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Belgrade council adopts lighting maintenance district for West Post Phases 1–2 and East Frank Road
Summary
The Belgrade City Council adopted Resolution 2025-03 to create Special Improvement Lighting Maintenance District No. 2600 for West Post Phases 1 and 2 and East Frank Road; the city will manage and bill benefiting properties for energy and upkeep, with an estimated first-year cost of $20,035.22.
The Belgrade City Council voted unanimously at its meeting to adopt Resolution 2025-03, creating Special Improvement Lighting Maintenance District No. 2600 for West Post Phases 1 and 2 and a portion of East Frank Road. The resolution establishes the first city-managed lighting maintenance district and authorizes the city to assume operation, maintenance and energy costs for the lights installed during subdivision construction.
City staff told the council that the city clerk received no written objections and that notice was posted in the Belgrade News. Staff estimated the first-year aggregate cost for the district at $20,035.22, which the presentation said equates to about $0.96 per lineal foot of benefited property frontage. The council opened a public hearing, received no public comment and then voted to adopt the resolution.
City staff member Camaree explained how assessments will be assigned: "This particular lighting district is concentrated in the commercial portion of West Post. . . . We calculated the frontage that that parcel has on East Frank Road because that's where the lights are located and that's where they're receiving the benefit," and noted affected commercial parcels will pay by special assessment. Camaree also told the council the city will pay energy bills, perform servicing and make repairs and then recover those costs from the benefiting lots, tracts or parcels.
Council members asked whether the city expects to create similar districts for future subdivisions; staff said new subdivisions are being required, as a final-plat condition, to petition to create lighting maintenance districts and that additional districts for West Post Phases 3 and 4 are likely to come before the council soon. Staff also said Jackrabbit Crossing will include a lighting district in a later phase because luminaires are a long-lead construction item.
Staff noted older neighborhoods could be considered for lighting districts only if a majority of property owners support installation and assessments; some lots contain waivers of the right to protest and would be treated differently under state law.
The council adopted Resolution 2025-03 by voice vote; the meeting record shows the motion carried unanimously. The city will proceed to assume operation of installed lights, bill affected properties by special assessment and bring related capital or operational details to future council consideration.
