Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Arviat (Oct 16/02) - Arthur Osborne brings a wealth of experience with him to his position as Arviat's senior administrative officer (SAO).

And, the hamlet's new SAO is no stranger to the North.

Osborne entered the world of municipal affairs in 1984 as secretary-treasurer for the hamlet of Panniqtuuq.

In 1988, Osborne moved to Red Lake, Ont., where he remained until 1999 as the town's chief administrative officer.

After a brief stop in Ignace, Ont., he returned to the North in May 2001 to assume the SAO's position in Chesterfield Inlet.

Osborne says there's little difference in salary between the two Kivalliq positions, citing accommodations as the motivating factor in his decision to move.

"The housing in Chesterfield Inlet was poor," says Osborne.

"We were living in public housing.

"We had the sewage back up into the bathtub six times, and when the furnace kicked in it sounded like being at the airport when a Hawker 748 turns over.

"You could smell fumes in the whole house."

Hamlet employees must remain in an assigned housing unit for a year before applying to move.

When Osborne's time was up, there were no vacant units.

Hamlets which are not tax-based are allowed to finance rolling stock (equipment) but cannot incur debt for real property.

An application was filed for an exemption order to purchase an empty housing unit, but it's a lengthy process with no guarantee of approval.

"This was my wife's (Diane) first experience with living in the North and we didn't want to spend another winter in that unit.

"The Arviat opportunity came along and here I am."

Osborne says moving to a larger community presents different challenges for a SAO.

He says that's especially true when it comes to providing infrastructure and services required for growth.

"There's tremendous growth taking place in Arviat and -- in addition to being a larger community with more homes, offices and commercial buildings -- there's even more planned during the next few years, including a new school.

"Providing services such as roads, housing, water, sewage and garbage will be key areas that will occupy a lot of my energy and attention."