Kempner City Council voted at its recent meeting to apply for two separate grants: a $20,000 SECO grant for improvements to City Hall, and a $75,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department grant.

Terry Gross, Renewable Energy Experts representative, told the council his company could assist in securing a State Energy Conservation Office stimulus grant. Gross said the SECO grants through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act were designed for small cities to improve their infrastructure and make them more energy efficient.

“Originally, it was thought that Kempner would not be eligible for a grant, as it does not own any infrastructure such as a water or electrical system,” Gross said. “However, it was determined that improving the City Hall building efficiency would qualify.”

Gross recommended installation of solar energy panels on the City Hall roof, which he said would reduce the city’s electrical bill for the next 20 years. The council OK’d an agreement with Renewable Energy Experts to install the solar panels if the grant is approved.

Jack Bell then addressed the council, representing his mother Delores Bell, who owns the building. He said they planned to replace the roof at City Hall in the near future and asked if the solar panels would affect the roof work.

Gross said the panels would be free-standing attached to ballast, and they would not affect a new roof in any way.

In other action, the council approved an agreement with Langford Community Management Services. The company will prepare and submit a grant application to TPWD for a small community grant of $75,000 that would be used for park construction.

Kempner Mayor Gene Isenhour said the TPWD grant would require the city to match the funding with dollars or in-kind services.

Isenhour said Kempner also has applied for an LCRA $25,000 grant that would not require any matching funds. The mayor noted it would be several months before the city learns if any of the grants have been approved.

The council accepted a set of park rules for the Sylvia Tucker Memorial City Park and voted to purchase a metal sign that will display the rules.

Discharging a firearm in the park is banned, and no hunting will be allowed. Also, no pets will be permitted in the park except for service animals. A park rules ordinance will be considered at the council’s next meeting.

Isenhour said several instances have been reported of persons digging holes looking for artifacts on park property. The city plans to install a gate at the park entrance as soon as possible.

“We will keep the gate locked during the construction of park facilities for safety and liability reasons,” Isenhour said.

In other matters, the mayor announced that Kempner’s prosecuting attorney has resigned. Isenhour said four applications have been received for the position.

Isenhour will interview the applicants before the holidays and recommend an attorney for the council’s approval at the Jan. 12 meeting.

And in final business, it was noted that Kempner City Hall will be closed Christmas Day, and on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for New Year’s holidays.