The efforts of a contractor specializing in water leak detection may have solved an ongoing mystery that’s caused the Town of Bashaw some lost water. The issue of water leak detection was discussed at the Dec. 18 regular meeting of council.
Town Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Theresa Fuller presented more reports performed by Enviro Trace Ltd., a contractor that specializes in detecting underground leaks. This was the second time Enviro Trace was in Bashaw.
In a phone call to the ECA Review Dec. 22 Fuller stated the company found a location on Main Street between two businesses that appeared to be leaking and, once excavated, a main line with a connected service line were the culprits.
Furthermore, as they detected leaking fluid sounds, the company tracked down an abandoned underground fixture with a hole and corrosion that was also leaking.
Fuller reported to councillors the town knew a leak was occurring because the water purchased every year didn’t add up to the community use, yet no leaks were bubbling up to the surface making it difficult to find the problem.
It turned out the leaking water was running into an abandoned sewer line nearby.
The CAO noted, since this was identified and repaired, town staff have already seen a reduction in water usage. Councillors stated they appreciated staff efforts in finding the leak.
Club delegation
Councillors hosted a delegation from the Bashaw Curling Club, which has a relatively new board of directors. The delegation and council discussed an issue which recently arose between them: repairs performed by the Town of Bashaw on some curling club property.
The CAO stated the curling club reached out to her and asked for the town to repair an overhead door and storage shed and while it’s not a town-owned property, the town agreed to do the repairs. However, the repairs turned out to be more expensive than anticipated.
At a previous meeting, councillors told town staff to ask the curling club to help pay for the repairs. The club delegation responded it would have preferred to do the repairs itself, as the club has volunteers who could have performed the repair work for less money.
It was noted at the meeting there was a communication breakdown between the town and club, as the town stated it received the request but the club responded it never heard back in writing from the town whether the request was granted or denied; apparently, there was also confusion about who actually owned the storage shed. It is in fact the curling club’s property.
The club also wanted to talk to councillors about a water bill they received; apparently there was a problem with ice-making that resulted in a large water bill, and the club delegation stated they didn’t like the tone of the letter they received from the Town of Bashaw informing them the club was expected to pay that water bill.
Councillors accepted the delegation’s presentation as information.
Library board
Councillors spent a considerable amount of time at the Dec. 18 meeting discussing the municipal library board: it was listed under the consent agenda, two items under new/unfinished business and was also listed as a closed session item.
Fuller stated councillors wanted to examine the library board’s governance, including examination of minutes from previous board meetings.
It appears library board volunteers who record meeting minutes didn’t record them exactly the same way paid town staff do.
Councillors passed a resolution to have town staff report back on exactly how the library board is supposed to be recording minutes.
Police update
Recently placed Bashaw RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Trent Cleveland was scheduled to provide a quarterly update on the community’s crime stats but Fuller noted Cleveland wasn’t able to attend the meeting after all.
Instead, she noted a town councillor had recently attended a Bashaw RCMP town hall meeting where similar information was presented and the councillor gave a verbal update to their peers. The CAO stated the police update didn’t contain anything unusual.
It was also noted the RCMP training depot in Regina is full, which suggests any areas that have RCMP openings may be getting their new police officer soon.
Councillors accepted the report as information.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
