The hamlet struggled to keep up its collection schedule when a $15 part and bad weather teamed up to keep its main garbage truck out of service.

Senior administrative officer Ron Roach says the main garbage truck broke down during the second week of January.

He says what originally appeared to be two or three days of inconvenience quickly took a turn for the worse when a major weather system moved into the area.

"The part required to get the garbage truck back on the street cost a whole $15 to replace, but the bad weather that moved into our area disrupted flight schedules and prevented the replacement part from reaching the hamlet," says Roach.

"The part was ordered on Jan. 9 and should have arrived in Rankin three days later."

The truck is back on the road this week.

While the main truck was out of service, the hamlet pressed its large dump truck into action to keep up with garbage collection for the business community.

The hamlet's older garbage truck, used primarily during the summer months, was also out of service waiting for parts to arrive.

A pick-up truck was used to do residential areas around the community.

Roach says during the time both trucks were down, the only area where the hamlet fell a bit behind with its collection schedule was the older section, or centre core, of town.

"It's been an inconvenience, of course, with two trucks down at once and having to use other vehicles, but the hamlet did a darn good job in keeping up with its garbage collection during the time our main truck was down.

"I can't remember the last time both our trucks were down at the same time, if they ever were."