made a mess of the entire situation.
Place 2 – James Connor – On June 18, 2023, the Kennedale City Council voted on the senior tax freeze and it passed unanimously. The purpose of that ordinance was straightforward: protect seniors who live on fixed incomes from rising property taxes. I supported that ordinance (as it started with my council in 2022) because helping our seniors remain in their homes and providing stability in their tax burden is simply the right thing to do.
However, what should have been a clear and positive step for our community instead turned into a blame game that raised serious concerns about how the ordinance was handled after it passed.
When the city council approves an ordinance, the vote alone does not make it law. The ordinance must be signed and delivered to the agency responsible for implementation. That means it must be codified into the City’s Code of Ordinances and, when necessary, transmitted to the government entity responsible for implementing it. In this case, that includes ensuring the Tarrant County Appraisal District receives the ordinance so the senior tax freeze can actually be applied.
a) The City Attorney
The city attorney’s responsibility is to ensure the ordinance complies with Texas law and that the council fully understands what it is voting on. Council members rely on that legal guidance to understand exactly what an ordinance will accomplish and when it will take effect.
When policies involve something as significant as property taxes, there must be absolute clarity about the legal details and timelines. If there was confusion about when the senior tax freeze would apply, that indicates the legal implications may not have been communicated as clearly as they should have been during the council’s deliberations.
b) The City Manager
The city manager is responsible for ensuring the will of the city council is carried out. That includes codifying the ordinance and ensuring it is sent to the proper entity so it can be implemented.
In this case, concerns were raised that the ordinance was not sent to the Tarrant Appraisal District or properly codified in a timely manner. When that step does not occur within the required timeframe, the ordinance can effectively stall and may have to be brought back before the council and passed again. That didn't happen, thankfully.
That is not a minor administrative detail. It is a critical responsibility of the city managers office. When a policy intended to help seniors is delayed because those steps were not completed properly, the consequences fall directly on the residents the policy was meant to protect, meaning our seniors had to wait a full year for relief. In my opinion, that was wrong and they deserve it to be back dated. That unfortunately cant happen. Our City Manager is a good man. I know him well. I do believe this was a mistake by his staff and not him directly. However, the responsibility still rests on his shoulders.
c) The June 2023 City Council
The council made the right decision by passing the senior tax freeze. The vote was unanimous, and the intent was clear: provide meaningful tax relief and stability for seniors in Kennedale.
I was proud to support that vote because protecting seniors from rising taxes is the right policy for our community. But when the council takes action, the process does not end with the vote. The ordinance must be implemented properly so residents actually receive the benefit the council approved.
Conclusion
The senior tax freeze itself was the right policy decision. The problem was not the vote taken by the council—it was what happened afterward.
Our seniors should never be placed in a position where administrative delays or failures prevent them from receiving the protections the council approved. When the council acts, the ordinance must be properly placed on the books, transmitted to the appropriate agencies, and implemented without delay.
Our residents deserve a city government that follows through on its decisions, carries out the will of the council, and remains fully accountable to the people it serves.
Place 2 – Bryant Griffith – The June 2023 City Council deserves credit for unanimously approving the freeze, demonstrating a shared commitment to supporting older residents. Council members relied on staff recommendations and legal guidance as municipal governance is designed to function. The primary lesson from this experience is that complex policies require especially clear communication so residents understand not only what is being adopted but how and when it will take effect. Ultimately, Kennedale joined neighboring communities in providing stability for seniors, which represents meaningful progress for our city.
I supported the senior tax freeze when it was adopted in June 2023 and continue to support it today because helping seniors remain in their homes is both fiscally responsible and morally appropriate for a community like Kennedale. The policy itself reflected a shared commitment across council to support residents living on fixed incomes. Much of the controversy that followed stemmed not from disagreement about helping seniors, but from confusion surrounding legal timelines and implementation requirements governed by state law.
The city attorney’s responsibility is to ensure ordinances comply with Texas statutes, particularly in areas such as property taxation that are tightly regulated. Based on the legal framework governing tax freezes, the guidance provided reflected when the policy could legally take effect. While reasonable people may debate expectations about timing, the attorney’s role is to provide legal compliance, not policy preference.
The city manager’s role is administrative implementation and communication. In hindsight, clearer explanation of how effective dates translate into tax statements may have helped better align public expectations. However, differences in interpretation or communication should not be mistaken for a lack of concern for seniors. The administration worked to implement the policy within the legal and procedural constraints that exist in municipal taxation.
Place 4 – Ryon Ray – Without access to the full details much of which are not available either because discussions were made during executive session and or simply are not available with 100% validity, I can not provide a responsible response to the events surrounding the senior tax freeze nor can any other candidate unless they were on council at that time. To this point, the continued request to go backwards in time is the reason for my candidacy. I’m ready to move our city forward. We are at an EXCITING time in the history of our city and the opportunities are great.
Place 4 – Melissa Barrow - Policies that affect taxes are rarely simple and require a delicate balance between compassion and fiscal responsibility. They also demand integrity, doing what is right for our constituents while following the laws and procedures that govern our decisions; transparency, being open about the process and the reasoning behind those decisions; and respect for our residents, including taking responsibility if a misstep occurs. As a candidate, I have built my campaign on the tenets of integrity, transparency, and respect.
The questions surrounding the June 2023 senior tax freeze are not whether seniors deserve relief or whether the policy creates financial hardship for the city. Helping seniors on fixed incomes remain in their homes is something most Kennedale residents support, and I understand why this policy is important to many in our community. Instead, the discussion in the community has focused on whether the proper laws and procedures were followed in adopting the ordinance.
While the city attorney’s role is to provide clear legal guidance and the city manager’s role is to provide the information and analysis necessary for the council to make informed decisions, the responsibility for policy decisions rests with the city council. We would hope we have hired and installed knowledgeable and expert staff in the roles of city manager and city attorney that would support council with all necessary information and anticipate questions, but ultimately, the onus for policy decisions is on council. Before casting a vote, council members have a duty to ensure they understand the laws, procedures, and implications of the actions they are approving or declining.
In my professional life as a researcher, asking questions is second nature to me. If something isn’t clear, I keep asking until I understand it fully. That same approach should guide council decisions. Residents deserve confidence that the decisions made on their behalf are both compassionate and lawful. When there is confusion about legality, process, or implementation, as appears to have been the case with the timing and legal framework of the senior tax freeze, it is the responsibility of council members to ask clarifying questions until they have the information necessary to stand by their vote confidently and clearly explain their reasoning to the constituents they represent.
That diligence reflects integrity in decision-making, transparency with the public, and respect for residents who expect thoughtful and responsible leadership from those elected to serve them.
# # # # # # # # # # #
Last Week
Last week the Keep Kennedale Beautiful (KKB) (agenda) and the Parks Board (agenda) met on Tuesday. The KKB meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Twx4Qv_EMVI . The parks board meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyAOZP61eiw .
The Board of Adjustment (BOA) met on Thursday. Their meeting included a public hearing (packet). That meeting may be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_1_hMHaHkY . The special exemption was approved, 4-0.
This Week
The city council meets on Tuesday for its regular monthly meeting. The agenda includes the $3 million Kennedale Sports Complex.
Public Hearings
On Tuesday, March 17, the city council will hold a public hearing on PZ26-01 to change the zoning from Old Town-4 to General Commercial-2 at 444 E. Kennedale Parkway.
On Tuesday, March 17, the city council will hold a public hearing for the 52nd Year Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to install 1175 linear feet of ADA compliant sidewalk along W. 3rd Street (within the limits of Municipal Drive and North Road).
On ???, the city council will hold a public hearing for ordinance #795 to prohibit the exposure of children to illegal drugs.
On ???, the city council will hold a public hearing for ordinance #796 for adopting speed limits on certain roadways.
EDC
The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Board is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, March 24.
P&Z
The P&Z meeting on Thursday, March 26 has been canceled. The next meeting might be Thursday, April 23.
Other News....
Chamber of Commerce
The Kennedale Area Chamber of Commerce has concluded operations. [ https://mailchi.mp/bb4e0f67ceca/future-of-the-chamber?e=b408c67838 ]
[Commentary: Brian Johnson, candidate for Mayor was president. Bryant Griffith, candidate for Place 2 was vice-president. I do not know enough to flat out say 100% for sure it is their fault, but it sure does not look good when the Chamber has been able to survive on a shoestring budget for many, many years in the past and is now shutting down. The pair knew of Chamber's finances when they took their positions of power and are now shutting it down. It certainly gives the impression that the pair loves spending other people's money--the last thing I would want from my mayor and council.]
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
HELPFUL WEBSITES and CONTACTS
Would you like to be added to our mailing list? Please send an e-mail to: KennedaleObserver@yahoo.com requesting to be added to our mailing list.
Also, please feel free to share this newsletter with your friends.
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
1083 Bowman Springs:
http://www.arlspectator.mysite.com/rich_text_45.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
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
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].
To apply for appointed positions:
https://www.cityofkennedale.com/boardapp
To be added to/deleted from our list, please
e-mail: KennedaleObserver@yahoo.com