Kempner council approves street light
By MAT TAYLOR Special Correspondent

Kempner City Council in a recent meeting approved the installation of a street light at the intersection of U.S. Highway 190 and Peach Street, two blocks east of downtown Kempner.

Hamilton County Electric Cooperative will install the light.

At a previous meeting, Kempner resident Walter Prugh requested the council consider a light at the location, saying it is a dangerous intersection because of the way the highway curves, and it is difficult to see the intersection at night. A light would make it safer for drivers, he added.

Mayor Gene Isenhour said he contacted the Hamilton County utility co-op and was told the cost would be $1,575 to install a pole, transformer and light. A monthly fee of about $10 also would be assessed.

The owner of the property indicated he would pay the monthly fee, Isenhour said.

The only concern voiced by the mayor and council members was that Kempner officials may be setting a precedent, and other citizens would want a street light, too. The city could not afford that expense, they indicated.

"I wish we could install more street lights, but this is a unique situation on a major U.S. highway," the mayor said. "In the future, any other street lights will be based on safety and feasibility."

In other business, Preston Singleton presented the city's 2007 fiscalyear audit, saying Kempner is in good financial condition. The audit showed the city's total revenue for FY 2007 was $184,545.

"Of this, 39 percent came from property taxes, 26 percent for sales taxes, 16 percent from franchise fees, and 14 percent from the Municipal Court and other fees," said Singleton. "Total expenditures for 2007, including all departments, were $123,000. That left an ending fund balance of $152,000, cash and other assets, and that is a good indication of the city's good financial condition."

The CPA's only recommendations were for Kempner to designate a fund balance for certain purposes such as capital improvements, and to adopt an investment policy and designate an investment officer. Isenhour said one designated fund could be set up and used possibly to purchase the building where City Hall is located.

In another item, the council approved the audit, an investment policy and designated the city secretary as the investment officer. Isenhour said all the city's investments are in TexPool.

Also last week, the council OK'd the sale of a surplus police vehicle to a private individual for $500. This was the first serious offer received since the vehicle was posted for sale months earlier.

If the vehicle had not sold, it was the council's intention to donate the car to the Kempner Volunteer Fire Department for its annual fund-raising auction. "As the vehicle was purchased with taxpayers' money, this money should go back into the Police Department fund," Isenhour said.

In another item concerning the department, Police Chief Doug Kahlstrom presented the 2007 Racial Profiling Report. The state mandates all law enforcement agencies report local statistics to their governing body each year.

"Our department supports the Texas legislative mandate for community racial profiling in Texas, and we work under a policy consistent under all state and federal laws," Kahlstrom said.

"Citizens may contact the department to report any conflict with any officer for information on how to file a complaint."

The police chief added that it is the goal of the Kempner Police Department to provide citizens with a safe community and maintain the confidence, respect and support of all citizens.

The report for last year shows Kempner police officers made 372 stops. Of these, 299 were white drivers, 40 Hispanic, 27 black, four were Asians, and two were from other ethnic backgrounds. The report indicates no one was stopped based on his or her creed or color. The department did not receive any complaints on racial profiling during the year.

Before conclusion of the meeting, Isenhour said only the current council members up for election have filed for a seat on the governing body. March 14 is the last date to file for the May 10 election.