The Kennedale City Council is back to square one after nearly a year of dealing with an underfunded city water and sewer operation and by their own admission an unwise ?over-reach? solution. {{more: Read more …}}
Their first solution was to double (and in some cases more) the water/sewer rates. This is a can do city council ? presented with a problem, they immediately look for a solution. Most of the time, they are able to come up with a workable solution. This time it didn?t happen. Not that their solution wasn?t based on a reasoned approach to a big problem, it was just not practical in the real world. Their political acumen had failed them on this one.will consider another set of rates …
With City Hall about to go up (rhetorically) in flames, the City Council backed down this summer and has plans tonight to repeal the water/sewer rates and adopt another set of rates from recommendations proposed by an citizens? committee appointed by the Mayor.
The Committee presented with a herculean task has come up with three options on the water/sewer rates. In addition, they have come up with some good suggestions to help mitigate the impact on rate increases for those who might be struggling income-wise and the elderly and other recommendations on other funding considerations. Final Water Rate Report
To do justice to the report given the present contentious atmosphere, the final report should have been given more time to digest by the public and more than one chance to obtain feedback. And, just as importantly, to have allowed members of the committee to share their thoughts and dissenting opinions. Democracy has been described, at best, a messy business.not the best finacially but the wisest now …
The best solution in this hurried effort, is to take last year’s rates plus 10%. This is mentioned in passing in the water report. The alternative is to taint the well and not only spoil the forwarded minded reputation of City of Kennedale but risk future projects and add the possibility of an unwise and potentially ugly, costly recall election.
In return, the citizens? have to acknowledge that piper has to be paid some way. This year?s proposed city budget is less than last year?s. Once again city staff will receive no raise under the present plan. The staff went 5 years from 2010-2014 without a raise. Increases in water rates are going to be a fact at least in the near future.The argument has been that the city has been wasteful and is always planning the impossible. Yet, in recent years Kennedale has managed to get big bangs from small investments through shared cost projects and studies. In return, Kennedale’s positives have continued to grow.there was real corruption at City Hall …There is some nostalgia for the past and some are accusing the city of trying to forget and bury the Kennedale of old. Yes, there was the Dairy Queen and Kennedale actually had a major grocery store located in Kennedale. But, it has to be remembered that those business left Kennedale and not that Kennedale left them. Kennedale was at best barely holding on if not continuing a downward spiral. There was real corruption at city hall and not the ?I am mad at you, therefore, you must be corrupt? version that has been talked about lately. And that is not even mentioning the “hell hole” that existed at the entrance of Kennedale off of I-20 and B287.Today, businesses are now considering Kennedale as a place to locate rather than the opposite. This is now a place to move to with your family with decent schools and still be in the middle of the metroplex, close to all it has to offer.don’t kill the planner …
Yes, the development in the last several years has been mind-boggling, but no one was predicting that the metroplex would be the hot spot in the nation for growth, setting records residential construction in the last two years. Kennedale has seen its share. It will continue to grow but it has to be remembered that the City of Kennedale is a small area, just over 9 square miles and it does have limited growth potential. Take away land for used by businesses, roadways, parks, school campuses, churches and government property, there really is limited potential residential growth. Which is to say that planning is crucial and that it has to be regularly reviewed and updated.Don?t kill the planner, become one.
