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.
Greetings Rouleau Residents!
Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope you were able to enjoy some time with friends and family this weekend. For me, it was a good opportunity to slow down and reflect on the many things I’m thankful for.
I was especially grateful for the slower pace, as the past several weeks have felt like a whirlwind. Between three kids playing volleyball (meaning three out-of-town tournaments every weekend), a major three-week turnaround event at work, and getting the kids back into the rhythm of school, life has been full throttle. Add to that the seasonal tasks of packing up the lake and winterizing, it seems that any spare time has quickly disappeared.
This busy stretch has meant fewer blog posts than I’d like, so when I saw a bit of downtime on this holiday Monday, I knew I had to jump on it and get a post out there! Here are a few updates I’d like to share:
Topics Covered in This Post:
- Disposable Land
- Taxes: New Structure
- New Councillor Opportunity
- Rouleau Resident Highlight – Mike McQueen
- August 2025 Meeting Minutes
Disposable Land
One of this council’s initiatives has been reconciling town-owned property and making it available for purchase to interested residents. This was a significant undertaking, but we successfully posted a comprehensive list and proceeded with transactions after the two-week posting period, which began on September 2nd.
In total, we listed 18 available lots at a fair market rate of $50 per frontage street foot. We’re pleased to report that several lots were sold through this process, this is a great step forward in supporting growth and development in Rouleau.
Revised Tax Structure
Many of you have likely noticed changes in how taxes are assessed in Rouleau. In 2025, we faced an unexpected challenge with significant negative shifts in SAMA assessments, which strained our previous tax structure.
While we’d love to reduce taxes across the board, the reality is that rising costs for goods and services directly impact our ability to maintain town operations. Council met multiple times, reviewed over a dozen scenarios, and consulted experienced administrators for guidance. The consistent feedback was clear: our base tax rate was too low to sustain long-term needs.
We’ve since increased the base tax rate to help narrow the gap between properties that were previously paying very low taxes and those paying significantly more. Higher-valued properties are still taxed at higher rates, but this adjustment helps distribute the tax burden more equitably across all residents.
Additionally, we introduced a tax on additional adjoined lots at a rate of $200 (based on an $1800 base with a $1600 abatement).
I understand there are mixed opinions on this approach. I’ve heard both positive and negative feedback and appreciate all of it. I also want to apologize for the confusion on the tax notices, where the additional lot rates were mistakenly listed as arrears. Council has discussed this and agrees that communication during the rollout could have been better.
New Councillor Opportunity
We currently have an open seat on council and will be holding a by-election in the near future. If you’re interested in serving your community, I encourage you to consider putting your name forward. We’re a diverse group and always welcome new perspectives. Stay tuned for more details on the by-election and the nomination process.
Rouleau Resident Highlight – Mike McQueen
I’m excited to introduce a new feature on the blog: Rouleau Resident Highlights. We have so many great people in our community, and I’d love to use this space to share more about them, with their permission, of course!
This month, we’re featuring Mike McQueen:
Q: How long have you lived in Rouleau?
A: 7.5 years (since March 2018)
Q: Tell us a bit about your family.
A: Myself, my 7-year-old son Kenny, and my 69-year-old father.
Q: What brought you to Rouleau?
A: Cost of housing. I partied out here in my younger days and loved the quietness of a small town while still being close to the city. I wanted to set down roots for my son in a safe, peaceful place.
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: I grew up in the suburbs of Montreal until I was 12. It was great — the ’90s were a fun time! I moved to Regina in 1999 and loved the change of pace and friendliness.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you?
A: All four of us — my parents, brother, and I — are left-handed!
Q: Hobbies or interests?
A: Work takes up most of my time, but I’m passionate about what I do. I’ve recently picked up golf again now that I’m a little older and more patient.
Q: What do you love most about living in Rouleau?
A: Kids can be kids and enjoy their freedom. The community is welcoming and it’s easy to get involved.
Q: Are you involved in any local groups or volunteer work?
A: I’ve been a member of the fire department for 7 years. I enjoy being in the “hot zone” and helping however I can.
Q: What do you do for work?
A: I’m a carpenter and supervisor for a Moose Jaw-based home builder.
Q: A personal or professional achievement you’re proud of?
A: Earning my Red Seal in carpentry (2013), becoming a father (2018), and continuing to earn certifications with the fire department.
Q: Describe Rouleau in three words.
A: Peaceful, inviting, home.
Q: If you could invite anyone (past or present) to visit Rouleau, who would it be and why?
A: My mom. I miss sitting around the living room or backyard talking about everything and nothing.
Q: Hopes for the future of Rouleau?
A: I’d love to see more young families escape the city and call Rouleau home.
Q: Anything you’d like to see more of in our community?
A: I’d like to start a junior firefighter program at the FD — help youth earn volunteer hours, see young faces join our ranks, and keep the department strong.
Mayor of Rouleau 
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