Council briefs
New garbage fees proposed
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
KANGIQLINIQ/RANKIN INLET
A Rankin Inlet bylaw that sets out garbage tipping fees and fines is on its way to the territorial government for ministerial approval after a public hearing on July 26.
Two readings of the bylaw have passed through hamlet council and a third reading will be done once it receives territorial approval.
The bylaw sets out the procedure for municipal garbage collection, as well as a list of prohibitions and requirements for residents, businesses and organizations.
It also introduces new fees for people hauling their own garbage to the dump and a requirement for them to obtain a tipping permit before doing so.
"We've never done this before," said Mayor Robert Janes during the public hearing, referencing the fees.
The tipping permit will cost $40 per pickup truck load and $200 per dump truck load. People wishing to drop vehicles at the dump will pay $200 for cars, SUVs and pickups, with vehicles over 5,000 kilograms being subject to a $500 tipping fee.
Permits for waste oil will cost $150 per 45-gallon drum.
Individuals who contravene the bylaw can be fined up to $500, while corporations can be fined up to $2,500.
"We will be levying fines; we are going to do that. That's something new," Janes said.
"Anybody who contravenes (the bylaw) can expect to get a warning first."
Some of the prohibitions laid out in the bylaw include disposing of garbage anywhere within the hamlet, except for the dump or an approved location; throwing out explosive wastes, camera film or other combustible materials; and hauling garbage without having a tarp over it. The bylaw also allows the hamlet to refuse to collect garbage from people who have violated the bylaw.
Expressing concerns with the hamlet's capacity for garbage collection, community member Cathy Towtongie suggested the hamlet reach out to the healing facility to see if inmates can help collect garbage.
Towtongie said she spent the last five days cleaning up garbage in area six.
"I commend the hamlet staff for dealing with the garbage, but we're not keeping up ... and it is observable," she said.
Warden Doug Friesen said the healing facility would be "more than happy" to do that.
"We're prepared to do whatever we can around town," he said.
Towtongie also floated the suggestion of fining people who throw away traditional food, noting she has seen traditional delicacies such as caribou heads discarded at the dump.
"The council has to consider how to give penalties to those individuals who are throwing traditional food into the dump," she said.
ATV bylaw enforcement ramps up
Bylaw officers are cracking down on ATV riders who are breaking traffic regulations in a bid to increase safety.
The bylaw is already on the books but is now being enforced.
At the July 24 council meeting, Fire Chief Mark Wyatt said bylaw officers would be giving out warnings for the next two weeks before starting to issue tickets.
"My goal is not to get the guys to go out there and write a lot of tickets, it's to get people to slow down," Wyatt said at the time.
"That's why we're going to go through a process of advising what the rules are -and if you follow the rules, there won't be a problem."
The bylaw sets a fine of $25 for riders doing 15 kilometres per hour over the speed limit, $40 for riders doing 15 to 30 kilometres per hour over the speed limit and $75 for riders who exceed the speed limit by more than 30 kilometres per hour.
There are also fines for not wearing helmets, having too many riders, operating an ATV without insurance or registration, dangerous driving and unlawful operation of an ATV by someone younger than 14.
Hamlet looks to boost tourism
Rankin Inlet's council voted to put in an application for funding for a community tourism co-ordinator.
The co-ordinator would develop a community tourism plan, manage Rankin Inlet's municipal website and work with local businesses as well as Nunavut Tourism.
The funding is for up to $100,000 per year for a maximum of three years.
Senior administrative officer Justin Merritt said if the hamlet's funding request is approved, the hamlet will need to contribute $25,000 each year.
"There's a need for a tourism person in the community," he said.
