At the regular Mesquite City Council meeting on Oct. 11, the council set three important public hearings for iys next meeting on Oct. 25.

The three topics will be presented in full and discussed at that time with the public invited to ask their questions then. All backup material referring to each item is available on the city’s website, www.mesquitenv.gov.

The first item is in reference to current city codes that restrict the location of certain facilities in proximity to medical marijuana establishments. Ultimately, the council will decide how far away these businesses must be from other areas such as schools, parks or certain buildings. According to the agenda item, the restrictions will likely mirror those of liquor establishments. Richard Secrist, director of the Development Services, said any future developer would have a chance to ask the council for a variance on a case by case basis.

The second item set for a lengthy discussion is that of restructuring business license fees. After a request was made in 2015 for an audit of the verbiage, categories and fees of business licenses, city staff discovered some were misplaced in inadequate classifications and may not be fairly billed for their business type and structure.

The Mesquite Chamber of Commerce held a business licensing fee forum on Oct. 6 where several businesses discussed how the fees impact them. Secrist said there “were some good points made… and more changes will be proposed.” The final changes to the city code on the fee structure will be set and available on the city’s website before the Oct. 25 hearing.

The final item scheduled for a public hearing are two ordinances that would allow golf carts and OHVs to travel in certain areas in which they are now prohibited. Mesquite Police Chief Troy Tanner told the MLN last week that the two ordinances will allow OHVs and golf carts to travel on street lanes primarily on West Pioneer Boulevard between Falcon Ridge Parkway and Oasis Boulevard. “For instance, that will let people in Sun City drive their golf carts from their homes to either the Falcon Ridge golf course or the Oasis golf courses,” Tanner said.

All of Mesquite and Sandhill Boulevards will remain off limits to these vehicles. East Pioneer Boulevard between Oasis and Sandhill Boulevards remains off limits as does Riverside Road between West Mesquite Boulevard and West Hafen Lane. People can cross the Riverside Road bridge south of Hafen Lane on an OHV or golf cart. Obviously I-15 remains closed to these vehicles also.

In other business at Tuesday night’s meeting, council approved a three-year Fixed Base Operator Independent Contractor Position Agreement with Larry LeMieux, who has held that position for 15 years. “We’ve had good responses from the people he’s dealt with. We’ve got Mercy Air, BLM and the parachute people, everyone seems to be happy with the operation,” said Bill Tanner, director of Public Works. “There is one change in the contract, where we set the fuel prices and we will set fuel flow fees. That’s something that pertains to the people who have contract fuel agreements.”

All items passed by a vote of 4-0, with Councilman Geno Withelder absent while attending the Nevada League of Cities Conference in Sparks.