Mesquite capital projects updated; sewer‑gas complaints persist near Pasco Park despite new facility

The city provided a wide capital improvement update during the goal‑setting workshop, covering streets and signals, water and sewer work, parks, facilities and airport projects, and addressed a recurring sewer‑gas odor complaint in the Pasco Park area.

City Manager Cliff Kaheeli gave project status updates across multiple categories: Lucas Boulevard paving should be mostly finished within one to two months and open before the school year; Signal projects at Heartland Parkway/FM 741 and Jaguar Way/Lucas Boulevard were under construction or scheduled to bid; several trail, alley and overlay projects were on schedule or delayed due to partner schedules. Kaheeli said the city has approved nearly 3,000 units of multi‑family zoning in the last two years and highlighted industrial projects coming online, including Canadian Solar’s phase‑2 building and an advanced‑battery component facility.

On water and sewer, Kaheeli described ongoing designs and construction: Crandall waterline construction is underway (Kaheeli said the city’s allocated $5,000,000 for the Crandall waterline will be reimbursed in part by Crandall), Gross Road valve design is underway to help isolate breaks, and the Trinity Point tank construction will be visible on the tour. He also said some projects are on hold while awaiting partner designs — for example, a Military Parkway trail segment coordinated with Dallas County.

Council members raised a recurring odor complaint near Pasco Park. Councilman Burrows said residents were still reporting strong sewer smell in their backyards despite construction of a sewer facility intended to stop sewer gas from backing into homes. Kaheeli said the new facility succeeded in preventing sewer gas from entering homes but that the gas exhaust location is generating intermittent outdoor odor when weather conditions cause cooler air to settle. “We are evaluating the scrubbers that are on the exhaust system to see if we can further remove the odor,” Kaheeli said. He added staff will observe how the smell disperses in different seasons before pursuing further fixes.

Kaheeli also summarized facility projects: an animal services expansion is complete and will be seen on the tour, fire station builds and remodels are at various stages, airport projects are on schedule except for some FAA‑held items, and a convention center renovation planning process is underway though budget constraints delayed work. No formal votes were taken; the session served as an informational update and a chance for council to provide direction on capital priorities and sequencing.