Kennedale departments report rising usage and awards; police honored with FBI-LEEDA recognition

Department heads presented annual reports and highlights to the Kennedale City Council on Feb. 18, reporting across-the-board increases in public use, program attendance and online engagement.

Library director Elizabeth said library visits rose 44% from 2022 to 2024, circulation increased roughly 33% (including a 46% rise in electronic material use), resident library cards were up 46% and program attendance jumped 110%; the library also received the 2024 Achievement of Excellence in Libraries award for the second consecutive year. Elizabeth said the Tocker Foundation application for an expansion is pending with an expected update in March and announced a large book sale Feb. 27–Mar. 1 and a March 15 car show.

Municipal court staff reported growth in caseload and services, including a 102% increase in filings since 2021, a 92% increase in scheduled court dates and $416,000 in departmental revenue in the cited fiscal period; staff also described a new diversion program and an ongoing software conversion aimed at moving more functions online.

John, the city finance director, said ACH payments rose to 22% of vendor payments, the city earned the Government Finance Officers Association’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and general-fund reserves were at an unaudited ~40% at year-end. John said some of the increase categorized as “other” revenue reflects fines, fees and services tied to court and community-development activity.

Greg Hamilton, a retired Travis County sheriff and past president of FBI-LEEDA, presented the FBI-LEEDA Trilogy Award to the Kennedale Police Department for completing supervisory, command and executive leadership training. Hamilton said the award is given to a small number of agencies whose command staff completed the full trilogy and congratulated the department.

Council members congratulated staff for awards and service levels. No policy decisions were taken on these presentations; they were informational updates to the council and public.