Rosetown to flush hydrants, urges residents to run cold taps

By Ian MacKay

People who notice brown water flowing from their taps should run their tub's cold water faucet until it becomes clear.

Town workers "are going to be exercising the hydrants," Bob Bors, the public works superintendent, explained during the May 4 town council meeting.

The process will create an "extremely high flow" and stir up sediment in the water lines, so residents should run the cold tap until their supply is clean, Bors explained.

Also, the raw water meter at the treatment plant unexpectedly stopped working, he advised councillors. A new one cost about $18,000 and wasn't budgeted for but is necessary for automatic operation at the plant, he said.

Staff also started preparing a site in the cemetery for the family columbarium and Bors expected they'd pour concrete soon.

Meanwhile, bylaw enforcement officer Dennis Ogg forecast that "somebody is going to get killed" due to the way some people ride electric scooters and e-bikes on local streets.

Councillors also got a report from the annual audit of the town's books. Audit staff pointed out some of the same points they had in the past over the existence of an account that holds historic water deposits and for not reporting employees' outstanding holiday pay at year end.

Some staff save holiday pay and use it in the following calendar year, and water deposits must be returned if and when people move, acting chief administrator Amanda Bors reminded councillors.

Otherwise, "there were no reportable items," Brittany Hermanson of Stark and Marsh in Swift Current said during an online video presentation to the meeting.

The financial statements "present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the town as of Dec. 31, 2025," Hermanson said. They covered operations, including the Orange Memories care home.

Rosetown's financial assets increased by about $405,000 and the town has about $9 million deposited in reserves, Hermanson said.