Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (June 26/02) - Hamlet councillors in Rankin Inlet have a big reason to smile.

Council heard last week that the hamlet had a $314,000 surplus from its fiscal year ending March 31 -- $282,000 of which came from its operational budget.

The hamlet was audited by the Rankin firm of K.R. Manson.

Hamlet senior administrative officer Ron Roach attributed the surplus to a number of items, including good sound management practices by the hamlet.

Roach said the hamlet watched its expenses closely during the past year.

He said because the hamlet spent so much money on maintenance the previous 12 months, its maintenance costs were down significantly this past year.

"The hamlet's snow removal costs were also down quite significantly from previous years and that helped with our bottom line, as well," said Roach.

"Another contributing factor was being without a finance comptroller for quite a while before we filled the position with Lynn Toner. To date, I would have to say our deficit-recovery program has been extremely successful."

The hamlet administered more than $4 million in its operating budget this past year.

Roach said the hamlet originally predicted a surplus in the neighbourhood of $100,000.

The surplus is money the hamlet now has in the bank.

"Hamlet council can now set priorities and spend that money pretty well any way it wants above and beyond our regular operating budget."

The next major infrastructure project the hamlet will undertake is the relocation of the community's solid waste site.

The site, to be located about five kilometres north of the airport, is scheduled to be a two-year project.

The hamlet is waiting for the water licence to be reviewed by the Nunavut Water Board.

"Once that's completed and approved, a study will be undertaken on the migratory bird path to ensure birds attracted to the dump won't interfere with planes landing and departing the Rankin airport," Roach said.

"We're anticipating putting a tender out by the middle of next month to actually start building a road to the site."