TUESDAY, September 22, 2026|
Photo – Crews working on irrigation system in cemetery – Courtesy City of Rawlins
Rawlins officials are making needed improvements to the city cemetery.
Last week, the City of Rawlins announced that crews were installing new valves on the municipal cemetery’s irrigation system. Parks and Recreation Director Billy Hunt said his focus since taking the job in June has been to improve the cemetery while honoring its past.
City crews are installing battery‑powered valves on the cemetery’s irrigation system. Hunt said the original manual valves often led to over‑ or under‑watering. He said the new system will allow crews to automate sprinkler cycles during ideal watering periods.
Crews are also replacing broken sprinkler heads and repairing any leaks they find in the irrigation pipes. At the same time, Hunt said the computers that control each section of the watering system are being swapped out. He said his team has finished part of the work, and the upgrades are already improving conditions at the cemetery.
The Rawlins City Council approved the cemetery irrigation upgrades, but asked Hunt to consider different options to power the system, including solar energy. Hunt said he chose a rechargeable battery‑powered setup over solar because it’s less expensive and easier to maintain.
Hunt said he expects the batteries to last approximately one year, with the new valves and controls projected to hold up for five to seven years. However, he said the current upgrades are only a test setup to determine the equipment’s actual lifespan.
Hunt added that the irrigation work is only the beginning of the improvements he has planned for the Rawlins Cemetery.
As part of those planned upgrades, Hunt said he would like to dedicate May to cemetery maintenance, where volunteers and city staff work to address winter‑related damage.
Hunt thanked his team, including Nate Williams, Tom Kelly, and their crews, for their work on the cemetery upgrades.
The parks and rec director said the newly upgraded irrigation system should be roughly 70 percent finished before winter, with the entire project completed by next spring.
