Mineola will soon begin upgrades to the city’s utilities with a nearly $2.4 million project to improve pump stations.

The city of Mineola approved bids for expansion of the city’s water utilities during a City Council meeting Monday.

The bids are related to the $4.98 million 2014 water and sewage construction bond passed in March 2014. The plan entails a replacement for the Taylor Lift Station awarded to Crossland Heavy Construction of Columbus, Kansas, for $1.03 million; preserving a 500,000 gallon ground storage tank awarded to Tank Builders of Euless, Texas for $472,900; and preserving a high service pump station awarded to Lamarc Inc. of Seven Points for $892,530.

“That means that we’re creating more wells, better water pressure and working on extending new lines and beefing up, if you will, what we already have in place,” Assistant City Administrator Mercy Rushing said.

Ms. Rushing said the upgrades were designed with future growth in mind. The bids accepted were the first utilizing the bond package, and Rushing says these projects will be the major components. Other smaller projects are expected.

During the meeting, the council also approved an increase to solid waste collection fees.

“We extended our solid waste collections, which is with Republic Services; they went up $1.50 (monthly), I believe. They had not gone up in the last 5 years, so we felt like that was justified.

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