Kempner City Council, prior to its regular meeting last week, held a public hearing on the voluntary annexation of 1.8 acres owned by Infinity Dollars of Texas. The property is the future home of a Dollar General store.

The public hearing was the second one conducted as part of the process to annex the land into the city limits. The store is under construction and is expected to open next month.

The only comment came from Kempner resident Gary Guyer, who said he favors the annexation and the store being located in Kempner. Dollar General, when it opens for business, is expected to increase significantly the sales tax revenues for the city.

Also last week, the council convened a 30-minute executive session to discuss real estate. When the council opened again in regular session, no action was taken on the matter.

In a non-action item, Police Chief David Sheedy presented the police department’s annual Racial Profiling Report.

“According to our data, the department is complying with all state and national laws concerning racial profiling,” Sheedy said. “There also have been no racial profiling complaints.”

The chief added that the department made 361 traffic stops during 2009, and of those 260 involved Caucasians, and 101 were drivers from other racial or ethnic groups. The breakdown is consistent with the racial populations in the area, Sheedy said.

He also reported that new digital cameras have been installed in both police vehicles. The cameras replaced old videotape equipment.

Mayor Gene Isenhour discussed construction progress at the Sylvia Tucker Memorial Park. The mayor said he had been working with the 36th Engineer Brigade concerning a handicapped-accessible ramp over the flood prevention berm in the park. It was decided the best alternative would be to construct a 100- foot wooden ramp over the berm that would meet ADA regulations.

Isenhour said sidewalks from the parking lots to the Veterans Memorial would be completed before Memorial Day, when a wreath-laying ceremony is scheduled. “We have a commitment for a color guard, a rifle salute and playing of ‘Taps’ for the ceremony,” the mayor said.

In other business, the council approved two proclamations, one declaring April as Fair Housing Month in the city and another proclaiming April as Donate Life of Texas Month.

April marks the 42nd anniversary of the passage of the U.S. Fair Housing Law. The law established a national housing policy without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status or handicap. The proclamation supports fair housing for all citizens and encourages support of programs that will educate the public about the right to equal housing opportunities.

The Donate Life of Texas proclamation brings attention to the importance of registering as an organ and tissue donor via the Donate Life Texas Registry.

The proclamation indicates nearly 10,000 Texans and more than 100,000 Americans await an organ transplant. For information visit www.lifegift.org.