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The Kennedale City Council met last month with all members present. This was a reconstituted council that now has all 5 members with one year or less of service and a mayor returned to office by an 18 vote margin.? {{more: continue …}}
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?Council appears to be ready ?
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Without a hiccup, this new council took it all in stride and was busy at work in recent meetings. It was on display at the first regular meeting on May 21, 2018.? The following is a brief summary.?
Work Session:?
- conducted interviews for city advisory boards and commissions;?
- reviewed outline of an possible inter-local agreement with the City of Arlington for the operation of water and sewer services (read more at?water/sewer proposal);?
- agree to delay appointments to the City Charter Study Committee to allow time for the two new council members (Linda Rhodes and Chris Pugh) to nominate names to be considered;?
- received information from the staff on a comprehensive survey on city employee compensation that is being developed that targets similar size cities;?
- discussed a business climate hearing with the possibility of an open house design to open a dialogue with city business leaders on ways the city can improve the overall business/city relationship and encourage further business development;?
- members suggestions for the 2018-19 city budget development considerations included:
- keeping the budget tied to no more than the effective tax rate (the rate it would take to maintain the city at its current levels of total expenditures);
- consider increases in staff compensation; and,
- a freeze on senior property taxes (offered by the school district but not the city) with the possibility of making it based on valuations i.e. the higher valuations, the freeze would be phased out or completely eliminated.
Regular Session:
- Recognized the services of recently retired KFD Chief Mike Smith and Public Works Director Larry Lebetter (Read Bios)
- Delayed action for items on the consent agenda that dealt with the proposed widening of the New Hope Road and replacement of existing bridges until a summary of the complete project with cost that be presented to the full council at a later date.
- Approved a change in zoning for 23.1 acres from agricultural to residential, this is a prelude to a residential development that is being planned for a 92 lots subdivision called Magnolia Hills near the intersection of Sublett and Wildcat Way.
The Kennedale City Council meets in regular session on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at Kennedale City Hall, 405 Municipal Way, Kennedale. Find out more @ Kennedale City Council
