With all the space filled in Mineola’s industrial park in the southeast section of the city, the Mineola Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) plans to purchase more land.

The MEDC board approved buying 6.736 acres on the north side of Northeast Loop 564 Thursday for $275,000.

The purchase was given final approval by the city council on Monday, with an expected closing sometime in August.

The property is between the SWEPCO power station and the Texas Dept. of Transportation facility and is directly across 564 from the new Mineola Primary School site.

The land is owned by Tamu Jiggs LLC out of Tyler, which is part of the Wisenbaker family holdings.

MEDC Director Mercy Rushing said the land is planned to be zoned for industrial use.

MEDC directors took a first look at the proposed 2023-24 budget. Rushing noted that since the MEDC funds have been invested in TexPool, interest income has increased.

Bids for the project to build restrooms and charging stations at Commerce and S. Johnson came in more than double the original budgeted amount of $250,000.

Rushing said savings from other projects brought the available amount up to $400,000, leaving about $200,000 needed to complete the project.