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Kennedale officials cite Fort Worth impact-fee invoice, I&I and clay pipe in sewer-rate discussion
Summary
City staff disclosed a $119,670.26 impact-fee invoice from Fort Worth and told council that about 60–70% of Kennedale’s pipe is clay or in poor condition; officials said an interceptor project design should finish by year end with construction in early 2027, but warned rate reductions are unlikely in the near term.
Kennedale’s council debated resident concerns about rising water and sewer bills during a June 16 meeting after staff disclosed a reconciliation invoice from the city of Fort Worth.
John Horton, speaking for city finance/utility staff, said Fort Worth’s audit calculated an impact-fee invoice covering 2019–2023 of $119,670.26, described the invoice as legitimate and said the water/sewer fund has sufficient balance to pay it. Horton noted the fund’s policy reserve target is 25% while the current target-setting sits near 17%: “The fund does support itself,” he said, and added the five-year water-rate plan was designed to cover debt and capital improvements, including the interceptor project.
Council members pressed staff for more clarity about billing drivers after residents reported bills with large fixed charges. One council member summarized the public concern: the combined fixed charges for water and sewer can make a household’s monthly service cost appear high before any usage-based charges are added.
Public works/utility staff described infiltration and inflow (I&I) — rain and groundwater entering sewer pipes — as a key cost driver. A utilities official said about 60–70% of the city’s distribution and collection pipe is clay or older materials and that replacing entire networks is a long-term task: “The interceptor project is one of those because the interceptor project has about 70% of that pipe is clear pipe, and we are trying to get rid of those,” the official said. Staff said design for the interceptor should finish by the end of the year, with construction planned for early spring 2027.
Council members urged clearer public messaging on why rates rose and how bond and capital funds are being spent. Staff said large projects and contractual obligations with regional partners such as Arlington and Fort Worth shape rates and that rate cuts are unlikely in the near term given continuing maintenance and capital needs.
Council did not take final action on rates at the meeting but directed staff to continue planning, provide clearer communications on where rate dollars are spent, and report back with more precise reserve and project accounting.
