The city of Kyle took the first step toward becoming an “entitlement city” Feb. 18. On first reading the city council unanimously approved a resolution declaring the city to have a population in excess of 50,000 and to correspondingly increase its ETJ from two miles from the city limits to three and a half.

Among other things, that would entitle the city to received federal Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Mayor Travis Mitchell explained.

“We’ve obviously never re...