Last week, Kempner City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance that will annex 7 acres into the city limits. The tract is the proposed site of the Sylvia Tucker Memorial City Park. Action came after Mayor Gene Isenhour read the seven-page document to the council and Kempner residents in attendance.

Council previously held two public hearings on the annexation, and no comments against the action were registered. Kempner is a Type A General Law city and can annex only land that is adjacent to the city limits.

The 7 acres join the city limits just east of the Taylor Creek bridge and north of U.S. Highway 190.

Second reading of the annexation ordinance will take place at the next council meeting. Final approval is expected.

In other business concerning the city park, Lt. Michael Golanka, U.S. Navy Seabees with the 36th Engineer Brigade at Fort Hood, presented a proposed revised plan and drawings of the Sylvia Tucker Memorial Park and Veterans Memorial.

"The new plan calls for moving the location of the Veterans Memorial nearer the entrance of the park," Golanka said. "The memorial will be more easily viewed by persons traveling U.S. Highway 190."

Isenhour added that if the memorial location had not been moved, it would have been necessary to remove a large pecan tree.

In other changes, the tennis court will be placed at the rear of the park, and a gazebo will be added.

After the council meeting, members of the Park Committee met to review the proposed changes.

In other action last week, the council approved an ordinance abolishing the mayor's salary. The previous mayor received a small salary, however when Isenhour took office he chose not to take the salary. The city suspended the salary on the advice of the city attorney, but it had been included in each year's budget.

Isenhour said now that the salary has been abolished, the funds might be used for other purposes such as road and street repairs. The mayor's salary can be reinstated in the future by a vote of the council.

And the council approved an artist's rendering of an oak tree as the official emblem of the city of Kempner. A member of the 36th Brigade created the watercolor painting. The logo will be used on Kempner stationery and other city documents.

Also last week, Wayne Tucker, Pedernales Electric Cooperative district engineer supervisor, updated the council on PEC activities.

"PEC directors' elections were recently held, and Cristi Clement of Marble Falls was elected director for the north zone," he said. "She will represent Lampasas, Burnet and nearby counties."

Tucker said PEC had reduced its fees for electrical hookups by about two-thirds but increased the cost of extended lines. Under the new plan, customers with a longer distance will pay for obtaining electricity.

Kempner City Council will meet again in regular session on Tuesday.