Last months’ Mineola City Council vote to rename a portion of Padgett St. as Tuck Dr. led to a packed house Monday, with some questioning the decision.

The change was needed for 911 emergency calling, with Padgett St. having both east-west and north-south sections over the years.

The council voted for the Tuck Dr. north-south sections, rather than council member Cassandra Sampson’s recommendation that it be called Hickman St. in honor of the Hickman family that operated the nearby Bar 20 for many years, the social/recreation hub for Mineola’s south side residents.

An attempt to rename the south part of Tuck as Bar 20 St. by Jack Newman failed Monday on a 4-2 vote.

Former Mineola resident Joe Tave spoke first during public comments and said this is not Tave versus Tuck.

“We’ve known each other for generations,” he said. “Let’s not go after each other.”

He said he was not opposed to renaming the street so much as the people having the right to be informed about the decision.

“I have concerns for the process,” he said.

Then people being impacted have the right to be contacted and be heard, he added.

Ida Marie Henry spoke of behalf of Cora Hickman and the importance of the Bar 20 as the only place for south side youth to go to have fun.

“There are a lot more worthy names to be considered,” she said.

Rosalind Russell recounted the Walton family history, especially those who served in the military, noting the unofficial name of Walton Dr. She later asked the council to reconsider its decision.

Sabrina Dean and Tashara Stephens spoke in favor of Tuck, as did Vince Colvin, who suggested the city form a committee to come up with criteria to name streets in the future.

“We are proud of all our heritage here,” Sampson said, “we all have rich history. This is about coming together for one common goal.”

In other business the council accepted the annexation of two properties, 6.3661 acres owned by the Mineola Economic Development Corp on NE Loop 564 and 13.849 acres owned by the Mineola School District on W. Loop 564 just north of the high school ball fields.

The council also heard an update on the collection efforts of law firm Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott for back property taxes and unpaid fines.

The last full year in which full records are available, 2021, saw $65,000 in unpaid taxes turned over to the law firm, and 67% of those have been collected.

The city receives the full amount, and the law firms tacks on a fee on top of that.

Some $150,000 was turned over in July for the 2022 tax year.

Delinquent accounts of less than $1,000 account for 86% of the unpaid taxes.

Turning to municipal fines, unpaid fines have totaled $2.5 million over the past 12 years, with 81% of those resolved, including $1.3 million in cash collected.

Fines may also be resolved by jail time.

The council accepted a donation of $500 for the Mineola Nature Preserve from Dance Dimensions from its annual fun run.