Kempner appoints building commission
Group to review complaints on unsafe structures in city
By MAT TAYLOR Special Correspondent

Kempner City Council last week appointed two new members to the city's Building Standards Commission. Former councilman Rex Hooten and Kempner resident Larry Bishop will join Ray Upp, the only current member.

Mayor Gene Isenhour said the city ordinance calls for three commission members. For various reasons, other members had resigned, which made it difficult for the commission to function, the mayor added.

Hooten and Bishop have agreed to serve. Some complaints have been filed recently, and there are structures that need to be looked at, Isenhour said.

"We will work together on this, and the city secretary will assist the commission by sending notification letters and in other ways," the mayor said. "This is a good commission, and I believe they will make the city more pleasing and safer by removing old, unsafe structures."

In other action, the council approved a proclamation designating April as Fair Housing Month in the city.

The council also adopted the state's record management schedule for city records. City Secretary Frances Spinney said the council previously adopted an ordinance concerning city records, and the new system specifies how long certain documents have to be kept and what records can be thrown away after a specific period.

"We are ready to dispose of as much paperwork as possible," she said.

In other business, Isenhour said he would attend the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation's annual information meeting April 24. Department personnel will outline projects planned for the next three years in San Saba, Mills and Lampasas counties. The mayor said he assumed the FM 2657 project would be reviewed.

Isenhour added that Kempner has been in negotiations with the utility companies that use city streets.

"Kempner had 10-year agreements, and all are expiring this year," he said. "We are looking to reduce the contract periods down to five years and increasing the fees. Everyone knows the cost of maintaining streets has greatly increased in the last 10 years."

The mayor said he has met with the Kempner Water Supply Corp. general manager, and Mayor Pro Tem Paul Cook will attend the next meeting of KWSC directors to answer any questions concerning the franchise fees.

The city also is in negotiations with electric companies, Isenhour said.

And sign ordinance violation letters have been mailed, Isenhour said, regarding portable signs in the right of way. Signs must be securely anchored and have proper electrical requirements, he said.

"This is a safety issue and to clean up the appearance of the city," he said. "The purpose of the letter is to request voluntary compliance. However, if they do not respond, citations could be issued. We want our ordinances to be worth more than the paper they are written on."

The next council meeting will be April 22 at 7 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The council also will hold a workshop May 13 to address electronic signs and other issues.