By Al Litman

Sometimes it’s hard to come up with a topic to write about that is interesting to the majority of readers, but as luck would have it, I was interviewed  a short time ago by Channel 5 Fox News, about growth in Mesquite. 

Mayor Al Litman

As you may know, Mesquite is the fastest growing city in the state; at least by percentage.  According to the state demographers, we are growing at about 3.9 percent yearly. 

Our current populations is 23,810, give or take a few. Most of the population growth is from people moving here from out of state.  Our birth rate here is quite small. 

As soon as the interview came out, social media was full of comments that we are too big or we are out of or will soon, run out of water. 

A number of people, although rather small, have commented that they will move away, as they expected Mesquite to remain small.  We are small, and even if the prediction came true that we will double in population, we would still be considered a small city. 

Nearly everyday, I get comments that we need another supermarket, or a large restaurant, or a major shopping center.  None of this will happen until we reach a size that support these businesses. 

As an example, we will be getting a small center on Falcon Ridge Parkway, located on five acres that will, hopefully, be able to sustain several eating establishments, and possibly some retail businesses. 

These is no room for a major market for a number of reasons.  Supermarkets want to locate where there are already available large buildings, as well as a large parking lot. 

Some communities have empty K-marts, or other anchor stores that have gone out of business.  They are usually part of a large shopping complex, and that’s exactly what a supermarket site selector is seeking.  Especially needed is parking. 

However, before any of this is considered, there must be a workforce to staff it.  Speaking with several longtime employees of Smiths the other day, they tell me they can’t staff their current store, and they pay pretty good. 

This is true all over Mesquite because we have a large number of retired folks who are not interested in working, and not a lot of young people.  We graduate under 200 youth a year from our only high school, and will probably do so into the future. 

What I’m trying to convey with this article, is if we  were to stop growth in Mesquite, our population would continue to get older where we would reach a point where they would be literally no one here to provide the services that so many want, and seem to need. 

Yes, we have a serious issue with a lack of affordable housing for our workers, but any place that is a desirable place to live has the same problem.  I don’t want Mesquite to become another St. George, and it won’t.  Recently someone wrote that I said I wanted Mesquite to be the next Palm Springs. 

I never said that.  I don’t like anything about Palm Springs and never did.  We are Mesquite.  Yes, we are growing, but at a very controlled pace, and will into the future.  Of course, there could be interruptions due to changes in the economy. It’s been stated by many before, a city that is not growing is dying, and we don’t need that for this beautiful city.

Al Litman is mayor of the city of Mesquite.