At last week's Kempner City Council meeting, Mayor Gene Isenhour discussed the upcoming Veterans Day observance at the new Veterans Memorial in the Sylvia Tucker Memorial City Park.

The ceremony to dedicate the memorial will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. The mayor reviewed the program, which includes the Lampasas High School band playing patriotic music and "Taps," an invocation by the Kempner VFW chaplain, comments by the mayor, singing of the National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, and benediction by a 102- year-old World War II veteran.

The ceremony will take place rain or shine; if it is raining, persons should bring an umbrella.

"Concerning the park, I have eaten, slept and worried and everything else about the park," Isenhour said. "Mother Nature has not been kind to us as we try to complete the Veterans Memorial and other park improvements.

"We have received 17 inches of rain the last two months, and that has slowed work at the park. As someone who was with the fire department for many years, I thought I would never say this, but if you are praying for rain, please stop!"

Isenhour said progress has been made, however, and the Veterans Memorial is substantially complete. The center stone has been erected as well as the two flagpoles. Also, about 40 of the engraved stones have been laid. The remaining stones -- about 60 -- will be laid next week.

The mayor added that as many as 45 soldiers from the 36th Engineer Brigade have worked several days in the park to clear brush and trees, and burn brush piles. When soil is dry enough, road base will be laid on the parking area, he said.

Isenhour also said the city is exploring the possibility of applying for a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant to further develop the park.

In other business, the council decided to cast its entire 19 votes for Mike Kriegel for the Lampasas Central Appraisal District Board of Directors nomination.

Isenhour said Kriegel is the city's engineer and has done probono work for Kempner. "He has surveying experience, and it would be beneficial to have him on the board," the mayor added.

Mayor Pro Tem Paul Cook said the appraisal district affects the people's pocketbooks and has a direct effect on how much money the city will receive to do its business.

"We need to have a balance on the board between the good of the individual citizen and the good of the whole community," he said. "We need people on the board who will give fair appraisals."

In other matters, the council approved a proclamation designating Nov. 2-6 as Municipal Court Week in Kempner. The proclamation recognizes the work of local Municipal Court Judge Yolanda Cortes Mares, prosecution attorney Jeffrey Parker, Administrative Judge Frances Spinney and court clerk Trudy Davis, plus all the municipal courts in the state for the vital services they perform.

Also last week, Kempner resident Gary Guyer presented a Texas flag to the city. Guyer said he purchased the flag at a Kempner Volunteer Fire Department auction. It had been donated to the fire department by former State Rep. Suzanna Hupp to help raise funds for the department.

Guyer said the city could fly the flag, store it or put it on display. The mayor accepted the gift and said the city would find a use for the flag.

Lucy Taylor also addressed the council as a spokesman for State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock. "We wanted to let the council know that Representative Aycock and I are available to assist the city in any way we can."

Kempner City Council will meet next on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers.