Mineola City Manager Mercy Rushing announced her much-anticipated retirement Monday.

Mayor Jayne Lankford read Rushing’s letter, that her final day with the city will be Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.

It will mark the end of more than 31 years in municipal government, with 26 of those in her hometown.

She has been the city manager since 2015, returning to Mineola in 2014 as assistant city manager following five years with the city of Canton.

Prior to that she served Mineola as its Main Street and historic preservation manager as well as economic development director.

She has also been the city of Mineola’s economic development director during her time as city manager.

“I will miss  collaborating with the great people of Mineola,” she said.

“There are not words to say how much she has meant to this city,” Lankford said.

Mitch Tuck, who has served on the council during Rushing’s tenure, added that it is a sad occasion but also a happy one for her and her family.

The announcement came after the council met for more than a hour behind closed doors.

Part of that time included a review of the public works director, Kyle McCoy, who met with the council for 12 minutes.

The council approved the city financial audit for the year ending Sept. 30, 2023.

It was conducted by Brooks Watson and Co.

The audit was unqualified, which is the highest level of approval from the auditors.

It showed the city had an ending fund balance of $3,613,444 at the end of the last fiscal year. Revenues were $7,276,764 and expenses were $6,210,382.

In line with new state law, the council passed a policy that no city electronic devices may utilize the app Tik Tok or any of its related apps.

State law makes such a policy mandatory.

The final payment of the Stone and S. Newsom St. improvement projects was approved for $22,420.