The Village of Mineola Board of Trustees on Jan. 8 approved a $641,300 contract with Calgon Carbon Corporation for bituminous coal'based activated carbon to replenish granular activated carbon (GAC) in the village's groundwater treatment systems and authorized several related engineering and equipment contracts funded from water and general funds and, in one case, CDBG or developer funding.

Why it matters: The purchases and engineering approvals affect drinking-water treatment operations, near-term maintenance budgets and the timeline for planned infrastructure work such as a generator replacement and a condition assessment of an aging elevated storage tank.

The board voted to award the carbon-media contract to Calgon Carbon Corporation and to reject bids for coconut-shell based activated carbon. Staff described the decision as a life-cycle cost choice: although coconut-shell media may be cheaper up front, it can require more frequent replacement. As a staff presenter put it, “it's like having a filter; every once in a while, you have to replace the filter,” meaning the carbon inside the GAC units. The contract was described as covering replacement media for Well 7 and, in time, the village's other wells with GAC systems. Staff told the board there were no significant lead-time issues for the media.

The board also approved these engineering and equipment items on motions recorded during the meeting: the purchase of 17 King pendant street-light luminaries from Dennis O'Regan Electric for $50,745 using either Community Development Block Grant funding or the 2024 general-fund unreserved balance; engineering services by D & B Engineers and Architects for a hydraulic review of water and sewer availability (funded by developers or the water fund); engineering services for Well 7 sodium hypochlorite storage and feed-system permitting ($7,000 from the 2024'25 Water Fund); engineering for Crandler Drive generator and automatic transfer switch replacement ($20,000 from the 2024'25 General Fund); and a condition assessment of the Elm Place elevated storage water tank by D & B for $9,400 (Water Fund).

Board discussion included operational context. Staff noted the Elm Place tank was built in 1959 and is "about 70 years old," and that the assessment will require emptying and internal inspection to determine whether painting, repair or full replacement is needed. The carbon-media item prompted questions about availability and lifespan of different media types; staff said the chosen media has performed well at Well 7 and that coconut-shell media may not last as long.

Votes at a glance: All items were approved by voice vote during the Jan. 8 meeting unless noted.
- Emergency Village Hall HVAC replacement (5 Star Mechanical), $17,584; approved (motion carried by voice vote).
- Purchase of 17 King pendant luminaries (Dennis O'Regan Electric), $50,745; funding: CDBG and/or 2024 General Fund unreserved balance; approved.
- Engineering services: water and sewer availability study (D & B Engineers and Architects); funding: developers fund and/or Water Fund unreserved balance; approved.
- Engineering services: Well 7 sodium hypochlorite storage and feed permitting (D & B), $7,000; funding: 2024'25 Water Fund; approved.
- Engineering services: Crandler Drive generator and ATS replacement (D & B), $20,000; funding: 2024'25 General Fund; approved.
- Contract award for bituminous coal'based activated carbon (Calgon Carbon Corporation), $641,300; funding: 2024'25 Water Fund; coconut-shell bids rejected; approved.
- Condition assessment: Elm Place Elevated Storage Water Tank (D & B), $9,400; funding: 2024'25 Water Fund; approved.

What the board did not decide: Staff said the carbon replacement for Well 7 is not imminent but expected in coming months; the Elm Place assessment will determine whether further capital work is needed. No vote on replacing the Elm Place tank itself occurred; that will depend on the assessment results.

Speakers quoted in this article are Village staff and trustees during the Jan. 8 public meeting. Direct staff explanation and operational details were provided by a staff presenter identified in the transcript as Plo. The motions were carried by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tallies in the public record excerpt.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with the awarded contracts and the ordered assessments and permitting work; the Elm Place inspection will determine the scope and cost of any future repairs or replacement.