The Jan. 13 Mesquite City Council meeting began with a celebration of historic community generosity, and shifted to pointed discussions regarding property rights and infrastructure shortages.

A record-breaking season of giving

The meeting opened on a high note as Debbie Benham presented the final report for the 11th Annual Parade of Lights. The event beat previous donation records with 39 entries.

“We didn’t just make our goal; we surpassed it,” Benham announced. The community food drive collected 26,596.1 pounds of nonperishable items, bringing the event’s all-time total to over 135,000 pounds. Benham underscored the urgency of the drive, noting that nearly 15% of Nevadans — and one in four children — face food insecurity. In Mesquite alone, the Salvation Army serves up to 700 people monthly.

The success of the drive was followed by a lighter moment as Mike Benham presented Randy Laub with a Million Dollar chocolate bar for rescuing his wife after she was accidentally locked in a building during the festivities.

Infrastructure and ‘taking’ allegations

In public comment, Dominic Olivetto raised the alarm regarding the local housing market, noting that 184 single-family homes are currently for sale, with builders offering “scary” discounts to move inventory.

“We don’t have an infrastructure,” Olivetto warned. “We need to slow down with building permits and push hard to get a lumber yard, a grocery store and more infrastructure in town.”

Representatives of Nordic Beach Holdings continued voicing property rights concerns. Owners Marcus Bender and Erika Nicholas alleged that the city has unlawfully allowed a nearby nightclub at the Redd Hills commercial subdivision to “seize” their private parking spaces.

Bender alleged that the city approved a liquor license for the club despite the absence of a mandatory parking study. “Under the law, no parking study equals no approval,” Bender stated, accusing the council of a “governmental taking” in violation of the 5th and 14th Amendments. Nicholas added that the properties are being “mischaracterized” to cover another owner’s shortcomings at her expense. “That is robbing Peter to pay Paul,” she told the council.

Police Report

Police Chief Tracy Fails delivered a comprehensive year-end report, reaffirming Mesquite’s status as a leader in public safety. Despite the city’s growth, major crime dropped by 17% over the past year.

The chief detailed the department’s $11.3 million budget and its 44 sworn officers. While major crimes like burglaries are down, noise complaints have risen — a trend Fails attributed to the city’s ongoing vacation rental issues.

2025 police department highlights

Patrol: 16,138 calls for service.

Detention: The jail expansion is nearing completion, adding holding cells, a padded safe room and a laundry facility.

Technology: The department has integrated drones for accident scenes, license plate readers for stolen vehicle alerts and virtual reality for “stressful” scenario training.

Animal Control: The no-kill shelter took in 500 animals and maintained a high adoption rate.

Fails also noted that a new Mesquite Police Department mobile app will launch soon, allowing residents to file reports and view a “jail link” to see current inmates.

Development and Public Works

Public Works director Travis Anderson provided a road map for upcoming roadwork, including fiber optic installation and a major “mill and fill” project on the boulevard. To minimize disruption, major intersections will be paved at night — a decision that will push the project over budget but was deemed necessary for citizen safety.

The council also tackled a long-simmering debate regarding the Falcon Ridge Driving Range. The project was previously approved on the condition that the developer sign a liability waiver for the city. However, Falcon Ridge representatives balked at the requirement.

“There’s not a business in town that would sign that,” said Rob Worsten of Falcon Ridge. Instead, the developer invested nearly $250,000 to install specialized netting that stands up to 80 feet tall — significantly higher than the originally proposed 12-foot fence.

Councilman Paul Wanlass remained the lone “no” vote, citing concerns that the city could still be sued if a stray ball caused an accident. However, the rest of the council was satisfied by the height of the new netting and the developer’s due diligence, voting 4-1 to approve the plan without the city waiver.

New faces in City Hall

The administrative landscape of Mesquite is shifting. The council confirmed Bryce Anderson as the new finance director. Anderson arrives from Utah with experience managing $60 million budgets and multimillion-dollar federal grants. He is expected to begin his tenure on Jan. 20.

Additionally, the Mesquite Public Arts Commission saw a significant turnover. Longtime chair Karen Miskimins stepped down, handing the gavel to Steve Dudrow. The commission recently oversaw the installation of a new community piano, continuing its mission to integrate art into public spaces.

Final approvals and resolutions

The council concluded the meeting by approving several key items:

Hafen Park Tennis Courts: $20,325 awarded to Runner Sports Services for new windscreens.

Wastewater Treatment: A bid of $184,000 from Trade West Construction for a new equipment storage building.

RTC Agreements: Several resolutions were adopted regarding the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada for master planning and roadway projects.

As the meeting adjourned, Mike Benham offered a final gesture of community spirit, pledging to donate a historic photograph of the city’s first fire station for public display. “It’s history,” Benham said. “I want it where everybody can see it.”