Lampasas Fire Department employees who respond to emergency calls while off duty will be compensated for their time.

The Lampasas City Council on Monday voted 7-0 to pay off-duty city fire employees who respond to incidents within the city limits and the Lampasas Volunteer Fire Department’s service area, as well as to mutual aid requests from nearby entities.

The new policy may cost the city about $7,500 annually, City Manager Michael Stoldt said.

The issue of firefighter pay arose during discussion at a recent Texas Municipal League conference, the city manager said. Although compensation policies vary in cities and fire departments across the state, Stoldt said by paying off-duty firefighters Lampasas would “err on the conservative side” and help avoid disputes.

Under the new compensation policy, the senior officer who responds to a call will determine how many firefighters need to stay to address the incident. Those who remain on the scene will be paid for the entire time they work, while those not required to stay will be paid for one hour of work.

When responding as a paid firefighter, a city employee will be insured by the city of Lampasas, rather than by a volunteer fire department.

In other business, the City Council voted 5-2 to pass the second reading of an ordinance that establishes new school zone boundaries. Most school zones will stay the same, although the Kline Whitis Elementary zone will be expanded to include Samac Lane, Fourth Street and Sixth Street in the block around the school.

At the new Lampasas Middle School, the school zone will be expanded from U.S. Highway 281 west onto Tenth Street, as well as on Broad Street from Ninth to Tenth streets.

In the LMS, Kline Whitis and Hanna Springs Elementary School zones, the speed limit on school days is 20 miles per hour from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The ordinance also creates a new school zone, slightly longer than a half-mile, on U.S. 281 between Tenth Street and the southern city limit. In the U.S. 281 zone, the speed limit on school days is 30 mph from 7-8 a.m. and from 3:15- 4:30 p.m.

Councilman Evan Stubbs, who joined Councilman Brad Neely in casting a “no” vote, said a reducedspeed area would be more appropriate closer to the entrance of Lampasas High School, which is outside the city limits.

The Lampasas County Commissioners Court is likely to extend the school zone from the city limits to near the LHS entrance, Stoldt said. Creating at least some school zone on U.S. 281 limits the city’s liability in case of a pedestrian accident, he said, adding that several students walk beside the highway on their way to school.

Also Monday, the City Council OK’d a consulting agreement with Neil McAndrews and Associates, an Austin-based firm that helps electric companies obtain wholesale contracts for electric power purchases.

The city has been purchasing 10 percent of its power on the open market to obtain more competitive prices. The amount of open-market purchases will increase to 15 percent of city consumption, Stoldt said.

The consulting contract includes a base fee of $3,400 and a cap of $500 on reimbursable expenses.

In another item, the council voted 7-0 to pay Maples & Associates Land Surveyors $20,250 for a variety of surveying work that had not been billed. City staff received the bill, which included charges for some work performed two fiscal years ago, in mid-December. The payment likely will require a budget amendment, said Randy Clark, director of public works.

Paul Maples, owner of Maples & Associates, was unable to attend the council meeting but apologized for the late billing, Clark said.

Stubbs, along with Mayor Judy Hetherly, said the city needs to compensate the company for its services, but they said the city is not at fault for the late payment.

“I agree with Evan that if we owe it, we need to pay it,” Ms. Hetherly said, “but I assure you this is not a city problem.”

In other business, the council voted 6-1 to deny a request that the city hire a full-time “community development coordinator” to assist Vision Lampasas!. The vote, however, authorized the city manager to prepare a resolution that will transfer funds for the Lampasas Economic Development Corp. to hire the full-time consultant.

Neely cast the dissenting vote.

Councilman John Cole said he would prefer the economic development group take responsibility for the hire, rather than the city.

“I just think this is a function that should be handled by the EDC, rather than by the city proper,” Cole said. “The city doesn’t usually hire contract employees.”

The coordinator will replace a part-time, out-of-town consultant who has been assisting Vision Lampasas!. The new consultant will be paid $35,000 a year -- with much of that coming from leftover funds from a Sulphur Creek retaining wall project grant -- and will not receive city benefits.

In addition, the City Council OK’d the first readings of ordinances to amend Oak Hill Cemetery fees and rates for the use of recreational facilities.

The per-gravesite fee for perpetual care will increase from $450 to $600. The Oak Hill ordinance also will raise the charge for burial plots by $150 per gravesite. A $100 fee will be assessed for oversight of gravesite digs, including cremations.

Swimming pool fee changes include an increase in the daily rate from $3 to $3.50 for adults, and from $2 to $2.50 for children and seniors ages 55 and older. No charge will be assessed for infants, defined as those up through two years of age.

Also Monday, the council:

• authorized the payment of $15,000 to the Lampasas County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 for maintenance of flood control dams.

• approved the placement of four stop signs at the intersection of Samac Lane and West First Street. Robert Biberston, who lives on Samac, requested the signs, as he said the intersection is dangerous without signs to slow vehicles that top the hill on West First.

• passed a resolution that supports the use of monopoles, instead of larger lattice tower structures, for electric transmission lines that may be built to carry wind-generated power through Lampasas County. The resolution did not endorse any specific route.

• passed the first reading of an ordinance to call a May 8 general election.

Stubbs, who holds the Place 3 seat, Place 4 council member Wanda Bierschwale and Place 5 representative Les Gerhardt are up for re-election.

Filing for a place on the ballot runs from Feb. 8 to March 8. Early voting begins April 26 and ends May 4.

• re-appointed Sue Ellen Bumpus, Marta Ellison and Jennifer Ewing to the Library Board.

In her report to the council, Ms. Hetherly noted that Lampasas is the first Hill Country town to be designated a “GO Texan Certified Retirement Community” by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The mayor thanked LEDC Coordinator Cherry Hargrove for preparing the city’s application.