MPD reminds residents to celebrate the New Year safely

The holidays are known for being merry and bright, but they are also known for being the deadliest season when it comes to drunk driving. Last year, there were 2,374 alcohol-related crashes in Texas, resulting in 102 fatalities and 205 serious injuries during the holiday season. The Mesquite Police Department (MPD) would like to remind everyone to never drink and drive, always have a designated driver or call a taxi. Please celebrate safely this holiday season and remember the following information:

• In the State of Texas, it is unlawful to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 and over. However, “buzzed” drivers (whose BAC is more than .00 and less than .08) can also be arrested if their level of impairment affects their ability to safely operate a vehicle. If you are under 21, driving with anything higher than .00 is illegal.
• Only time can make you sober. The average person metabolizes one drink per hour.
• Your best defense against drunk drivers is to be aware and observant. If you see a car being driven in a dangerous manner, stay away and call 911.
• Collisions involving drunk drivers are more likely to happen on weekends and at night. Try to avoid the peak hours when drunk drivers are on the road.

HOME project completed by
Home Depot volunteers

Thank you to volunteers from Home Depot who recently completed a Helping Others in Mesquite Everyday (HOME) project on Sybil Drive. Volunteers removed debris from the home’s roof and rain gutters, plus performed significant trimming of a large live oak tree. For more information about the HOME program, visit www.cityofmesquite.com/HOME.

Mesquite offers guidelines for Christmas tree recycling

Start the new year off right by recycling your real Christmas tree. Your tree can serve others long after it has left your living room. Real Christmas trees are biodegradable, which means they can be easily reused or recycled for mulch and other purposes. Please follow these guidelines in preparing your tree for recycling:

• All stands, lights, tinsel, and ornaments must be removed.
• Place your tree out for collection (curb or alley) starting the first Wednesday after Christmas, December 28, continuing every scheduled Wednesday brush day. You may also drop your tree off at the City’s Convenience Center, 3550 Lawson Road.
• Do not place your Christmas tree inside a plastic bag. It should be left in its natural state for recycling.

City of Mesquite and STAR Transit holiday closures

Many City of Mesquite offices and facilities will be closed December 31 and January 2 in observance of the New Year holiday. For a complete list of closures and service impacts, please visit www.cityofmesquite.com/Holidays. For those trash and recycling collection days missed, collection will occur on the residents’ next scheduled collection day.

STAR Transit’s offices will be closed on January 2. This includes On Demand Service and the Kaufman Trolley. STAR Transit will not operate the DART Express Bus Route 282 (COMPASS), the Balch Springs Midtown Express and the Seagoville Express on January 2. For more information, call 877-631-5278 or visit www.STARtransit.org.

Mesquite City Council to meet
on January 3

The Mesquite City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, at Mesquite City Hall, 757 N. Galloway Avenue. View the meeting agenda online at www.cityofmesquite.com/CouncilAgenda. The meeting can also be watched live at www.cityofmesquite.com/WatchCouncilMeetings.

Stay informed in 2017

The City of Mesquite offers several communication tools in print, online and through mobile devices for residents to stay informed of City news and events. Visit www.cityofmesquite.com/StayInformed for a list of all communication platforms available as well as phone numbers to call regarding the most commonly asked questions.

Contact Us

Let us hear from you. If you have a concern or are experiencing an issue, please contact the City of Mesquite at 972-288-7711 or visit the City’s website at www.cityofmesquite.com/CitizenRequest for assistance.