Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Rankin Inlet (Jun 27/01) - The hamlet of Rankin Inlet wants to beef up its bylaw enforcement, especially its all-terrain-vehicle regulations.
The hamlet is adding one new bylaw officer for the summer at a cost of $12,000 and is looking for increased co-operation with the RCMP.
Ron Roach, senior administrative officer with the hamlet, said the community's one bylaw officer is not enough. "There is a lot of pressure on our one bylaw officer," said Roach.
Roach pointed out that the community is growing. Unofficially the population ranges between 2,500 and 3,000.
He said increased RCMP support will boost the bylaw officers profile in the community. "We want to show that the bylaws are there to make the community a safe place to live," said Roach.
One of the major issues facing the bylaw officer is enforcing the ATV bylaw. Driving without a helmet, driving with more than two passengers and speeding are all infractions with a $25 fine.
However, infractions are more the rule rather than the exception in Rankin Inlet.
Sgt. T.J. Kasdorf with the RCMP said he doesn't have enough officers to monitor bylaws and the hamlet needs more officers.
Kasdorf said more bylaw officers mean more fines and more money for the hamlet. "We enforce the territorial stuff but it doesn't bring in any money for the hamlet," he said.
Roach said the hamlet and the RCMP met last week to discuss bylaw enforcement. "We want to see how we can work better to provide services in the community," he said.
Funding for a summer bylaw officer is drawn from the Kivalliq Partners in Development training fund.
