At last week's Kempner City Council meeting, Lampasas County Game Warden Jim Lindeman spoke regarding gun laws in the city. He said game wardens could not enforce city ordinances but can provide assistance to the police department in other ways.

"I'm glad you have checked into the practice of discharging firearms inside the city limits," Lindeman said. "Thankfully, in Lampasas County, there have not been any shooting accidents in the last 14 years."

The game warden said he receives a lot of calls about discharging firearms close to neighborhoods and houses.

Under the local government code, however, even in cities with firearms ordinances, anybody on 10 acres or more is allowed to discharge a shotgun or a pellet gun. Landowners with more than 20 acres can discharge anything up to a high-powered rifle as long as the projectile does not cross the property line.

Police Chief David Sheedy said in the last several months he has received six reports of shots being fired, and of these, only three were suspect.

Mayor Gene Isenhour noted that Kempner remains primarily a rural area, and when the city was incorporated the council did not adopt a firearms ordinance. "We wanted citizens to have the right to protect their property, livestock and lives."

In response to a question concerning concealed weapons in a vehicle while traveling, Lindeman said a new law defines what "traveling" is and that people generally are allowed to carry a concealed weapon in their vehicles in most traveling situations.

Under the new law, the state has to prove the person is not in a "traveling mode," unless the person is prohibited from carrying a weapon such as when intoxicated, in possession of drugs or with the intent to commit a crime.

Citizens cannot carry a concealed weapon on their person unless they have a concealed carry permit.

Isenhour said the council at a later date may want to consider a firearms ordinance, and then the government code 10-acre rule would apply.

"The ordinance would include some exemptions such as a person with an approved gun range with an adequate safe backstop," he said.

In other business, a public hearing was held regarding the annexation of 7.08 acres on the north side of U.S. Highway 190, including a portion of Taylor Creek, that will be used for a city park. No comments about the annexation were received.

"I would be surprised if there would have been any negative comments about the annexation or the park," the mayor said.

The second public hearing on the annexation will be tonight at 7 p.m.

Isenhour updated the council on progress of the city park. He said the property line fence has been completed, and Morse Welding will install an entrance gate at no cost.

Fort Hood engineers also have prepared drawings that show the proposed location of facilities such as a veterans memorial, pavilion, tennis and volleyball courts, restrooms, picnic tables and playground equipment.

In other business, Sheedy reported on the purchase of an incar digital video camera system for one of the city's police vehicles.

He said the new unit replaces an old VHS system that was located in the truck of a police car and does not work properly when it is hot.

"There were stops and gaps in the old unit, and it is imperative that we have good high-quality video and audio," said the police chief. "It protects the officer and the person being stopped on the road."

Cost of the new video unit was about $5,000, but video is an invaluable tool in the event of a lawsuit or legal action, Sheedy added.

The video also may be used for racial profiling purposes, the mayor said. "This is good protection for our officers."

In another action item, the council approved a resolution adopting a live oak tree symbol for use on city stationery and other documents. The live oak symbol has been used by Kempner since its incorporation but was never officially adopted.

Isenhour prepared the resolution that designates the live oak tree as the city's official symbol. "I did not want us to use a cedar tree," he said.

The resolution notes that the live oak is common in the city, is valued by residents for its beauty and is a symbol of strength. "Live oaks live to be centuries old, and we hope our city will be here for a long period also," Isenhour said.

A live oak at the intersection of U.S. 190 and FM 3170, west of the city, was known in early years as the landmark tree for the town of Kempner.

That indicates the local historical significance of the live oak, the mayor added.