City Council meets Jan. 3

Mesquite City Council will meet on Jan. 3 at City Hall, 757 N. Galloway Avenue. The Pre-Meeting begins at 6 p.m. in Training Rooms A and B followed by the Regular Meeting at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Members of the public, applicants and interested parties may attend the meeting in person. The public attending the meeting will have the option of wearing a face covering but the city will continue to implement social distancing measures with limited seating. Members of the public desiring to comment during Citizens Forum must preregister as follows: Send an email or call the City Secretary on or before 3 p.m. on Jan. 3 at sland@cityofmesquite.com or 972-216- 6244. 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 Jan. 3 to the following email address: sland@cityofmesquite.com. View meeting agendas online. The City broadcasts meetings via Facebook Live and at www.cityofmesquite.com/WatchCouncilMeetings.

Use and possession of fireworks is illegal in Mesquite

As you plan for the New Year’s Eve holiday, please celebrate safely. The possession and use of fireworks in Mesquite is illegal, as is discharging firearms into the air. The penalties for fireworks and gunfire can be costly, with as much as a $4,000 fine and the possibility of up to one year in jail for the illegal discharge of a firearm. City fines and court costs up to $835 for the discharge of fireworks or $585 for the possession of illegal fireworks. Driving while intoxicated can lead up to $17,000 in fines, possible jail time and loss of a driver’s license. Report illegal activity by calling non-emergency dispatch at 972-204-4888. You also can report fireworks violations by emailing fireworks@mesquitepolice.org. Please do not call 911 unless there is a life-threatening emergency and immediate help is required from police, fire or paramedics. Learn more.

City holiday closure on Dec. 31

City offices and facilities will be closed for the New Year's Eve holiday on Friday, Dec. 31 except for the Mesquite Metro Airport, the Mesquite Animal Shelter, Compost Facility and the Convenience Center. Recreation Centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Trash will be collected but recycling will not be collected. Collection will resume on resident’s next scheduled collection day. View a complete list of closures.

Mesquite to get citizen input through community survey

The City of Mesquite will conduct a Mesquite Community Attitude and Satisfaction Survey to get input from its citizens on programs and services. Randomly selected Mesquite citizens will receive an invitation to participate in the survey questionnaire by mail or online through the end of January to ensure a statistical, scientific response of the entire city is captured. The survey will then be open to the public in February for additional input. Learn more.

Mesquite 5th grader donates bikes to MPD Santa Cop Program

Mesquite fifth grader Ryleigh Adam is bringing joy to dozens of children this holiday season. In Kindergarten, Ryleigh decided she wanted to give gifts instead of getting them and made her first donation to the Mesquite Police Department’s (MPD) Santa Cop Program. The tradition of giving has continued and this year in fifth grade, Ryleigh raised over $1,300 to purchase 20 bikes and a scooter. Watch the video about Ryleigh’s donation journey.

How to recycle your live Christmas tree

Start the New Year by going green with your live Christmas tree. Live Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means they are easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes. Follow these guidelines to prepare your tree for recycling. For more information, call the Solid Waste Department at 972-216-6285.

Properly dispose of fats, oils and grease during the holidays

Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) is the residue left over from cooking meat, butter, sauces, oil and dairy products. FOG and debris poured down drains can cause expensive sewer backups to homeowners. Used holiday cooking oil may be recycled for free at the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center, 11234 Plano Road, or at a drop-off location listed on the Defend Your Drains website at www.defendyourdrainsnorthtexas.com. For more information about FOG, visit www.cityofmesquite.com/FOG.

Read the January Mainstream

The January edition of the Mainstream is available online. Learn more about the upcoming 2022 Neighborhood Summit, find some cold weather tips and learn how to sign up for the Parks and Recreation Department's Adult Soccer league.

Contact Us

Use the free myMesquite platform to submit service requests to the City of Mesquite. Send requests for street repair, crime concerns, park issues and more from your computer or mobile device. Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/myMesquite for details.