Rankin Inlet (July 12/06) - Rankin Inlet councillors approved a $28,000 bill last week that will, for the first time, provide the hamlet with street sings.

The markers, which will be in English and Inuktitut, should be in place next month, said hamlet senior administrative officer John Hodgson.

Councillors hope the signs - along with soon-to-be-numbered houses - will make it easier for police and firefighters to answer emergency calls.

More juice

The Rankin Inlet community radio station will be getting a power boost after councillors approved $7,500 for new equipment last week.

The hamlet-controlled broadcaster should be audible in Whale Cove and Chesterfied Inlet - roughly 125 km away - once the upgrades are complete, said Hodgson.

The station now has a static-free range of about eight kilometres, but can be heard as far away as 20 km during ideal conditions. Some of the money approved during the July 4 hamlet council meeting will go towards studio gear for the station's call-in show.

Rankin boasts $650,000 surplus

Rankin Inlet's bottom line is much healthier than expected, according to the results of an audit made public last week.

The hamlet posted a $650,000 surplus during the 2005-06 fiscal year despite a projected $94,000 deficit.

"Overall, financially the hamlet did very well," said chartered accountant Ellie Cansfield, who conducted the review.

Higher-than-expected transfer payments from the Government of Nunavut and the off-loading of some expenses to federal government contributed to the surplus.

Police target drunk drivers

Rankin Inlet Mounties are stepping up their efforts to corral drunk drivers, RCMP Cpl. Mike Lokken told councillors last week.

Police arrested at least seven impaired driving suspects in June and four during the first week of this month, Lokken said.

Coun. Robert Janes said police were doing an "admirable job" combatting a potentially deadly crime.

Meanwhile, police jailed 62 people during June, almost a 50 per cent increase over the same time last year. Fifty-three of those calls were alcohol-related, Lokken said.