Billings council directs annexation for city water after debate over Meadowlark mobile home park

The Billings City Council on March 8 directed staff to require annexation for properties seeking city water or sewer service, after a lengthy presentation and debate over three outside properties including Meadowlark Manufactured Home Park.

City Engineer Mac Fogelsong told the council that two of the three requests (Meadowlark and the Blaine property) lie outside the city’s limits-of-annexation map while the McDougall site is already in the green zone and thus more readily annexable. Fogelsong said the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has offered roughly $2.3–$2.4 million in grant funding for a water main that would extend to the Meadowlark subdivision entrance, but that the grant would cover the main and related design costs only and not individual private-service hookups.

The council’s decision followed testimony from public safety officials who urged caution. The fire chief said emergency responders logged roughly 80 calls to the Meadowlark area and warned that narrow roads and the absence of hydrants would complicate deployment of fire apparatus. "Looking at the type of calls that came in, pretty much every one of those 80 calls would have prompted a call for our services out in that subdivision," the chief said. The police chief testified that county agencies handled the majority of calls in the area and that annexation could stretch city resources without a clear offsetting tax benefit.

A resident during the public-comment period, Jeff Kettleson of the 5th Ward, urged the council to deny service to Meadowlark, alleging the property’s system also serves a prohibited marijuana grow: "What I'm specifically talking about is a marijuana grove facility," he told the council. Fogelsong said staff would include contractual language in any agreement to prevent serving illicit or prohibited operations.

Council members debated options including amending the annexation map, pursuing a waiver and drafting annexation agreements. Council member Aspen Leiter moved—and council member Nees seconded—a direction that staff follow the annexation policy and require annexation if a property seeks city services, allowing waivers only in very unique circumstances; the motion passed on a voice vote.

Under the guidance, staff will advise property owners to petition for annexation or apply through the formal map-amendment and urban-planning-study process if council wishes to change the limits-of-annexation. Fogelsong said staff would coordinate timing with the city’s upcoming annexation work session and noted that DEQ grant timelines could be a factor in how quickly projects proceed.

The council’s direction does not by itself deny service to any site; it establishes policy guidance for staff evaluation and for property owners seeking city utilities. Staff said they will return with any formal annexation petitions, potential map amendments and recommended terms for agreements that would protect city interests and public safety.