City of Mineola residents will not have brush picked up during July and August beginning next year.

Pubic Works Director Kyle McCoy requested the change, approved by the city council Monday.

Council member Sue Jones voted against the measure, expressing concern for brush piling up.

McCoy said if there is a storm that causes significant extra brush, the city would still respond to that.

He explained that asphalt must be laid during the summer months, which requires pulling in extra crew members.

The city staff is not large enough to handle both tasks at once.

He noted that once the brush truck was repaired recently, the brush crew worked 21 straight days playing catch up in July.

To a suggestion that the city might need to hire additional workers, McCoy said there is not enough work to justify that during other times of the year.

The council talked about whether brush pickup or street repair could be contracted to an outside service, but either would be much more expensive.

The discussion also continued on educating the public on the brush pickup rules.

Jones noted that there is a limit to the amount of brush that can be picked up without a charge to the resident.

McCoy said newer employees need to be educated on that.

Once the brush truck is half full, there is an additional charge of $50.

Also brush must be left on the owner’s property, not in the street.

Residents can bring their brush to the city burn pile at the east end of Bromberg St. at no charge.

Mayor Jayne Lankford concluded the discussion saying that this is an opportunity for a young person with a trailer to make some money.

The city will be putting more resources into street repairs next year. In addition to a grant which will repair two streets, Stone and Newsom, to the tune of $289,210, the annual street budget is proposed to be tripled.

This year’s budget of $100,000 was initially set to double to $200,000.

Councilman Mitch Tuck said the city needs to be proactive on streets and suggested adding another $100,000 for a $300,000 total.