Litman says ‘State of the City is good!’

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

“Challenges in an ever-changing economy” was the theme of the 8th annual State of the City address given by Mesquite Mayor Al Litman on Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 22 at City Hall.

The 50-minute speech gave a birds-eye view of all of the departments and staff that work together to accomplish the goals of the city. Litman also gave an overview of those goals and talked about how they were being addressed.

A crowd of more than 100 people stood at attention in the City Council chambers at the beginning of the meeting for a presentation of the colors by the city’s Police and Fire Honor Guard. This was followed by a beautiful rendition of the U.S. national anthem sung by local resident Christabelle Ford.

Litman began his address by talking about the challenges currently facing the city including rising interest rates, the threat of recession, turmoil in the stock market, runaway inflation and supply chain shortages.

“We definitely do have challenges ahead,” Litman said. “But I believe that Mesquite is up to them. I am a truly lucky person as mayor. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by some of the finest people I know. I can’t say enough about their talent, dedication and professionalism.”

The mayor talked about the four strategic pillars determined in a planning process by city council in 2019.

The first of these was to increase the city’s housing inventory to meet the needs of an expanding workforce. Litman gave a rundown on the city’s progress in that pillar over the past year. In 2022, the city issued 426 single family residential building permits, up 24 percent over the previous year, he said.

But the city’s special focus has been on workforce housing units. Those efforts have also begun to bear fruit, Litman said.
“Since 2019, we have approved 949 multi-family units,” he said. “Hafen Village is well underway on construction with 98 units. It is the only ‘low-income’ development being built in Mesquite.”

In addition another 98 multi-family units were completed in the past year, with 108 more currently under construction, Litman said
“We estimate that 200 to 300 more units will be built this year,” he said. “It seems we are approached daily by developers looking at Mesquite.”

Litman also summed up new business coming to the community in the coming year, bringing jobs and opportunities to local workers. He listed the businesses that are either coming soon or recently opened. These included Mesquite Truss, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Tagg and Go Car Wash, Dutch Bros. coffee, Tractor Supply, Jimmy Johns, Hawaiian Food Carts, Chipotle Mexican Grill and more.

Litman lingered for a moment to talk about the biggest employer of them all: Crown Holdings, which is currently in construction on a 530,000 sq foot manufacturing plant in the city’s industrial park. The plant is expected to employ 140 people will high-wage jobs, he said.
“By the way, their plans are to produce two billion (with a B) cans a year through that factory,” Litman said. “They are one of the largest manufacturers of aluminum cans in the U.S.!”

Litman then explained that the city’s second strategic pillar was to expand recreational sports tourism. He praised the work of the Mesquite Department of Athletics and Leisure Services in keeping city recreation facilities pristine and in good repair. He also pointed out that the Department had recently replaced the outdated turf at the City’s Sports and Events Center.

In addition, the city had completed its first phase of a new pickleball complex in the past year. “I never much believed in the adage that ‘If you build it they will come’,” Litman said. “But I think that pickleball may just prove me wrong. It has become a nation-wide phenomenon that will attract many people to Mesquite from all over.”

Litman talked about a new OHV staging area which was designated last year in the city. Work is being done to bring a second one soon, he said.
“These facilities make it so much easier and safer for the many tourists that have off-road vehicles that come to the city,” Litman said.

Litman urged those in the hotel and hospitality industry to invest in Mesquite, stating that many more rooms would be needed to accommodate the sports tourism industry.

He also urged current Mesquite resort owners to participate in solving the city’s workforce housing shortage. “We would ask them to look at providing employee housing facilities,” Litman stated. “It can be done!”

He gave a shout-out to these major resort companies, hailing them for the tourism they bring to the city. He specifically talked about the two major car shows and the hot air balloon festival that is brought each year by Mesquite Gaming. These events bring in an estimated $2 million of tourism dollars each year, Litman said.

The mayor also praised the Eureka Resort for its Rising Star Sports Ranch facility which helps draw significant sports tourism to the community.

The third strategic pillar for Mesquite is to invigorate the development of a vibrant downtown area, Litman said.

On this subject he talked about the Mesquite Heritage Park project planned directly across the street from City Hall.
“The Heritage Park, a mixed commercial-residential project has already been started,” Litman said. “When complete, it will feature a park with a water feature, a pavilion, a small amphitheater; as well as 9,000 sq ft of commercial space and 30 residential apartments in the upper levels.”

In addition, Litman listed off other plans that promise to revitalize the downtown area. These include a new Fire Station #1, additional apartment buildings, a new Nevada Bank and Trust building, Dutch Bros. Coffee, and a fully remodelled Mesquite Plaza center.
“The future of our downtown area is bright,” he said.

Finally, Litman talked about the fourth strategic pillar: develop a prepared workforce.
“We have found that the first thing that companies thinking about coming to Mesquite inquire about is ‘What is your workforce?’,” Litman said. “Because they can’t afford to build a business facility and have nobody apply for a job.”

Litman said that the city would continue to forge relationships with College of Southern Nevada as well as Dixie Tech in St. George, to offer local high school graduates career opportunities in their home town.

“In addition, our new STEAM center, now located in the former Bulldog Plaza, will offer our children programs that will enhance their education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the arts,” Litman said. “This is our workforce of the future.”

During his speech, Litman led his listeners on a tour of the entire organizational chart of the city. he talked about the leadership, rank-and-file, and accomplishments of each city department. He heaped praise on each one for their devoted and exemplary work.

“The state of the city; good, bad or indifferent; is dependent upon all of these separate parts working in harmony – and we do,” Litman said. “You can see it in the results. The state of the city is good! I didn’t say perfect and I never will. But we are working towards that goal every day.”

Litman said that he, and all of the city staff and departments, are focused on achieving common goals. “We have a vision,” he said. “We will continue to have a vision. There will be bumps in the road as we progress with that vision. There will be challenges in our ever changing economy. But we will remain focused. This will be the case as long as I serve as mayor.”
“We are the envy of every city in Nevada,” Litman concluded. “Let’s keep it that way!”

Litman’s full speech can be viewed at https://www.mesquitenv.gov/meetings-agendas.