The Mineola City Council approved the installation and operation of automatic license plate readers throughout the city Monday.

According to Police Chief Chuck Bittner, the proposed system would be “a great search tool” to help stop crime. There would be four readers, according to Bittner; one north on Highway 37, one at the Nature Preserve, one on the west section of Broad Street, and one on the east section of Broad Street.

“All of these (in the nation) tie together; they’re great for investigative purposes,” said Bittner. “We can put a vehicle in there that’s on the hot list, or AMBER Alert, whatever we want to do. And as soon as it comes in our city, it’ll alert our dispatch within seconds.”

The readers would be partially paid for with court funds, which are already earmarked for just such a purpose.

Mineola resident Wilford Jones spoke during the citizen comments portion of the meeting. He requested that the board consider enacting an ordinance to regulate what kinds of animals can be taken into stores and businesses in town.

Jones said that he is concerned that dogs inside stores, “other than service dogs,” could easily reach out and bite people.

“I’m very disturbed about the young people – the kids, mostly,” he said.

Bittner also asked the council to approve a policy regarding the “Medical and Psychological Examination of a Licensee,” which they approved.

“This is a senate bill that’s passed requiring all police departments to have a policy on this by Sept. 1,” he said.

 According to a proclamation read by Mayor Jayne Lankford, the City of Mineola has declared the week of Sept. 17-23 “Constitution Week.”

“Whereas the Constitution of the United States of America, the guardian of our liberties, embodies the principles of limited government in a republic dedicated to rule by law; and whereas Sept. 17, 2024 marks the 237th anniversary of the framing of the Constitution…now therefore I, Jayne Lankford…do hereby proclaim the week of Sept. 17 through 23 as Constitution Week,” read Lankford from her proclamation.

Lankford went on to discuss how the country’s founding had many miracles involved.

“I’ve always been told about the miracles surrounding the Revolutionary War,” she said. “But I did a little research…the miracles are astounding. Not just one, not just two, but miracle after miracle that are totally unexplainable. So God founded this nation; there’s no other way about it.”