The city of Kempner plans to move its offices from the City Hall location on Pecan Street, as the Kempner City Council last week voted to explore the purchase of real property for construction of a new municipal building. The action came following a lengthy executive session.

Mayor Gene Isenhour said, for several reasons, the city would not renew its lease for the building that currently houses City Hall operations. Prior to being used for city offices, the building served as a U.S. Post Office.

“The lease on this building expires next year,” Isenhour said, “and our options are limited. We need to look to the future and construct a new City Hall.”

Also last week, the council approved a contract with Technology Consultants Inc. regarding online payments for Municipal Court fines and fees. Technology Consultants representative Reddy Donthi said that through their computer Web site program, persons could use debit or credit cards to pay fines.

“There is no cost to the city to participate in the program,” Donthi said. “The person using a debit or credit card would be assessed a six percent fee.”

Assistant City Secretary Trudy Davis said numerous people have sought to use their credit or debit cards to make payments for Municipal Court citations.

“We also have requests from people on the phone asking if they can use their credit card,” Mrs. Davis said. “At the present time, we do not have that capability, and they have to pay their fine in person or send cash, a money order or check through the mail. This would be a good option for persons to pay their fines, and I believe this would increase the amount of fines collected.”

Isenhour said many of the traffic citations issued are for people who do not live in the area, and the program would make it easier for them to pay their fine. “This would be good customer service and would decrease the number of delinquent fines.” The city can terminate the contract at any time with a 30-day notice. Isenhour added that input on the proposal also would be requested from Police Chief David Sheedy.

In other action, the council approved the mayor’s appointment of Doug Kahlstrom as a reserve police officer. Kahlstrom previously served as the Kempner police chief.