City Council to meet on May 20

The Mesquite City Council meets at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 20, at City Hall, 757 N. Galloway Ave. Members of the public, applicants and interested parties may attend the meeting in person.

Members of the public desiring to comment during Citizens Forum must preregister by either sending an email to sland@cityofmesquite.com  or calling 972-329-8388 before 3 p.m. on May 20. Provide the City Secretary with your name and address. Comments on agenda items may be made during the meeting or by submission on or before 3 p.m. on May 20 to the City Secretary.

View meeting agendas online. The City broadcasts meetings via Facebook Live and at www.cityofmesquite.com/WatchCouncilMeetings.

Upcoming District picnics in June

City Councilmembers Kenny Green (District 2), Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross (District 3) and Brandon Murden (District 6) will host picnics in June.

• District 2 at 11 a.m. on June 1 at Florence Recreation Center, 2501 Whitson Way
• District 3 at 11 a.m. on June 8 at KidsQuest-Debusk Park, 1625 Gross Road
• District 6 at 11 a.m. on June 8 at Rorie-Galloway Day Camp, 3100 Lawson Road

Residents are invited to meet their Councilmember and their neighbors while enjoying some food.

Weather can change rapidly, so please be sure to check the City's social media accounts to find out if the picnics have to be moved indoors or rescheduled.

Not sure which City Council District you live in? Click here to find out: https://bit.ly/CouncilDistrictsMaps.

In-person hours, cash payment changes in Utility Billing

Effective May 6, 2024, in-person hours for the Utility Billing office changed to 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Also, change for cash payments is now made in whole dollar amounts only. Additional change due less than $1 will be applied as a credit to your next bill. Cash customers can still pay with exact change. To learn more, please visit www.cityofmesquite.com/UtilityBilling.

Saddle up for HMI's Barn Dance

Historic Mesquite, Inc. (HMI) will host a night of music and toe-tappin’ fun with the Barn Dance at Opal Lawrence Historical Park on May 18. The festivities kick off at 7 p.m. led by country-and-western swing band, The Western Flyers.

Attendees will be able to enjoy complimentary snacks and purchase concessions. Guests are encouraged to dress comfortably and in layers.

Tickets are $15 for HMI members and $20 for general admission. Tickets and memberships can be purchased online at www.historicmesquite.org. Opal Lawrence Historical Park is located at 711 E. Kearney St.

Get Fit: Walking for Wellness on May 18

Let's take steps to physically Get Fit Mesquite! Join us for Walking for Wellness from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on May 18 at the Fraiser Middle School track, 2250 Scyene Road.

This free, fun and interactive event will include prizes for walkers who go the furthest distance. Health-focused vendors also will be onsite for educational purposes.

Get Fit Mesquite is a self-improvement program that encourages residents to practice health and wellness physically, mentally and financially. Learn more at www.cityofmesquite.com/GetFitMesquite. Programming is ongoing and will continue all year long, so visit often.

Bilingual Town Hall Tuesday, May 28

The City will host a bilingual question-and-answer session at the next Town Hall Tuesday on May 28.

Representatives from Mesquite’s Police and Fire Departments and Neighborhood Services will share information and answer questions in Spanish and English. The meeting will be live streamed on the City’s Facebook account. Residents can submit questions in advance by visiting www.surveymonkey.com/r/RTYWM9Q.

The gathering, which will include a free dessert for those who attend in person, will be held at 6:30 p.m. on May 28 in Training Rooms A&B at City Hall, 757 N. Galloway Ave. To learn more, visit www.cityofmesquite.com/TownHallTuesdays.

Celebrating Older Americans Month

You're invited to the Older Americans Month Cook Out hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department from 3-5 p.m. on May 20 at City Lake Pavilion. Come and enjoy free hamburgers, yards game and music.

Started in 1963, Older Americans Month is a national observance every May to celebrate the vitality and achievements of older adults. This year’s theme for Older Americans Month, “Powered by Connection,” recognizes the profound effect meaningful relationships and social connections have on health and well-being. These connections play an important role in mental, physical and emotional health among older adults.

Learn more about Older Americans Month at www.ACL.gov/OAM.

A message from Environmental Code 

We are entering high growth season for plants and vegetation. In an abundance of caution for city employees and residents, the City of Mesquite Environmental Code Department will be conducting a sweep of your neighborhood soon.

Code Enforcement will be looking for tall grass and weeds in the front, alley and easements as well as overhanging limbs and landscaping. Please be advised that if your property is found to be out of compliance, enforcement actions include but are not limited to notice of violation, citations and property liens. 

Thank you for your help in keeping our city clean and safe. Call Environmental Code at 972-329-8704 if you have questions.

Arts events abound in May 

Every Saturday night through June, join us for the Off the Rails concert series. Bring your chair and coolers to enjoy a variety of music styles from Celtic to Rockabilly. Showtime is at 7 p.m. at Front Street Station, 100 W. Front St. Off the Rails are free, family-friendly events presented by the Mesquite Arts Council, Downtown Mesquite and the City of Mesquite.

Now through June 22, the Mesquite Arts Center is exhibiting "Paradise Still Lost" by Dallas-based visual artist Shawn Saumell. This showcase features murals of more than one hundred unique photographs printed on brushed aluminum.

The Mesquite Symphony Orchestra will present Into the Fire at 7:30 p.m. on May 18 in the Concert Hall. Under the direction of Conductor Felix Torres, the performance will include Agudelo’s Algo va a suceder..., Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2 featuring pianist Daria Kiseleva, and Stravinsky's Suite from The Firebird. Visit www.mesquitesymphony.org for showtimes and tickets.

To learn more about events at the Mesquite Arts Center, visit www.mesquiteartscenter.org. The Arts Center is located at 1527 N. Galloway Ave.