Mineola’s delayed project to construct a new radio tower for public safety communications is heading in a different direction.

Unable to secure a suitable site for a tower after learning that the former Suddenlink communications tower off FM 49, just inside Loop 564, was being decommissioned, the city went forward with plans to construct a new tower on the northeast corner of the Mineola Nature Preserve.

Though the city received a grant for the project, it was delayed by protests and the lengthy Federal Communications Commission permitting process.

The city’s initial inquiries for the Suddenlink property were rejected.

But on Monday, the city council gave its approval for the company to deed the 1.563 acres on the south side of FM 49 to the city for $10.

Fire Marshal David Madsen said that the city is awaiting the final signatures on the documents to proceed.

Once the city takes possession of the land, it will be responsible for taking down the existing tower before a new one can be erected.

The city has been working to get a new tower in place as it is needing to replace the existing equipment which has become less, than reliable, on the tower built in the 1960s.

The move from the nature preserve site will also allow the city to have a taller tower which will help with radio coverage, especially for fire department calls outside the city.

The city approved a contract for construction of the tower for $286,453 in December 2021 from Inter-County Communications of Sulphur Springs.