Monitor File Photo
Kemp will hold its first annual Christmas parade and tree-lighting event Nov. 25 in downtown. The event will feature numerous activities for all ages in the community and a new city Christmas tree.

KEMP–Kemp City Council voted to approve the city’s first annual Christmas parade and tree-lighting event put on by the city’s Parks and Rec Board, Project Kemp, Oct. 10.
Board member Delann “Dee” Needham gave the council the Christmas parade plan for consideration, detailing the prospective event lineup, plans for the event and potential for sponsors.
The Elf on the Shelf-themed parade will be held Nov. 25 in downtown Kemp and the route will be organized by Kemp Police. The float lineup will begin at 4:30 p.m. and the parade will start at 5:30 p.m. At 8 p.m., a tree-lighting ceremony will be held in the city park.
Awards will be presented to parade participants and vendors and food trucks will be present to serve eventgoers. Needham said she hopes to have live performances from the Kemp marching band, cheerleaders and dancers.
The movie, Elf, will be shown in the park and hot cocoa will be available. Santa Claus himself will be a special guest at the event to delight the children in attendance.
Needham says Project Kemp plans to gain sponsors for the event so that the city’s budget isn’t impacted by the event. Interim City Manager Mike Slye said that even if the event is fully paid for, the city will incur costs in overtime for city employees and power at the park, however, he went on to say that the city’s budget has room for that expense.
Needham stated that the board plans to get a tree that can be made larger each year for the event, and Slye advised Needham that the tree needed to be protected in some way from potential vandals, as he’s seen trees destroyed in the past and did not want to see the board’s hard work undone. Needham agreed and said the board would come up with a solution. With these notes, the council unanimously approved the event.
Council members also voted to name The Monitor the city’s official newspaper at the meeting.
In other business, council members:
• Approved minutes from the Sept. 12 meeting.
• Declined Aflac insurance coverage for city employees.
• Appointed Don Griffin to the Kaufman Central Appraisal District (CAD) Board of Directors.
• Approved Kaufman CAD’s potential purchase of property owned by Kaufman ISD.
• Denied a variance request from John Stephens at 806A South Main Street.
• Approved a short-term variance for Tacos Los Garcia located at 100 South Elm.
• Removed former Mayor Laura Peace as a Municipal Development District financial account signer.
• Added Tori Hitzfeld as a signer on the Water Plant Project financial account.
• Heard city updates from the interim city manager.