Privatization of Economic Development being Researched

Thursday, December 22, 2011

The City Council is researching the possible privatization of the economic development function at the City of Mesquite. City staff is assembling a technical steering committee of community members to research the privatization options further.

The Technical Steering Committee will be charged with developing a mission statement, exploring various organizational structures, researching sustainable funding sources, and building business, political and community support for this type of organization.

According to Mayor Mark Wier, “this possible transition represents a unique opportunity in the history of Mesquite. If we start out on the right foot, this organization will have an impact on Mesquite and the Virgin Valley for decades to come.”

City Manager Kurt Sawyer elaborated on the function of the Technical Steering Committee. “The initial setup phase is highly technical in nature. The Technical Steering Committee will be composed of five people who have real-world experience working with economic development organizations. This may be through professional experience as an economic developer or it may be an individual who has worked with economic development organizations in various capacities. In any case, those individuals with experience in economic development are the people needed to help make the development of this type of organization successful.”

The Technical Steering Committee will have six months to report their findings to the City Council. At that time, the public and other interested organizations and groups will have an opportunity to provide feedback. Tailoring an economic development organization to the needs of Mesquite is paramount to its success.

Please fill out a Public Service Application if you meet the qualifications. The Public Service Application is available for download from the City’s website at www.mesquitenv.gov/file/PublicServiceCandidateForm. A form may also be picked up in person at the City Clerk’s office. Please return all applications to the City Clerk’s office by Jan 16, 2012.

If you have any questions, please contact the Economic Development and Redevelopment Department at 702-346-5295 or by email EconDev@MesquiteNV.gov.

The Desert Tortoise

Like many desert creatures, desert tortoises spend most of their lives "holed up." In spring and summer, they roam grazing on grasses and wildflowers, then head for their burrows when it gets too hot. In fall and winter, when it is cold and there is not much to eat, they stay burrowed in for six months or more at a time.

If you see a desert tortoise, you are seeing an endangered species. Please watch out for them on the roads. Tortoises live in washes and valleys where the soil is soft enough for them to burrow into, yet stable enough so they do not collapse. Remember, desert tortoises are protected under the Endangered Species Act and may not be handled or removed.

Golf in the Desert

The city of Mesquite combines calm, small-town flavour with big-city attractions and championship golf. The Palms and the Oasis Golf Clubs are only two of the half-dozen challenging courses in the area.

Golf Highlights in Mesquite

Golf built on the dramatic Virgin Foothills of Nevada makes for a unique landscape and golf setting.
Enjoy a spa treatment at the Spa at Casablanca or the Spa at the Oasis.
Mesquite serves as a gateway to the national parks of Southern Utah and Zion National Park, which is less than two hours away.

View more information about golf courses in Mesquite

The Speedy RoadRunner

Called paisano in Mexico, the roadrunner is a well-known desert resident that only superficially resembles its popular cartoon portrayal. The greater roadrunner has adapted to life on the run. Though it can fly well, it prefers to use its strong legs and X- shaped toes to run rapidly over the desert landscape. Active predators, roadrunners aggressively chase insects, lizards, snakes, small birds and mammals.

Tolerant of humans, they sometimes nest in protected eaves and garages when they are not building large stick nests in desert trees. Their vocalizations include bill clicking noises and a mournful cooing made during breeding seasons. They do not meep-meep.