Kempner City Council recently approved a Mutual Aid Agreement with local entities regarding emergency management. Police Chief David Sheedy presented the agreement to the council.

Sheedy said the arrangement is between Lampasas County; the cities of Kempner, Lampasas and Lometa; the Lampasas County Sheriff’s Office; all county volunteer fire departments and police departments; Rollins Brook Community Hospital; and emergency medical services.

“The parties agree in instances of man-made or natural disasters to cooperate with and provide mutual aid to each in their efforts to respond and recover from a disaster or emergency,” Sheedy said. “Cooperation and mutual aid would include haz-mat teams, fire suppression, search and rescue, law enforcement, transportation and logistics, and other emergency management items.”

The police chief added that in case of an emergency situation, the parties should expedite communication with each other to determine what aid may be requested.

Kempner already has a mutual aid agreement with the county for law enforcement and other services, however, Sheedy said the new agreement strengthens and expands mutual aid services.

The new agreement also would enable Kempner to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for some city expenses related to a disaster.

Mayor Pro Tem Paul Cook asked if the Kempner Police Department could communicate with other local parties. Sheedy said he can communicate with the Sheriff’s Department but cannot communicate directly with some volunteer fire departments or the Texas Highway Patrol, as they are not on the same radio frequency.

The police chief added that new digital radio equipment will be purchased this year, which will enable the police department to have improved communications with other participants of the mutual aid agreement.

In other business, Mayor Gene Isenhour said the city has let a contract for curb and gutter installation at the Sylvia Tucker Memorial Park parking lot. The contract also calls for four more inches of base to be laid in preparation for paving. Isenhour also said he has received approval from the Tucker family for wording that will be placed on a commemorative granite marker in the park.

The mayor recently received an award from KWTX-TV station, as he was named boss of the month. Isenhour was featured on the news program, where he received a plaque. He was nominated by Assistant City Secretary Trudy Davis and selected from more than 90 other applicants.

Isenhour said his award was due to the work of an excellent city staff and the cooperation of Kempner residents.