Topics of Interest Covered in This Post:
- Introduction and BLOG Purpose
- Initial Disclaimer
- Employee Updates
- Town Budget
- Water Rates
Greetings Rouleau residents!
As Mayor of Rouleau, I’m really excited to launch this blog in order to increase communication and promote convenience and transparency between citizens and Town Council. This is important to me. Fifteen years ago my wife Brigitte and I made the choice to relocate from Regina to Rouleau. At the core of this decision was the quality of life that small town living provides. We wanted our children to benefit from all that a rural school offers and I have definitely enjoyed engaging with our youth as their Bantam League volleyball coach. During the day, I work as a Professional Engineer for Mosaic Potash at Belle Plaine. During the Summer seasons, you’ll typically find us camping at Dunnet Regional Park and spending time with our friends and family. I stepped into the position of Mayor in the fall of 2024 because I wanted to be directly involved with ensuring Rouleau would be well positioned long-term to sustain the quality of life that attracted my family here 15 years ago.
This past year, I opened the door for residents to talk with me about life in Rouleau by holding Office Hours. Through this I have had the opportunity to connect with many residents to discuss a variety of inquiries and topics. This also helped reinforce for me that not everyone chooses to engage in the various social media platforms and would like the website to be the main communication hub. Council recognizes this need and we have partnered with the RM to launch a new site. Meanwhile, this blog will serve as a platform to help keep residents informed and engaged until the new site is up and running. I’ll be using this space to share updates, highlight community initiatives, and provide insights into the decisions, developments and discussions shaping Rouleau. Whether it’s upcoming events, infrastructure projects, or opportunities to get involved, my goal is to make communication and information sharing more convenient and accessible for everyone.
Before we dive into any town related topics, I’d like to offer a quick Disclaimer. The content shared in this blog reflects my personal thoughts and perspectives as your mayor. It does not represent the official position of the Town of Rouleau or the town council. While I’ll do my best to keep you informed and provide helpful insights, please know that I’m not speaking on behalf of council, administration, or the municipality.
I’d like to start with a couple of Staff updates just to ensure everyone is up to speed with current town personnel. Just prior to when this new council was elected 10 months ago, and as a result of Guy LaGrandeur’s retirement, the Town had hired Candice Zinn as the new Administrator for both the Town of Rouleau and the RM of Redburn . A few months later, long-time Administration Assistant, Kelly Duncan, also retired and Ashley Westgard was selected to do the huge job of filling Kelly’s shoes. There have been other staffing changes. The installation of our world class reverse osmosis water treatment facility necessitated hiring an extra staff member to maintain it. Craig Perkin is currently in this part-time role. Lastly, and most recently, Wayne Rumford was hired to replace Derek Nhyus as Town Foreman.
On other Town Business, it is worth noting that we are in the process of finalizing our Town Budget. Recently, the SAMA assessments came in, which sparked some important conversations around some potential budget reform. Over the past five years, the cost of operating the town has steadily increased, and we’re working hard to balance those rising expenses with responsible financial planning. One of our key focuses this year is to be more proactive in planning for future infrastructure upkeep and maintenance. By investing wisely today, we aim to ensure Rouleau remains a safe, functional, and vibrant community for years to come. We are working on the final details of this budget and plan to have tax cards mailed out shortly.
Another important topic currently under discussion is our Water Rates and billing structure. A few years ago, we invested in a new water treatment plant, and as it continues to operate, we continue to gain a better understanding of its operating costs and future capital needs. As part of this process, we’re reviewing our billing structure and considering adjusting the limits on the current tiered system to better align with the required operating costs. This change would better reflect a “pay for use” approach, encouraging more mindful water consumption while aligning us with similar communities in our region. We believe this structure will help ensure the long-term sustainability of our water system while remaining fair and transparent for all residents.
Our next Town Council meeting is scheduled for tonight (August 11) where these topics, amongst others, will be discussed. The draft agenda (yet to be adopted) is attached below:
As this Blog continues to evolve, I’d like to lean into some other interesting and neat content that may be of interest. Some ideas include:
- Resident profiles – to help get to know each other a little better (voluntary basis)
- Calendar of events going on throughout the community
- Bylaw highlights and awareness
- Seasonal or Monthly themed topics (snow removal, spring run-off, etc.)
- School or local sporting info/news
I am open to feedback or suggestions to keep this blog vibrant and valuable to the residents of Rouleau. I can be contacted at RouleauMayor@gmail.com.
Thanks for taking the time to read this debut posting.
Aaron Brown
Mayor of Rouleau
Mayor of Rouleau 
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