Kempner sets city election
By MAT TAYLOR Special Correspondent

Kempner City Council recently voted to call for a municipal election on May 10. The office of mayor and council places 1 and 4 will be on the ballot at that time. Mayor Gene Isenhour, Place 1 Councilman Paul Cook and Place 5 Councilwoman Melba Vandeveer all have filed for their posts.

The last day to file is March 10.

Isenhour said any Kempner resident is eligible to file for any of the positions. If no race is contested, however, the election can be canceled, which would save the city taxpayer funds.

In a related action, the council approved a joint election resolution with Lampasas County. Terms of the agreement allow the two entities to hold joint elections, and the county will provide polling sites for early voting and Election Day balloting.

In other business, the council OK'd a request from the Kempner Volunteer Fire Department to hang a banner over U.S. Highway 190 to advertise the department's annual barbecue and auction. Isenhour said the Texas Department of Transportation also had approved the banner, and all liability insurance requirements have been met.

Kempner VFD Fire Chief Dan Hause said the annual fund-raising event will be March 1, beginning at 4 p.m.

The department is accepting donations of new or gently used items that will be auctioned to raise funds for the department.

Isenhour said in previous years some items donated should have been taken to the junk yard. He believes persons should donate only quality items that someone else would like to purchase. If the city's surplus police vehicle does not sell soon, it will be donated to the fire department's auction, the mayor added.

Also last week, Pedernales Electric Cooperative representative Greg Buck updated the council on PEC activities in the Kempner area. Work is continuing to upgrade several electric feeder lines.

"Due to this work, some customers have had their electric service temporarily interrupted," Buck said. "Unfortunately, these temporary outages will probably occur again until the work is completed."

He presented the city a franchise check of $9,413.71. This represents two percent of the electric power sold in the city.

Isenhour said Kempner is negotiating a new franchise fee with the utility cooperative.

"Franchise fees allow utility companies the right to use city streets and right of way, and even though other costs have risen dramatically, the franchise fee was set for a 10-year period."

In another matter, former Justice of the Peace Walter Prugh encouraged the council to install a street light at the intersection of U.S. 190 and County Road 4616. Prugh said this is a dangerous intersection, and a light would make it more visible.

Isenhour said Hamilton County Electric Cooperative has been contacted about this request, and the item will be placed on an upcoming agenda. An initial expense and monthly fees are involved.

Prugh also suggested the yield sign on Orchard Street where it intersects Pecan Street be changed to a stop sign. "There is a lot of traffic on Pecan Street going to the post office, and safety would be improved if there was a stop sign."

The mayor said the police chief would study the intersection and that a stop sign would be considered at an upcoming meeting.

The next regular City Council meeting will be Tuesday at 7 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers.