Denish to meet with south-county activists

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish plans to hold a meeting in Mesquite on Tuesday to learn more about concerns in the south county’s rural areas.

I wrote last year about leaders emerging in the rural communities in the south county who are helping make the area more politically active. Getting the acting governor to come to their community and listen to their concerns is a huge step.

The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Mesquite volunteer fire station, 1 Fire House Road.

A news release from Denish’s office said issues to be discussed will include recent problems with the Helena Chemical plant and a surface-water treatment facility.

“We see the need for funding for things like economic development planning that includes the existing communities residents’ input,” Mesquite organizer Arturo Uribe said in the release. “The outreach is not done, and we as a community are the last to know. We see a need to preserve our community’s history and culture. Instead, churches are torn down and businesses want to come in without community culture.”

The lieutenant governor intends to hear the group’s concerns and learn more about them to determine whether her office can play a role, the news release stated.