A series of tracts around the Trinidad-Benham facility was rezoned by the Mineola City Council on Monday.

The company just southeast of downtown is planning an expansion and owns 25 lots around its plant that are zoned for single-family residential.

The rezoning makes them all industrial.

Planning Director David Madsen said the expansion plans includes building to the south and parking to the east.

Anthony Edwards, who owns a single lot, which is surrounded by Trinidad-Benham property, said he is not opposed to the property owner’s right to do with the property as it pleases but called for the city to balance the needs of businesses with the needs for affordable housing.

The council approved a plan by the Mineola Fire Dept. to use a $150,000 grant from the Texas Forest Service plus $150,000 in the capital reserve fund and a lease-purchase for the remaining amount to purchase a new brush and rescue truck.

It will be ordered soon and completed in 2027 for around $450,000.

It will replace an aging truck, and Madsen explained that it will serve as a rescue truck in rural areas while the department’s new ladder truck, expected to be delivered in 2027, would also be equipped for rescue operations.

Several matters involving the city’s $5.5 million Texas Water Development Board loan, which is 90% forgivable, met approval.

The city will be responsible for a 10% match, or $550,000, and certificates of obligation for that amount were approved.

Rates for the city’s new septic receiving station were adopted. The station, funded by Wood County’s ARPA Covid-relief funds, is set to open next week with a ribbon cutting on Nov. 6 at 11 a.m.