The city’s efforts to replace a radio tower that hosts communications for the Mineola Fire Department has taken another turn. The latest plans call for the tower to be located on a section of the Mineola Nature Preserve.

The city sought a grant for the tower after learning that Suddenlink would no longer be maintaining the tower the city has been using.

The tower was slated to be located in the industrial park, east of Hwy. 69 near the city animal shelter.

But in seeking approval for the location, the city learned that the Federal Aviation Administration must sign off on towers. With the site being within three miles of Wisener Field on the west side of Mineola, its height was limited to 231 feet.

As Fire Marshal David Madsen explained, the goal of the new tower was to extend radio coverage to areas in the fire department’s 127-square-mile territory. But at that height, the service would not be improved.

In scouting other locations, Madsen said the options were limited unless the city purchased property outside the city.

A site on the nature preserve put the tower farther away from the air field, allowing it to be raised to 281 feet, which would give the department adequate coverage.

“It’s not the 400 (feet) we wanted, but it’s as high as we can go,” Madsen said.”

The pasture upon which the tower would sit has been leased for grazing for buffalo and longhorns.

City Manager Mercy Rushing said the agreement for that property needs to be brought up-to-date.

Madsen said the tower won’t impact much of the 80 acres, just the area where the tower will be erected and three places for the supporting guy wires.