During their March meeting the Mineola City Council became a little embroiled in a discussion noting the discovery that, while the fire department’s annual rodeo is covered under the city’s insurance as an event, the property itself at any other time was not insured.

During the meeting City Administrator Mercy Rushing noted that the city’s new auditor said that even though the fire department has never been asked to provide its financial information because, unlike other city departments it is somewhat separate from the city, it should be doing so. Both Rushing and Mayor Rodney Watkins said the department is working on providing that information.

Whether the city was being asked to just add the insurance on its policy or to also pay for that insurance was questioned. Rushing said it was her understanding that the department would like the city to pay for the insurance and that until the city received the department’s financials, it had no idea of how much money the department had. The property in question was bought from the Mineola Club Lake organization with a grant given by the Meredith Foundation.

Mayor Rodney Watkins interjected that it would be dangerous to not make sure the property is insured, even if the question of who is paying for the additional expense was unanswered. He said that the financial documents are being worked on and could be ready in time for next month’s meeting. He questioned how it was not know the property wasn’t insured, but “If you’ll remember we had a lot of stuff on the insurance that wasn’t dealt with – going back eight or nine years.”

A motion to approve the request was initially made and seconded made. The wording of the motion came into discussion on what if it meant the city or the fire department was paying for insurance and it seemed to be the consensus it meant the city was paying for the insurance. The motion was voted down and a second worded that the property and events be added with an interlocal agreement with the Mineola Volunteer Fire Department 501(c)3 to pay the cost of additional premiums. The motion passed unanimously.

Also in the March meeting the council heard that the mayor and staff are working on the plans for a cookout that is a result of the mayors’ bets over the state championship football game. Watkins noted that the amount of beef that was wagered by Yoakum maybe enough to feed half of the people in the room, but definitely not a football team. He is planning to furnish the briskets to feed only the football team, band and school staff.

Also in the meeting, Rushing reported that the sold-out Wine Train was to leave this past Saturday with four cars of guests who would ride the Amtrak Texas Eagle to Fort Worth and return on Sunday. The event is a major fundraiser for Main Street and helps pay for things such as the street lights, signs and trimming of the bushes.

Rushing also reminded the council that Mineola High School is holding its prom downtown on April 8 and that all were invited to go and watch the event. There will be a red carpet, drones taking photos and city officials have been invited. “I think it’s going to be a cool thing,” she said. “They’re also going to be eating at the restaurants downtown.”

Ward 2 Councilperson Jayne Lankford weighed in, saying “This is the most unusual prom ever in the history of Mineola High School, maybe anywhere. This has never been done.”

Rushing also noted while there will be no election for city positions, the city would hold the voting for the Mineola School elections on May 6. Rushing also noted a billboard will represent Mineola on Interstate 20. She said that Mineola Superintendent Kim Tunnell had asked her three or four months ago if they could do something together, and the school has a partner who paid their half of the expense. The city’s economic development corporation will pay the other half, and the sign will be erected just before the Hideaway Lake area. The sign will go up early next month.

“I think it’s a great way to report what’s happening in Mineola. It’s a win-win. We are now getting Sanderson Farms and we’re growing. Our schools growing and we’re state champion. We have to ride that while we can,” said the city administrator. The fact Mineola is state football champion will also be added to city entrance signs by next month.

Also in the meeting the council approved a resolution recognizing a plat in the county clerk’s office as the official plat of property that is being developed by 3834 Partners next to Watkins Insurance. There was some confusion but the action was to clear up the matter to smooth the way for a potential strip center to be built there.

Mr. Lee spoke during the citizens comment period asking the city to consider waiving the garbage pickup free for the location of Lee’s Paint and Body. He said he is retired and takes his garbage home to be picked up by his trash service. Some council members questioned if he still sells vehicles that he fixes up on the property and he said that he does, but no more than 10 a year. No decision could be made on an item not set on the agenda.

The council also approved a budget amendment ordinance for expenditures covered by the Meredith Foundation grant . Ward 1 Councilperson Polly Jones was absent.