By VERNON ROBISON
The Progress
The Mesquite City Council met on Tuesday evening, March 26 and heard a number of agenda items. What follows is a summary of some of the more important actions and discussions of the council.
Flood Control agreement
The Council approved an interlocal contract between the city and the Clark County Regional Flood Control District on the construction of a new storm drain in the area of Mesa Blvd, connecting to Town Wash.
City Public Works director Travis Anderson explained that the new storm drain is designed to alleviate flood flows that runs down Mesa Blvd during heavy rain events. It would send those flows beneath Pioneer Blvd., along the Nevada Department of Transportation right of way for I-15 and into the Town Wash system, he said.
“This has been in the works for many years and it will be a really good project for the city of Mesquite,” Anderson said.
According to the contract, the project would be funded by Regional Flood Control at a cost of $13.3 million, Anderson added.
“With your approval tonight, we should be able to get this project bid in April,” Anderson said. “Then hopefully it is awarded and we bring it before you for an award in May. And it is expected to be a 12-month project once started.”
This project is the first phase of a two phase plan, Anderson said. “This phase will do a lot for where it usually floods into the intersection of Mesa Blvd and Pioneer; and also alleviate erosion that is happening on the onramp of exit 122,” he said.
The second phase, to be done at a still undetermined future time, will gather flows from the area further up Mesa Blvd and on up into the Chaparral area and connect them into the first phase system.
Anderson explained that the city is also working in cooperation with the Virgin Valley Water District to update existing water line infrastructure in the area while the project is ongoing. The district would be contributing $500,000 of the overall project to complete its portion. This would bring the total cost of the project to a little over $14 million, he said.
“It has already been a great collaborative effort for all these parties,” Anderson said.
During public comment, Mesquite resident Ron Shackleford asked about impacts to traffic on Pioneer Blvd. through the area during construction.
Anderson responded that measures had been taken in the contract, to alleviate these impacts. For instance, the contract included the requirement for pre-constructed concrete box culverts to be placed under Pioneer Blvd. Without the need to pour concrete and wait for it to cure there, the pre-constructed forms would speed the process, he said. In addition, the contract stipulates that only half of the road could be worked on at a time, Anderson added.
Council member Karen Fielding made the motion to approve the agreement. The motion was adopted with a unanimous vote.
Police equipment grant
The Council gave its blessing to the Mesquite Police Department to seek grant funding through the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health to purchase one body scanner and temperature kiosk for use at the Mesquite Detention Center.
“This grant opportunity is pending and it would provide us with a body scanner with a temperature kiosk, which is something that we need in the jail,” said Kim Otero of MPD.
The cost of the machine and all related equipment would be just short of $170,000, according to a vendor quote provided with the meeting material. This would be covered by the grant.
Otero said that she had sought feedback from other police organizations using the machines and was told there had been no problems or difficulties with the equipment.
“This is the second round of this funding,” she added. “So there are agencies that have come before us in purchasing this equipment and put it in use.”
With no public comment or council discussion, Council member Patti Gallo made a motion to approve the grant. The vote to adopt the motion was unanimous.
Mayor pro tem appointment
The Council voted to approve Gallo to serve as Mayor Pro Tem.
In presenting the item, Mayor Al Litman explained that it was purely procedural. “This is an item that will rotate each year,” he said. “And this is probably about the right time of year to do it.”
Council member Wes Boger, who had been serving as Mayor Pro Tem, made a comment in support of the change.
“I would just like to thank you for the opportunity to serve as Mayor Pro Tem,” Boger said.
Boger made a motion to approve Gallo to serve in the position. The vote was unanimous to adopt the motion.
