Hellgate Meadows RNA

☘️🍀☘️
Happy St. Patrick's Day ... but more importantly, don't forget that TOMORROW is our annual General Meeting at Glengarra Place's meeting room (3900 Galway Ave) at 6:30 PM for a little social gathering and 7 pm for the business meeting.
Let's talk STREET LIGHTS and parking strip IRRIGATION and DUES!

OUR DARK STREETS
Many of you have noticed that only about half the street lights in our neighborhood are working. Unfortunately, it's no longer just burnt-out bulbs that have caused the street lights to be out. The underground wiring has failed.
When our neighborhood was built in 2002-2005, the developer installed the lights. Hellgate Meadows Residential Neighborhood Association has been responsible for maintaining them ever since the developer turned over responsibility to us, the residents, in 2010.
Since then, we have been able to maintain the lights at a reasonable cost, even changing to energy efficient LED lamps in 2017. Unfortunately, (and unbeknownst to the Board until 2022) the underground wiring was laid directly into the soil rather than in conduit. Over the years, rocks and tree roots have damaged the wiring. To have NorthWestern Energy install a new lighting system with underground wiring in conduits for us to lease would cost $2,000/month or more. It would cost over $250,000 to have a contractor install new underground wiring in conduit for the existing street lights that we own. The Board considers both these options unaffordable.
To see if solar lights would work for us, we had one solar-powered street light installed on the east end of the "park" oval at the corner of Dublin and Galway. So far, it seems to be working nicely. Check it out! We want to see how well it will work through our cloudy winter. Unfortunately, solar lights, too, are rather expensive, but not as expensive as the other options, and much easier to repair should that be needed (no digging required).
This will be a big topic for discussion at our next General Meeting, which will be in February or March next year (date not set yet). We'd love to have a large group of homeowners join this meeting, so we can make some good choices about street lighting in our neighborhood. We hope you can be there!
Meanwhile, we are encouraging neighbors who are concerned about dark streets to keep their porch lights on.

GET READY FOR FALL LEAF COLLECTION NEXT WEEK
November 5-8
To have leaves collected, please rake leaves against the curb line on the asphalt PRIOR to the first day of your scheduled collection.
Please make leaf piles long and skinny so that they don't encroach into bike lanes or driving lanes.
Debris, limbs, trash, and other yard waste delay leaf collection efforts and will not be picked up. Just leaves, please!
Let's hope it doesn't snow before they collect the leaves this year!

PUT YOUR STORM DEBRIS IN THE STREET THIS WEEKEND!
Crews from the City of Missoula’s Public Works and Mobility Department will continue to pick up debris from trees on residential property in Missoula neighborhoods.

Pick-up in our neighborhood is tentatively scheduled for
the week of August 19
When preparing your debris piles, keep in mind:
• Do not mix trash, leaves, or lawn clippings into your debris piles. Crews will not remove piles that contain anything other than storm-related vegetation.
• Put debris pile on the edge of the street, in the parking lane.
• Do not block the driving lanes.
• Trim all materials so they are no longer than six feet.
Due to the variability of debris across neighborhoods, it is unclear how long crews will be in each neighborhood. When they finish with one neighborhood, they will move onto the next. Schedules are estimates and may change due to debris volume, weather, and staffing.
• FINANCIAL RELIEF GRANT OPEN NOW: The Missoula Organization of Realtors announced a relief fund for homeowners and renters, of up to $2,000 per household. Applications are open Aug. 8 until Oct. 1. Funds are available first-come, first-served so residents are encouraged to apply soon. https://www.missoularealestate.com/realtors-relief-grants/
• DEBRIS IN STREETS AND PARKS:
City residents can report downed trees in streets, parks, or public right-of-way by calling 552-6253 or filling out the on-line form at https://www.ci.missoula.mt.us/FormCenter/Parks-Department-13/Tree-Debris-Removal-Request-129 County Public Works staff are in the field assessing and addressing damage in the public right-of-way.
• Do not call 9-1-1 to report trees blocking the right-of-way.

2024 REALTORS® Relief Grant As you may know, our community experienced a significant weather event on July 24th which has left many in our community facing unexpected challenges. In response, the Missoula Organization of REALTORS® (MOR) is taking proactive steps to support those affected.

Join your neighbors for a picnic Tuesday the 20th at 6 pm. Please RSVP by August 15
(so we’ll be sure to have enough sandwiches)
at https://bit.ly/hmrna-summer-picnic