Firelight Meadows County Water & Sewer District
P.O. Box 162850
Big Sky, MT 59716
Firelight Meadows
Water & Sewer District
THANK YOU FOR VOTING!
On May 6, 2025, residents of the Firelight Meadows subdivision in Big Sky, Montana, voted 147–0 to establish their own County Water & Sewer District.
Establishing the district enables Firelight Meadows to access bonds, flexible funding, and grants from federal, state, and local sources. These resources will support addressing our aging, on-site septic systems to meet upgraded environmental standards mandated by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
The newly formed board is now focused on start-up efforts, including securing legal counsel, hiring engineering experts, and applying for initial grant funding through the Big Sky Resort Tax District.
BOARD MEETING INFO
The Board of Directors of the Firelight Meadows County Water and Sewer District will meet on July 10, 2025, at 5 PM at Hammond Property Management, located at 50 Meadow Village Dr, Big Sky, MT 59716.
Draft Fiscal Year 2026 Budget
Learn More…
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY
Hydrogeology and Groundwater Availability at Big Sky, Montana | A groundwater study by Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology
Every Drop Counts: What does the recent groundwater study tell us? | A column by Marne Hayes in Explore Big Sky explaining Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology’s groundwater study
SEPTIC SYSTEMS
Septic systems, river health, and groundwater | Gallatin River Task Force
IN THE NEWS
Bozeman Chronicle (December 18, 2024) One vote away? Big Sky subdivision takes another shot at forming water and sewer district
Explore Big Sky (March 25, 2024) Firelight Meadows residents to see ballot item in local election
Explore Big Sky (June 3, 2022) Every Drop Counts: What does the recent groundwater study tell us?
Explore Big Sky (August 3, 2020) Firelight Meadows, Water and Sewer District report early findings, talk next steps
Other Frequently Asked Questions
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A committee of concerned owners drives this grassroots effort. The Big Sky Water & Sewer District, the Gallatin River Task Force, Big Sky Community Organization (BSCO), and Westfork Utilities also support its creation.
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Our sewer system is not compliant with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). DEQ has issued an Administrative Order of Consent to our entire sewer system, which means we are unpermitted and “probationary” until we find a fix.
Westfork Utilities, a private company, owns our water sewer system, not the HOA. Its original DEQ discharge permit required the sewer system to treat wastewater to a maximum nitrogen effluent concentration of 24mg/L. Because new environmental studies show that the Firelight’s wastewater flows towards Town Center’s drinking water and pollutes the Middle Fork of the Gallatin River, DEQ will now require Westfork Utilities to treat Firelight’s wastewater to 7mg/L of total nitrogen.
The current sewer system cannot meet DEQ’s updated treatment requirements, requiring Westfork Utilities to make substantial capital improvements. To cover these costs, Westfork Utilities will increase the fees to ratepayers (Firelight owners).
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Creating a district allows us to form a nonprofit and seek local, state, and federal dollars to offset costly service increases.
Unlike HOAs or private companies like Westfork Utilities, districts can apply for grants and low-interest government loans to offset the cost of making our sewer system compliant with DEQ.
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Outside of communicating with owners, there are no costs associated with establishing the district. The district will initially operate with five Firelight owners volunteering as board members. When it’s time to decide on solutions to address DEQ’s updated treatment requirements, the district will incur costs for items such as management, insurance, and legal counsel.
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After its formation, the new district board will pursue connecting to the Big Sky Water & Sewer District (BSWSD). The estimated cost of connecting our wastewater to BSWSD is $1.8 million. Additional costs include the piping needed to connect to BSWSD and purchasing the existing system from Westfork Utilities. (The HOA owns the land and the irrigation rights; Westfork owns drinking water rights and the water sewer systems, including the piping as it exits Firelight’s buildings.)
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Confirm your are an ACTIVE VOTER. Then, vote on May 6.
PER MONTANA LAW, WE NEED AT LEAST 40% OF ALL QUALIFIED ELECTORS TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF CREATING A DISTRICT. A MAJORITY YES VOTE IS NOT ENOUGH TO FORM THE DISTRICT.
NOT VOTING = A NO VOTE!
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Water and Sewer Districts (WSD) are units of government within the State of Montana that may supply water, provide wastewater treatment and disposal, or both.
Per state law, five voted-upon volunteer board members will guide the Firelight Meadows Water and Sewer District, not the HOA.
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The formation of this district will provide access to opportunities from Local, State & Federal resources.
Currently, private companies and HOA’s are not eligible for these grants. The formation of a district will also provide access to significantly lower cost interest rate loans if necessary. This would be a sizable savings since interest rates are currently over 8%.
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If no action is taken, owners and renters will pay substantial costs to build a new system or join Big Sky Water and Sewer. We must meet DEQ wastewater treatment requirements, and our current system cannot meet these requirements.
Additionally, without an effective system, property values could be negatively affected.
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The following owners are running for District Board Positions:
Jeff Gill
jeff.gill.flmcwsd@gmailcom
Becky Brockie
brockie.firelight@gmail.com
Kurt Rice
kurt.rice.flmcwsd@gmail.com
Carol Powell
Cassie Farr
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Last year, Firelight failed to form the district by one vote, making it necessary to complete the election process again before we can pursue alternative funding resources to offset the costs of addressing the inadequacies of our sewer system.