City Council initiates recall process for TAD leader

The City of Keller is unapologetic about protecting our taxpayers.

You may have seen in the news this week that City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to initiate a recall of the Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Director's chairperson. This morning, we received confirmation that she has resigned her seat.

I’d like to offer a little background on our reasons for taking this extraordinary step.

When my colleagues and I ran for office, every one of us did so with a pledge that we would do everything we could to bring real tax relief to Keller taxpayers. Your tax bill is the result of a two-step formula: the valuation of your property as assessed by TAD and the tax rates and exemptions being set by the individual taxing entities.

Keller has taken significant measures to reduce the tax burden on our residents by setting the city’s tax rate at or below the effective rate — also known as the “no new revenue rate” — for five years in a row. There are few, if any, entities in the State of Texas that can say the same. But we know we are only one piece of this puzzle, and our property owners need to understand and trust this process from start to finish.

Along with our pledge to reduce the tax burden on our residents, we also made a pledge to increase accountability and transparency in local government — and that includes the process to apportion our votes in selecting the individuals who make up the Tarrant Appraisal Board of Directors.

For those who may not fully understand this process, the Tarrant Appraisal District Board of Directors are appointed to two-year terms and are appointed by the taxing entities that make up Tarrant County. This means that taxpayers do not directly vote for the Board of Directors, but instead rely on their city councils, school boards, and county commissioners to vote on their behalf.

Here in Keller, we take these appointments seriously. We invite all the candidates interested in serving on the Board of Directors to meet with us or address us at a council meeting, and all of the individuals who have received votes from the City of Keller in recent years have accepted that invitation.

We disbursed our votes in late 2021 under the premise that we would see increased accountability and transparency at TAD; that’s what we were promised by all those seeking our support.

For me personally, I will also add that the vote on Tuesday night was not about any one individual; I don’t know TAD’s leadership or its board of directors on a personal level, and by all accounts, they may be good people and good neighbors.

Ultimately, our vote this week to initiate a recall of the board’s chairperson was based on simple questions: Is TAD more accountable and transparent today than it was two years ago? Do our taxpayers in Keller have more trust in the appraisal process? Are Keller taxpayers afforded a level playing field when protesting their assessments, or when representing others during their protests?

Based on numerous conversations, phone calls, and emails from our constituents over the past two years, the answer to those questions has been a resounding “no.”

When a former state senator is having to formally request that the TAD Board of Directors investigate why the number of protests has spiked drastically in Tarrant County compared to others across the state; when we hear stories of a former TAD employee harassing female employees; when we hear stories of a high-ranking TAD employee targeting the livelihood and professional license of someone solely on the basis that they were assisting others with their protests, that creates serious distrust. And we as a City Council, working on behalf of all of you, are not seeing swift and appropriate action in addressing these issues.

Let me be clear: This distrust didn’t happen overnight. Tarrant County residents have voiced concerns about the appraisal district for many years now. But when we cast our votes in December 2021, we expected progress on behalf of our taxpayers. We haven’t seen that progress.

It’s time for change.

-Mayor Armin Mizani

Applications open for Metroport Teen Court Advisory Board

One spot has opened on the Metroport Teen Court Advisory Board, and the City Secretary's Office is now accepting applications from Keller residents interested in volunteering their time.

Members of this board, which meets the first Monday of every other month, advise City Councils and staff on the operation of the Teen Court and assist in the development of community resources to advance the program, which offers juvenile offenders the opportunity to assume responsibility for their actions by involvement in the judicial process and completion of community service.

The Metroport Teen Court Advisory Board consists of three members from each participating city (Keller, Colleyville, Grapevine, and Southlake). Keller's representation on the board includes one council member and two at-large members. Applicants must be Keller citizens and registered voters; applications will be accepted through Sunday, March 12.

Learn more at www.cityofkeller.com/serve. 

Mizani secures second term as mayor, five vie for two Council seats

Filing for this spring’s City Council election wrapped up on Friday! Here are the candidates vying for your vote in the May 6, 2023 contest.

First things first, congratulations to Mayor Armin Mizani! Mayor Mizani did not draw an opponent, so while his name will still appear on the ballot for those of you who enjoy being thorough in checking boxes, he is guaranteed another three-year term.

In the Place 5 and Place 6 races, Keller voters will have their choice of candidates as follows (in alphabetical order).
Place 5: Becky Haskin and Chris Whatley (incumbent)
Place 6: Mitch Holmes, Ross McMullin (incumbent) and Rebecca Tovar
Early voting for the May election will run from April 24 through May 2, 2023. As a reminder, City Council candidates must win over 50% of the vote to claim victory. If none of the candidates in the Place 6 race pulls off that margin, the top two vote-getters will advance to a runoff election.

Please note: Erik Leist filed for the Place 5 race and was included in the city's original candidate announcements, but later withdrew his application.

Vote now for Keller Lights fireworks soundtrack

We know it's only February, but we are already looking forward to the summer! Go ahead and save the date: This year's Keller Lights event celebrating Independence Day is set for Saturday night, July 1, in Keller Town Center. Join us for live music, a hot dog-eating contest, great food and drink vendors, and, of course, an incredible fireworks show!

This is where you come in: Keller Parks & Rec is running a survey through the weekend to help pick the songs that will be used to accompany this year's fireworks show. Get your vote in now (it closes Monday), and make a plan to join us in July!
Vote on Fireworks Playlist

Garbage vendor changes customer service availability

Need to speak with CWD? The city’s garbage and recycling vendor is adjusting their customer service hours starting next week. Following a review of their customer call volumes, the new hours kicking off Monday, Feb. 27, will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours will stay the same, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

As a reminder, CWD can be reached directly at 817-795-9300 or [email protected].

Submissions due March 24 for incoming Old Town sculptures
Get your applications in, Texas sculptors! The Public Arts Board will soon choose up to six new pieces to install as part of the Old Town Keller Rotating Sculpture Program. The selected sculptures will spend the next two years further enhancing the eclectic blend of restaurants, retail and office space within the six-block footprint south of Keller Parkway and west of Main Street.

A $1,500 honorarium will be awarded for each of the selected pieces, and one Best in Show winner will receive an additional $500. All sculptures must be the original work of a Texas artist, family appropriate, pose no risk to public safety, be made of materials that can withstand the harsh Texas weather and require no maintenance once installed.

Submissions are due March 24. Learn more and apply now at www.cityofkeller.com/callforart.

Click Here To View The City Of Keller Connect Weekly E-Newsletter: February 23-March 2, 2023