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AKLAVIK
Aklavik residents say their mayor needs an office.

Arny Steinwand has been mayor since the last municipal election in 2011. He said because he doesn't have an office in the community's hamlet office, he has to hold meetings with constituents elsewhere.

"It's not a good way to run a municipality," he said. "You're banished to the streets."

Many residents seem to agree. A petition with more than 160 names supporting the idea was recently sent to Robert McLeod, MLA for Inuvik Twin Lakes and former Aklavik mayor.

McLeod received the petition, but said the decision is the hamlet's.

"It's actually quite simple, the municipalities are responsible for providing offices for their local government officials and that would include the mayor," McLeod said.

McLeod, who served as mayor from 1987 to 1989, also said he did not have an office during his term.

Steinwand said he believes it is important for a mayor to have an office in the municipality.

"It would give me a place to work, it would give me an opportunity to meet with my constituents, to listen to their complaints and hopefully do something about them," he said.

Cindy Knoller, the community's Canada Post manager, said the petition was kept at the post office and residents were surprised to learn their mayor didn't have his own space in the hamlet building.

"Most of the people that were signing it, they were very surprised and shocked to hear the mayor didn't have an office," she said. "I've been here 20 years and I assumed there was an office."

Knoller also signed the petition.

"If they're not comfortable talking to anyone else in the office and they're comfortable talking to our mayor, then they could," she said.

Abraham Stewart nominated Steinwand for mayor. He said he attended a meeting where council discussed the issue, but said there was no room in the hamlet building.

"It's not like he needs a big office," he said. "He needs a desk."

Stewart said he believes Aklavik council is wasting time and should provide Steinwand with an office space.

Evelyn Storr, the town's senior administrative officer, could not be reached for comment by press time.

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